Grants

Upcoming grant & award deadlines from PA Environment Digest: http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=45853&SubjectID=

Grant Program Funder Area of Interest Eligible Region Eligible Applicantssort descending Award Amount Date Due
Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund

Through the Fund, OSI provides three types of grants for partners within the Delaware River Watershed Initiative:

  1. Capital Grants (for Forest Land and/or Farm Buffer projects)
  2. Transaction Grants (to jump start land conservation efforts)
  3. and Catalyst Grants (to integrate water quality science into open space plans)
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Funder:
William Penn Foundation, Open Space Institute
Area of Interest:
Agriculture, Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
Delaware River Watershed Initiative Cluster Focus Areas
Eligible Applicants:
Delaware River Watershed Initiative Cluster Partners
Award Amount:
No minimum or maximum grant size; typically between $75,000-$450,000 		September 25, 2023
2023 Urgent Issue on Water Trail Mini-Grant

This pilot project is an approach to providing funding for urgent, unforeseen situations on designated water trails that impede or impair access, create unsafe conditions/ safety concerns for paddlers or others who want to access the water trail, affect safe ingress/egress from the water trail, etc.

Such situations could include, but are not limited to,

  • Storm-induced scouring, flooding, debris impoundments that severely impact navigation.
  • Fallen trees or other large obstructions caused by a storm or other event that will prohibit or severely impact an imminent sojourn, paddle fest, race, etc. 
  • A situation where there is a major in-water litter/trash issue immediately prior to a planned community event, paddle, race, etc.
  • A situation in which an access improvement/ enhancement project was funded and is almost complete, but an unforeseen event or situation threatens to prevent the project from being completed without a small infusion of extra funding.
  • The destruction of a safety or wayfinding sign at an access point, if the sign was critical to orienting paddlers or providing critical information about a river hazard, portage, dam, 

In short, the situation must be caused by an “unanticipated” event, or one that could not be reasonably planned for. A known ongoing situation that was simply not addressed in time would not qualify. This funding should be viewed as a “last resort.” 

If the applicant is not the Water Trail Manager, applicant must contact the Water Trail Manager before applying to this funding. Additional, all applicants must contact one of the Water Trail Program Partners at PEC, DCNR or PFBC prior to applying.

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Funder:
Pennsylvania Environmental Council/PA DCNR
Area of Interest:
Engagement & Stewardship
Eligible Region:
PA Water Trails
Eligible Applicants:
Eligible applicants include registered non-profit organizations and public entities (such as a county, municipality, or municipal agency).
Award Amount:
up to $2,000 		rolling up to 12/31/2024
PECO Green Region Open Space Program View More
Funder:
PECO
Area of Interest:
Recreation, Stormwater, Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
Any township, borough, city, or regional recreational authority within PECO’s service territory in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or York Counties.
Eligible Applicants:
Eligible applicants must receive gas and/or electric service from PECO.
Award Amount:
Up to $10,000 and may be used to fund up to 50% of the project, with 50% or greater of project expenses covered by cash match. 		October 24, 2024 4pm
Regional Conservation Partnership Program

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners through partnership agreements, program contracts, or conservation easement agreements.
Project applications are now being accepted for locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality (including drinking water sources), combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat, and protect agricultural viability.

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Funder:
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Area of Interest:
Agriculture
Eligible Region:
See grant link for a map of eligible areas
Eligible Applicants:
Farmers and Landowners OR Eligible Partner Organizations, including: Farmer Cooperatives, State or local governments, Native Tribes, Water Districts, Municipal water and wastewater treatment entities, Higher education institutions, other established NGOs
Award Amount:
$250,000 - $10 million 		05-28-2021
Resource Enhancement & Protection Program (REAP)

Through the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program, farmers, landowner, and businesses earn tax credits for implementing "Best Management Practices" (BMPs) that will enhance farm production and protect natural resources. REAP is a first-come, first-served program that enables farmers, businesses, and landowners to earn PA income tax credits to offset the cost of implementing conservation practices.  Tax credits provided by the REAP program helps farmers off-set the costs of implementing best management practices (BMPs) that benefit their farms and work to protect water quality at the same time.

REAP provides funding at levels of 50% - 90% of costs incurred in the implementation of BMPs that reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution.

  • Projects eligible for 50% reimbursement: no-till planting equipment; precision nutrient application equipment; manure storage structures; cover crops; grazing practices; forested riparian buffers; others
  • Projects eligible for 75% reimbursement: BMPs that reduce pollution runoff from animal concentration areas; Nutrient/Manure Management Plans; Conservation/Ag E&S Plans; others
  • Projects eligible for 90% reimbursement (In a TMDL designated watershed) - multi-species cover crops; forested riparian buffers (50+ ft wide); livestock exclusion from streams and associated practices; others

New for 2023-2024

  • Increased focus on multi-species cover crops and cover crop equipment; including cover crop drones
  • Precision nutrient application plans
  • Silvopasture systems
  • No-till and nutrient application equipment upgrade kits

Applications are accepted beginning on the first Monday in August of each calendar year.

