Grants

USDA is making available up to $40 million in technical and financial assistance to help eligible conservation partners voluntarily protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on agricultural lands. Restored wetlands improve water quality downstream and improve wildlife habitat, while also providing flood prevention and recreational benefits to communities.

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is soliciting applications to conduct agricultural research on one or more of the following research topic areas, with the research to be conducted from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020 and a possible extension into future years. Some topics include: various multiyear research projects, climate adaptation and mitigation, spotted lanternfly, conservation BMPs, the PA Pollinator Protection Plan, dairy product research, blockchain technology, industrial hemp, workforce development, urban agriculture, pesticide impacts, noxious weeds, etc. Interested applicants must submit a complete electronic research project proposal and grant application at https://www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/Login.aspx by 4 p.m. on Friday, June 28, 2019. Questions regarding this online application process may be directed to Sheila Strubhar, Chief of the Contracts and Procurement Division for the Department, (717) 787-1467.

Grants of approximately $5,000 are awarded for the creation of a Coldwater Conservation Plan that will ultimately conserve and protect the coldwater streams of Pennsylvania. 

Grants up to $8,000 may be used to pay for equipment, materials, meeting expenditures, construction activities and other services to implement recommendations for projects that enhance, conserve, or protect the streams in which a conservation plan was originally completed. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to: aquatic habitat improvement structures, riparian buffers, stomrwater BMPs, agricultural BMPs, acid deposition abatement, education & outreach programs, stream bank restorations, etc.

Recognizing that open space in our communities is crucial to the quality of our lives, PECO has committed to supporting municipalities, recreational authorities and nonprofits in Southeastern Pennsylvania with their ongoing efforts to preserve, protect and improve public spaces. The grants, which have a 50 percent match requirement, can be used with other funding sources to cover expenses related to open space projects, such as consulting fees, trail construction, land acquisition, habitat improvement and the cost of creating and implementing an open space plan.