In 1996 the US National Park Service Rivers &
Trails Program launched the Groundwork USA Initiative, modelled on
the work Groundwork has been doing in the UK. Despite a
decade of unparalleled economic expansion, hundreds of inner city
and rural communities across America remained mired in poverty and
blight. The Groundwork approach - partnership between government,
business, foundations, community groups and residents - was seen as
the way forward to eliminating environmental poverty and building
healthy and prosperous communities.
With the support of the US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program, pilot programmes were set up in Bridgeport (Connecticut), Lawrence (Massachusetts) and Providence (Rhode Island). Three more pilots followed soon after in Concord (New Hampshire), Somerville (Massachusetts) and Yonkers (New York). In 1999 the Groundwork USA national office was set up to support this growing network which has now expanded beyond the Northeast to begin establishing pilots in other regions of the United States. In April 2000 Groundwork UK signed an agreement endorsing the establishment of the Groundwork USA network. We are working closely with our American colleagues, confirmed in a formal memorandum of understanding, and through staff exchanges, training, resource development and sharing expertise to help reduce the learning curve and increase the effectiveness of the new Trusts in the United States. Groundwork USA has recently appointed its first Chief Executive.
For more information visit www.groundworkusa.net
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