Grants

Proposals are invited for research topics including animal health and welfare and its interactions with human and environmental health; study of the impacts of mental health challenges on farm success, the availability of on-farm housing for farm workers, and strategies for recruiting and retaining an agriculture workforce; and consumer research on the appeal of biodegradable packaging and new uses for milk proteins and milk-based products.

Additional research topics invited include studies of the economic impacts of pest infestations; water and soil management practices on farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that have not received state or federal funding; and programs and initiatives in the PA Pollinator Protection Plan and the PA Farm Bill. Full proposal guidelines can be found in the PA Bulletin.

The overall goal of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (WRPP) is to restore, and maintain restored stream reaches impaired by the uncontrolled discharge of nonpoint source polluted runoff, and ultimately to remove these streams from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters list. Projects which involve the construction, improvement, expansion, repair, maintenance or rehabilitation of new or existing watershed protection Best Management Practices (BMPs).

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.

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.