To diminish light pollution, Hill Country Alliance’s Night Sky Program is offering new funding for regional nonprofit organizations, sole proprietorships, local governmental entities, and small businesses looking to preserve the starry night sky in Central Texas. Darker skies benefit migratory birds that typically fly at night over Central Texas and rely on stars for navigation.

The application deadline is October 31, 2024, for up to $5,000 in reimbursement funds for night sky preservation efforts. Examples of eligible projects include International Dark Sky Place applications, lighting retrofit projects, education and outreach resources, and groups seeking recognition through HCA’s Night Sky Friendly Businesses or Neighborhood programs. Eligible applicants must provide products or services within the following 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. “

“We are excited to provide the Texas Hill Country and our partners with this funding opportunity to support their night sky efforts and hope it will help raise awareness around the need for more financial assistance in the arena of night sky preservation,” said Dawn Davies, Night Sky Program Manager for the Hill Country Alliance.

To learn more about the application process, how to contribute to the fund, or how to register for the information session, visit https://hillcountryalliance.org/nightskyfund/.

Photo by Todd Winters
Submitted by Maura Powers