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Funder:
PA Department of Agriculture
Area of Interest:
Agriculture
Eligible Region:
Pennsylvania
Eligible Applicants:
Farmers or a sponsor
Award Amount:
Tax credits of 50 to 75 percent of a project’s eligible out-of-pocket costs. Farmers whose operation is in a watershed with an EPA-mandated Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) can receive REAP tax credits of 90 percent of out-of-pocket costs. 		October 31, 2023
DEP Agriculture Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

DEP is offering rebates to Pennsylvania agricultural producers for energy efficiency projects. Applications are being accepted effective September 20, 2021, and rebates are offered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funding is available, through March 31, 2022.

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Funder:
DEP
Area of Interest:
Agriculture
Eligible Applicants:
Farmers who are commercial agriculture producers who conduct normal farming operations in Pennsylvania. 		06/30/2023
Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to conserve, restore, and connect people with fish and wildlife habitat in the Delaware River watershed. The Delaware River Program will award matching grants of $75,000 to $1,500,000 each to conserve, restore and protect habitats on public and private land that contribute to the overall health of the Delaware River watershed—as well as benefit the quality of life and economic vitality of the communities in the Delaware River watershed. 

Full Proposal Due Date: Thursday, March 21 2024 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time

  • In 2024, NFWF will award DWCF grants in four grant categories including: Implementation Grants; Capacity Building Grants; Planning Grants; and Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Grants. More information on the anticipated grant amount range and match requirements per category is located in the RFP.
  • As with previous years, the DWCF seeks to support projects which increase equitable access and community engagement, especially for underserved communities, with the goal of providing opportunities for all to experience the benefits of a healthy Delaware River Watershed. Proposals should include specific demographic details (age, race, ethnicity, poverty rates, unemployment) to highlight communities disproportionately vulnerable to environmental hazards.
  • One million dollars of the available funding will be set aside for proposals that support management, research, monitoring, and/or outreach activities that have direct conservation benefits or meet other priority needs of ESA-listed species, at-risk species, or NFWF business plan species (see the related content section of the RFP for a list of species and additional guidance on priority species conservation).
  • New in 2024, NFWF has approximately $400,000 in dedicated funding from NRCS to support projects under the DWCF working on private, working lands that provide technical assistance to direct staff resources to help agricultural producers design and implement conservation practices benefitting American Black Duck and Golden-winged warbler, target species under USDA's Working Lands for Wildlife program, within the watershed.  
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Funder:
U.S Fish & Wildlife Service with additional funding from USDA NRCS
Area of Interest:
Abandoned Mine Drainage, Agriculture, Engagement & Stewardship, Stormwater, Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
Delaware River watershed
Eligible Applicants:
Federal, state, and local governments, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations
Award Amount:
$75,000 to $1,500,000 		03/21/2024
Schuylkill Area Community Foundation Grant View More
Funder:
Schuylkill Area Community Foundation
Area of Interest:
Abandoned Mine Drainage, Agriculture, Engagement & Stewardship, Pathogens and Point Source, Stormwater
Eligible Region:
Schuylkill Co. and surrounding area
Eligible Applicants:
Federally recognized 501(c)(3) organizations serving Schuylkill County and its surrounding area
Award Amount:
$100 - $2000 		09/15
Act 13 - Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP)

Act 13 of 2012 establishes the Marcellus Legacy Fund and allocates funds to the Commonwealth Financing Authority (the “Authority”) for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects using the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP). Projects which involve development, rehabilitation and improvements to public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails and river conservation.

Applications will be accepted between February 1st and May 31st of each year. All applications and required supplemental information must be received by May 31st.

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Funder:
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Area of Interest:
Engagement & Stewardship, Recreation, Stormwater, Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
Pennsylvania
Eligible Applicants:
For-profit Businesses, Municipalities, Councils of Governmnets, Authorized Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations
Award Amount:
Up to $250,000 		05/31 of each year
EPA Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants

The Department of Environmental Protection will be accepting applications for EPA Section 319 Watershed Restoration and Planning Grants. The purpose of these grants is to provide funding to implement nonpoint source management plans and activities identified in Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) watersheds. Implementation activities must address specific sources of nonpoint source pollution identified by the 2019 – 2024 Pennsylvania Nonpoint Source Management Plan.

Objectives:

  • Reduce AMD-related iron, aluminum, and acidity pollutant loads.
  • Reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollutant loads.
    • Implement stream restoration, bank stabilization, and/or stormwater management projects.
    • Plant, maintain, and protect riparian forest buffers.
    • Implement agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs).

This year's grant also provides for funding to develop Watershed Implementation Plans in Hydrologic Unit Code 12 (HUC12) watersheds within Environmental Justice areas.

 

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Funder:
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Area of Interest:
Abandoned Mine Drainage, Agriculture, Stormwater
Eligible Region:
Pennsylvania
Eligible Applicants:
incorporated watershed associations, counties or municipalities; county conservation districts; and council of governments or other authorized organizations including nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and municipal authorities 		June 23, 2023

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