The national nonprofit Green America (http://www.GreenAmericaToday.org) is opening voting for its Green Grants awards.

Based on hundreds of nominations of projects across the country, Green America staff selected 10 top projects that benefit people and the planet in local communities and is asking people to vote for their favorites. People can vote at http://www.greenamericatoday.org/greengrants/index_voting.cfm through July 19.

Green America will then award four Green Grants to local projects in the United States that support its mission of creating a socially just and environmentally sustainable economy. Green America will provide one Grand Prize of $2,500 and three First Prizes of $1,000 in late July.

"The staff at Green America was amazed by the projects that were nominated for Green Grants from around the country," says Green America's Director of Corporate Responsibility Todd Larsen. "Now people across the country can vote for the projects they feel best promote people and the planet."

The top ten nominees (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Adelante Mujeres of Forest Grove, OR -- Organic farming and employment for Latina immigrants.

2. Alliance for Green Heat of Takoma Park, MD -- Progressive renewable energy policy and low-income families.

3. Build it Up, West Virginia, Summer Program of Charleston, WV -- Youth education and clean-energy activism

4. DOMA Coffee Roasters of Port Falls, ID -- Fair Trade sustainable practices.

5. Habitat for Humanity of Youngstown, OH -- Energy efficiency, affordable housing and interfaith cooperation.

6. Hope Gardens of Charlotte, NC - Local food -- Organics and homeless outreach.

7. Little Village Environmental Justice Organization of Chicago, IL -- Stopping coal-fired power plants and promoting local community health.

8. NOLA Society for Conservation Biology of New Orleans, LA -- Recycling and Katrina recovery.

9. Vertical Harvest of Jackson Hole of Jackson Hole, WY -- Local food and urban renewal.

10. Your ReSource of Ewing, NJ -- Recycling and low-income medical assistance.

Winning projects can use the Green Grant awards to support their work in any way, and will just need to report back to Green America how the grant made a difference in their work.

For a full release with live links to each project, go to http://www.greenamericatoday.org/about/newsroom/releases/2010-06-23.cfm.

ABOUT GREEN AMERICA

Green America (formerly Co-op America) is the leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America's green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses.

To receive Green America's popular publications, including the Green American and the National Green Pages™, participate in Green America's Green Business Conferences or Green Festivals, or to get its free e-newsletter, providing the latest green news, green discounts, and opportunities to take action for a green economy, visit www.GreenAmericaToday.org, email info@GreenAmericaToday.org, or call at 800-58-GREEN.

Green America

Green America

Green America is United States' leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America's green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses. To receive Green America's popular publications, including the Green American and the National Green Pages™, participate in Green Festivals, or to get its free e-newsletter, providing the latest green news, green discounts, and opportunities to take action for a green economy, visit http://www.GreenAmerica.org, email info@GreenAmericaToday.org, or call at 800-58-GREEN.

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