Time to get your ideas in gear!nnEnvironmental Groups to be awarded up to $100,000 through Grants in Gear ProgramnnToronto ON, March 2, 2015 – The Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) has partnered with Summerhill Impact to offer granting initiative, Grants in Gear, for a second year. The nation-wide program will provide funding worth up to $100,000 to Canadian environmental non-profit organizations.nnFour grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to organizations whose ideas best substantiate their projects potential to achieve tangible results in emissions reductions or pollution prevention in the transportation sector and/or excellence in automotive recycling techniques.nn“The goal of Grants in Gear is to recognize and extend the environmental benefits that ARC members are achieving with our work in the area of environmental best practices”, says Steve Fletcher, Managing Director of the ARC. “By investing in like-minded Canadian organizations that strive to achieve tangible environmental results, we will see the benefit of promoting environmental sustainability not only for auto recyclers but for other allied sectors as well.”nnThe Grants in Gear team will evaluate applications through a four-phase scoring system. In the initial phase, Summerhill Impact will ensure that applicants have followed the criteria set out in the Application Guide. Proposals that meet the set criteria will then be passed to the selection committee who will give a score out of 85. Based on the total score, the applications will be ranked by Summerhill Impact and a “Top 7” list will be returned to the selection committee. With consideration to the highest scores and overall merit of the proposal, the selection committee will select four (4) applications to be awarded grant money up to $25,000.nnThose interested in applying are encouraged to contact Shelby Kerbel at Summerhill Impact to discuss their project in more detail: 416-922-2448 x304, [email protected]. The application package and more information can be found at www.autorecyclers.ca/grants-in-gear-funding/ and applications will be accepted until midnight (EST) on April 10, 2015.nn-30- nnAbout the Automotive Recyclers of CanadannARC represents over 400 vehicle recyclers and dismantlers from across Canada whose businesses achieve significant results for the environment in areas of waste diversion, energy savings, emissions reductions and pollution prevention. ARC members collectively recycle an average of 400,000 vehicles each year, diverting nearly 400,000 metric tons from landfill. Over 80% of the entire vehicle by weight is reused, re-manufactured or recycled, saving an estimated 80 million barrels of oil annually that would be required to produce new replacement parts.nn nnAs the national voice of the automotive recycling industry, ARC provides a forum for channeling information and addressing Canada wide concerns. ARC is an industry leader having helped standardize the process for recycling end-of-life vehicles. For more information about ARC you can contact Steve Fletcher at [email protected] or visit www.autorecyclers.ca.nn nnAbout Summerhill ImpactnnSummerhill Impact is a not-for-profit that is focused on creating and delivering public initiatives that generate positive environmental and health impacts. The national organization works with multi-sector partners to empower individuals through behaviour change programs in product stewardship and pollution prevention. Since 2000, Summerhill Impact has successfully designed and delivered many of Canada’s largest public engagement campaigns. Visit www.summerhillimpact.org to find out more information about Summerhill Impact.nn nnFor more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:nnKatie TreloarnCitizen Relations (PR for Grants in Gear)[email protected] 647 6276nnJacqueline BennettnCitizen Relations (PR for Grants in Gear)[email protected] 647 2943nnShelby KerbelnProgram Managern416 922 2448 x [email protected]