Bandera County organizations and businesses can apply for up to $5,000 in reimbursement funding by Oct. 31 Special to the Bulletin Local nonprofits, government entities and businesses have until Oct. 31 to apply for up to $5,000 in reimbursement funding through the Hill Country Alliance's Night Sky Preservation Fund.
Now in its third year, the fund supports projects that improve outdoor lighting, reduce light pollution and protect the Texas Hill Country's night skies, according to an Oct. 15 news release from the organization.
Eligible projects may include retrofitting outdoor lighting to reduce its impact on the night sky, pursuing International Dark Sky Place designation, developing educational and outreach materials, and establishing or supporting sky quality monitoring.
Applicants must be based in or conduct projects within at least one of 22 eligible counties: Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Comal, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Medina, Real, San Saba, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde and Williamson.
The fund is available to local nonprofit organizations, local government entities, small businesses and sole proprietorships working to preserve the natural night sky. Funding is provided as reimbursement for eligible projects.
During the fund's first two years, the Hill Country Alliance supported 25 projects across 17 organizations, according to Dawn Davies, the organization's night sky program manager.
“We have been thrilled by the warm reception the Night Sky Preservation Fund has received over the past two years, which has allowed HCA to support 25 distinct projects across 17 organizations,” Davies said in the release.
The organization established a baseline annual contribution to make the fund a permanent yearly opportunity, Davies said, while continuing to seek donations and other funding to expand its capacity.
The application period coincides with Hill Country Night Sky Month, an annual October observance now in its seventh year. The initiative encourages residents and visitors to explore the ecological, economic and cultural importance of protecting the region's dark skies.
The Hill Country Alliance is a nonprofit organization that works with regional partners to preserve open spaces, night skies, clean water and the distinctive character of the Texas Hill Country.
Applications, eligibility requirements and additional information about the fund are available at hillcountryalliance.org/ nightskyfund. Donations to support the fund can be made at bit.ly/ HCAfundthenight.
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