(Miami, Florida)- City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and City Commissioners will be presented with a $225,000 check by Paul Polizzotto, Founder and CEO of EcoZone Project to help advance environmental initiatives throughout the City. The presentation will be held during the City of Miami’s Commission meeting on Thursday, May 10th, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at City of Miami’s City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida.

Funds will support the Mayor’s environmental initiatives including:
• $10,000 toward the Miami Greening Project that supports the mayor’s tree canopy initiative.
• $17,500 toward the Miami Green Lab Project that will convert an old firehouse into a green building and resource center.
• $8,000 toward the Miami Baywash Program to remove 20 derelict boats from the bay.
• Funds for solar panels (approximately $115,000-$120,000).

Over the past four years, Miami has received over $800,000 in funding, education, and community outreach from The EcoZone Project. This includes support through the Adopt-A-Waterway program, which Mayor Diaz kicked off in 2003 to help raise funds for City storm water pollution prevention programs that target contaminated waterways like Wagner Creek.  This newest gift from The EcoZone Project puts the company’s contribution to the greening of Miami close to $1,000,000.

Mayor Diaz has launched a proactive environmental program to clean streets, waterways, brown fields, storm drains, as well as improve air and water quality.  In April, the City of Miami Commission passed the motion to create the Office of Sustainable Initiatives.  The office is responsible for addressing the City's environmental programs by coordinating with other City Departments and environmental experts to assure that the City of Miami is working toward becoming a model for environmental best practices.