Franklin, TN -(AmmoLand.com)- The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) and Tennessee American Water are holding a public ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 3, at 10 a.m., to mark the completion of a new 63-by-18-ft. boat shed built by union volunteers over the summer.
The project is the result of a joint effort between the USA’s Work Boots on the Ground volunteer conservation program and the AWCF’s Building Better Communities initiative, which awarded the USA a $25,000 grant to support three 2015 conservation projects that improve public access to water-based recreation activities in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Peoria, Illinois; and Charleston, West Virginia.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of our first joint project with American Water,” said USA CEO and Executive Director Fred Myers. “This is our first charitable foundation grant, and it is instrumental in helping us take our conservation efforts to the next level. I’m certain this partnership will continue to grow and together, we will tackle many more community projects.”
With funding and support from AWCF and its parent company, American Water, the USA organized a group of skilled union volunteers to construct a large boat shed on the park’s waterfront to house kayaks and canoes that the park will obtain through a Spirit of America Grant. Projects like this help ease the burdens of costs and time restraints for state parks.
“Having union volunteers donate their time and skills to build this shed is really, really valuable with our limited manpower and resources, especially toward the end of our budget year,” said Harrison Bay State Park Manager Donald Campbell. “We wouldn’t be able to event attempt something like this. Having these guys come in and work for us and having the materials brought in is great.”
The USA’s mission to unite the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage goes hand-in-hand with AWCF’s ongoing commitment to being a good neighbor in the communities it serves. This sort of alignment makes the partnership successful and paves the way for more collaborative projects ahead.
“Our employees in union-represented jobs are among the most talented and skilled professionals in the nation, and we are very excited to provide support to Work Boots on the Ground projects that will enhance the outdoor experience of our customers, our employees and their families,” said AWCF President Darlene Williams.
Tennessee American Water President Deron Allen agreed: “The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance provides a great opportunity for sportsmen to give back to the community through the Work Boots on the Ground program. Our employees enjoy outdoor recreation activities, and this project lets them give back to the community and promote our natural resources for everyone to use.”
Event Details:
- Thursday, Sept. 3, at 10 a.m.
- 8411 Harrison Bay Rd.
- Harrison, TN 37341
- Park phone: 423-344-6214
The boat shed is along the water’s edge, behind the park’s pool.
About the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance:
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) is a union-dedicated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members hunt, fish, shoot and volunteer their skills for conservation. The USA is uniting the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage.
For more information, visit www.unionsportsmen.org or connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Work Boots on the Ground:
Work Boots on the Ground is the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s flagship conservation program that brings together union members willing to volunteer their time and expertise to conservation projects that improve and enhance public access, wildlife habitat and outdoor experiences for communities across America. USA’s Work Boots on the Ground program works closely with federal, state and local agencies and other conservation groups to provide manpower needed to complete critical projects that may otherwise go undone.
About the American Water Charitable Foundation:
Established in 2010 with a founding contribution from American Water, the American Water Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides a formal way to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to being a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. The Foundation helps support American Water employee-identified nonprofit endeavors.
More information can be found online at amwater.com/corporate-responsibility or on Facebook.
About Tennessee American Water:
Tennessee American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to more than 370,000 people in Tennessee and northern Georgia. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada.
More information can be found at www.tennesseeamwater.com.