Grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on May 6th, 2020 the availability of $3 million for grants through its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories: 

• Planning Projects ($1 million for projects that initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs.)
• Implementation Projects ($2 million for projects that accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers.)

TreePennsylvania's Bare Root Tree program aims to assist communities in Pennsylvania with increasing the tree canopy and commitment to urban and community forests.  This program provides 10 – 20 large caliper bare root trees for planting on land owned by a municipality (streets and parks) or non-profit organizations.

Approved applicants are responsible for scheduling a site visit and/or consultation with a PADCNR/Penn State Extension Forester and coordinating pick up of trees at a designated location and date. 

Trees must be planted within one week of pick up. TreePennsylvania will purchase trees on behalf of the communities – funding will not be provided directly to grantees. 

Pre-application deadline is July 29 at 4pm. Applicants will be notified if invited to submit a full application with a deadline of August 15. 

Pennsylvania will receive $5 million, through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to support Pennsylvania in mitigation against future damage from natural disasters.

“Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states in the country,” said Gov. Wolf. “Every year we have flooding that does not meet federal thresholds for assistance, so this mitigation funding will help get people out of harm’s way and prevent future losses due to flooding.”

Properties that are covered by a policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and have sustained repetitive losses due to flooding are eligible for the new Swift Current initiative, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Homeowners who are interested in this program should contact their local municipality or county emergency management agency for more information. 

The local government in which the property is located is considered the sub-applicant and will work with interested property owners to develop a sub-application. The local government will submit the sub-application to the state on property owner’s behalf, and the state will submit the application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA will select projects based on eligibility and funding available in each state.

Participation in the Swift Current initiative is voluntary. The following project types are eligible to participate in Swift Current even if an insurance claim has been filed:

• Property Acquisition and Structure Demolition/Relocation;
• Nonstructural Retrofitting of Existing Buildings and Facilities;
• Structure Elevation;
• Mitigation Reconstruction;
• Dry Floodproofing of Historic Residential Structures or Non-Residential Structures; and
• Structural Retrofitting of Existing Buildings.

Funds for the State Wildlife Grants program (SWG) are provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep species from becoming federally listed as threatened or endangered. Annually appropriated by the U.S. Congress, Pennsylvania's funds are apportioned between the Fish and Boat Commission and Game Commission to address each agencies' trust species and habitats. The priority topic for the project will help support Pennsylvania's amphibian and reptile Species of Greatest Conservation Need found in the 2015-2025 Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan.