Grants

WeConservePA is offering grants of up to $5,000 to conservation-oriented non-profit organizations or local/county governments to support their local trail and greenway outreach and education efforts.

Funded through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and administered WeConservePA, Regional Trail Workshop Grants are awarded to support high-quality educational programming and safety training directly related to trails and greenways. Regional Trail Workshop Grants are reimbursement grants that cover up to 80 percent of the costs directly associated with each workshop (not to exceed $5,000) and require a 20 percent match from the organization. Grantees are responsible for all remaining workshop costs. Applicants may only receive one grant per calendar year.

Complete the grant application and budget worksheet and submit to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org by the application deadline of January 27, 2022 to be considered for the 2022 grant round.

For awarded grants, requests for payment must be submitted to the WeConservePA by October 15, 2022, and only expenses accrued up to September 30, 2022 will be eligible for reimbursement.

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.

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.

The Multimodal Transportation Fund stabilizes funding for ports and rail freight, increases aviation investments, establishes dedicated funding for bivyvle and pedestrian improvements, and allows targeted funding for priority investments in any mode. Eligible projects include trail, bike, and pedestrian safety. Projects should coordinate local land use with transportation assets to enhance existing communities.