By Ellen H. King
February 3, 2003

At the Conference of Mayors 71st Winter Meeting, DuPont Vice President Tom Sager announced the increase of grant funds to the Cities United for Science Progress (CUSP) Lead-Safe...For Kid's Sake Grant Program. Mr. Sager announced that $750,000 in grants would be awarded to a total of six mayors for their proposals to create lead-safe communities. In 2002, its inaugural year, CUSP awarded $500,000 in grants to four cities: Baltimore, Chicago, Indianapolis and Trenton.

"With the enormous success of our 2002 Lead-Safe...For Kids- Sake Grant Program, we realized the importance of expanding the program to reach out to even more cities," said Sager. "Our hope at DuPont is to continue to be a resource to mayors as they work to create safe and healthy communities. We are proud to stand with our partner, the USCM, to provide our support for this important program."

CUSP, a partnership of the Conference of Mayors and DuPont, visits cities across the country and teams up with the mayor to assist them in creating healthier, safer and more innovative and economically vibrant cities through science-based solutions. CUSP's Lead Safe...for Kids- Sake grants assist mayors in creating healthier and safer cities by funding the implementation of critically needed lead-Safe practices. To apply to the Lead-Safe...For Kids- Sake Grant Program, cities are asked to submit an executive summary of no more than 750 words outlining how their city will propose to develop new programs to further the goal of making their city lead-Safe. Grant applications are due no later than April 4, 2003.

Conference Executive Director J. Thomas Cochran is excited to continue working with the CUSP partnership to demonstrate the strong commitment the USCM and DuPont have to cities nationwide, "We are extremely pleased with the continued support cities have shown to the CUSP program. Through our partnership, DuPont and the Conference are able to unite our efforts in extending a helping hand to cities as they tackle the pressing issue of lead-Safety in their communities. We look forward to rejoining our member mayors at our 72nd Annual Meeting to award the CUSP Lead-Safe...For Kids- Sake winning cities for their valiant efforts."

CUSP's Lead-Safe...For Kids- Sake Grant Program Award winners and $750,000 in grant funds will be presented at the Conference of Mayors 72nd Annual Meeting in Denver this June 2003. To learn more about the CUSP partnership, please contact CUSP's Managing Director Ellen H. King at USCM Headquarters by phone at 202-861-6798 or by e-mail at eking@usmayors.org.