New York Sea Grant Names Penney as Coastal Community Development Specialist

Contact: Mary Penney, New York Sea Grant, 315-312-3042

Oswego, NY, March 24, 2011 – New York Sea Grant, Oswego, NY, has announced that Mary Penney will serve in the role of Great Lakes Coastal Community Development Specialist for the science-based extension program.

Penney is currently undertaking a community-driven needs assessment survey to help local decisionmakers identify priority issues and will work with community leaders to respond to the issues of the Eastern Lake Ontario region and its tributaries, including the Salmon River.

New York Sea Grant is known for facilitating community decisionmaking on diverse issues. Penney will assist local leaders interested in land use planning, watershed protection, science-based sustainable renewable energy discussions, and managing climate change impacts. Penney will also be developing local volunteerism opportunities and will supervise a team of coastal natural resource educators.

New York Sea Grant Interim Associate Director Helen Domske, Buffalo, NY said, “We are pleased to have Mary Penney available to help our coastal communities, especially rural towns and villages that may find the resources that New York Sea Grant can provide particularly beneficial to assist their planning and decision making.”

Penney has been an educator with New York Sea Grant since 2006. She can be reached at New York Sea Grant, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126, 315-312-3042.