Groundwork USA

The NPS and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have signed an Interagency Agreement (IA), EPA # DW 14-95782701-0, to help communities impacted by brownfields and other derelict land issues to improve their quality-of-life and encourage economic regeneration through the development and stewardship of parkland, recreation areas, nature reserves, trail systems and other environmental improvements. Also, the clean-up of brownfields and other derelict lands offers an extensive opportunity to create needed green space in dense urban communities and to restore degraded natural resources such as open space and river corridors. The IA furthers the intent of the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding between EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response and the USDI-NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (NPS), to support development of the Groundwork model in the United States. The Groundwork model has been successfully developed and supports sustainable community-based environmental improvement efforts in Great Britain through the establishment of locally based Groundwork Trust organizations. This success is now being replicated in the United States through the development of the Groundwork USA network of Groundwork Trusts. Groundwork USA, the national office of the Groundwork USA network, is a critical component of the Groundwork model. To build on the commitment of the network of Groundwork USA Pilot Communities to improve green space and reclaim brownfields for community benefit and economic redevelopment, Groundwork USA was established in 2001, was incorporated in 2002 and was approved as a tax exempt organization under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code on October 22, 2003. In 2004, NPS, Groundwork USA and leaders of the local Groundwork Trusts completed a strategic plan to build the capacity of Groundwork USA to coordinate, promote and support development of the network of locally based Groundwork Trusts. The Strategic Plan was updated in 2010. Based on that plan, Groundwork USA will work with the NPS to:  Provide the Trusts with needed services to ensure that each Trust is an effective, credible and valued partner within its host community,  Build the capacity of the local Trusts through technical assistance, staff training, sharing of expertise, program development and networking,  Engage in creative new alliances and broaden partnerships on the national and regional level to advance the Groundwork USA mission,  Create new opportunities to support establishment new Trusts and attract national resources to support the projects and programs of the existing Trusts,  Establish and oversee standards for Trust operations, projects and programs to insure accountability and protect the Groundwork brand,  Oversee the development of the Groundwork USA network and new Groundwork Trusts, and  Manage the partnership with the Federation of Groundwork Trusts in the United Kingdom.