Pennsylvania Funding Sources

PENNDOT
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/
PENNDOT's primary means of funding greenways projects is through the Transportation Enhancements Program that is part of TEA-21. Greenways projects with a tie to transportation, historic preservation, bicycle/pedestrian improvements, or environmental quality are eligible candidates for Transportation Enhancements funding. PENNDOT will receive $40 million in funding for the fall 2001 funding cycle. $32 million is available for projects selected by MPOs/LDDs and the remaining $8 million is a set-aside for use at the Secretary's discretion and for projects of statewide significance. For more information contact Dante Accurti, 783-2258.DCNR

The Community Conservation Partnership Program
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/grants.htm
The State of Pennsylvania makes available grant moneys to municipal governments through this program to support greenway and park planning, design and development. Applications for these grants are due in October of each year, and a 50 percent match is required from the local project sponsor. The amount of maximum award varies with the requested activity. Planning grants are typically awarded $50,000 or less. Land acquisition and construction grants range from $150,000 to $200,000. Small community grants are also available through this program for municipalities with populations less than 5,000. These grants can support up to 100 percent of material costs and professional design fees for recreational facilities. Grants for these projects are typically limited to $20,000. The program had $10-12 million allotted for the year 2000. For more information contact regional advisors: Southeast: Don Gephart & Fran Rubert (215) 644-0609, Northeast: Michelle F. Breslin & Dennis De Mara (570) 963-4157, Southcentral& Northcentral: Cindy Dunlap (Southcentral) Lori Kieffer Yeich (Northcentral) (717) 772-3839, Southwest: Kathy Frankel & Tracy Robinson (412) 880-0486, and Northwest: Mark Kulich (814) 871-4190.

Heritage Park Grants
DCNR makes grants available to promote public-private partnerships that preserve and enhance natural, cultural, historic and recreation resources to stimulate economic development through heritage tourism. Grants are available to municipalities, nonprofit organizations or federally designated commissions acting on behalf of the municipalities in a heritage park areas. Grants are awarded for a variety of purposes including feasibility studies; development of management action plans for heritage park areas; specialized studies; implementation projects; and hiring of state heritage park managers. Grants require a 25-50 percent local match. The program had $2.75 million allotted for fiscal year 1999-2000. For more information contact Tim Keptner at 717-783-0988.

Land Trust Grants
The State of Pennsylvania DCNR can also award land acquisition grants for areas where rare or threatened species exist. Grants are made available to non-profit land trusts of land conservancies and require a 50 percent match. Award amounts will vary, and usually supported the acquisition of hundreds of acres of land. Applications are due in October of each year. Part of the Growing Greener Initiative, the program generally has a $4 million allotment. For more information contact Fred Owen at 717-783-2663.

Rails-to-Trails Grants
The Rails-to-Trails Grants provide 50% funding for the planning, acquisition or development of rail-trail corridors. Eligible applicants include municipalities and nonprofit organizations established to preserve and protect available abandoned railroad corridors for use as trails or future rail service. Approximately $1 million was allotted for the program for fiscal year 1999-2000. For more information contact Wilmer Henninger at 717-772-3704.

Urban and Community Forestry Grants
Can be used to encourage the planting of trees in Pennsylvania communities. Municipal challenge grants provide 50 percent of the cost of the purchase and delivery of trees. Special grants are available for local volunteer groups, civic clubs, and municipalities to train and use volunteers for street tree inventories, and other projects in urban and community forestry. The program's annual allotment varies but is generally around $500,000. For more information contact Norm Lacasse at 717-783-0385.

The Recreational Trails Program (DCNR)
National Recreation Trails Fund Act (NRTFA) or Symms Act Grants. This source of funding is a subset of TEA-21, and is administered by DCNR. Funds from this program can be used for the acquisition of land and the construction of trail treads and trail facilities. Applications for this funding are due in March 1999. Land acquisition will require a 50 percent match from the local sponsor. Construction projects will require a 20 percent match from the local sponsor. The typical maximum award has been $150,000. The program had $1 million allotted to it for fiscal year 1999-2000. For more information contact Vanyla Tierney at 717-783-2654.

Rivers Conservation Program
This program seeks to maintain, restore, and enhance rivers throughout Pennsylvania. Non-profit organizations and municipalities may apply for grants above $2500. Before being considered for river conservation, implementation, acquisition, or development projects, a grant applicant must have an approved river conservation plan. Part of the Growing Greener initiative, this program is allotted $1 million annually. For more information contact Marian Hrubovcak at 717-787-2316.

DCED
http://www.inventpa.com/default.asp?path=Communities%20in%
20PA/Community%20Resources/Community%20Resources.xml - one step application for all DCED funding. DCED's mission includes four elements that each have a relationship to greenways: economic development, travel and tourism, technical assistance and community development. Each of DCED's funding programs is listed and described below.

• Community Revitalization Program
  This funding source, which ranges from $5,000 to $50,000, supports local initiatives aimed at improving a community's quality of life and improving business conditions. The program had an $84 million allotment for 1999-2000. For more information contact Oliver Bartlett at 717-720-7352.
• State Planning Assistance Grant
  This program provides funding to municipalities for preparation and maintenance of community development plans, policies, and implementation measures. The grant requires a 50% match and priority is given to projects with regional participation. The program had $625,000 allotted for fiscal year 1999-2000. For more information contact Kerry Wilson at 717-783-1402.
• Small Communities Planning Assistance
  This grant is awarded to municipalities having a population of 10,000 people or less. The grant offers a no-match funding source that can be used to support neighborhood revitalization, economic development, community conservation and housing plans. Regardless of the project type, the grantee must demonstrate the project benefits low to moderate income residents. The program had $250,000 allotted for fiscal year 1999-2000. For more information contact Kerry Wilson at 717-783-1402.
• Communities of Opportunity Program
  This program provides funding to prepare communities to be competitive in attracting, expanding, and maintaining businesses and providing affordable housing. The $14 million program is open to municipalities, redevelopment and housing authorities, and nonprofit housing corporations. The program does not require a local match. For more information, contact Diana Kerr, 717-787-5327.
• Community Development Block Grants
  This program provides financial and technical assistance to communities for infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitation, public services, and community facilities. The program targets local governments and 70% of each grant must be used for activities or projects that benefit low to moderate income people. The program was allotted 7.5 million in fiscal year 1999-2000. For more information, contact Scott Dunwoody at 717-787-5327.
• Main Street Program
  The Main Street Program provides grants to municipalities and redevelopment authorities to foster economic growth, promote and preserve community centers, creating public/private partnerships, and improve the quality of life for residents. The program has two components, a Main Street Manager and Commercial Reinvestment. The Main Street Manager component funds a staff position that coordinates the community's downtown revitalization activities. The Community Reinvestment component provides funding for actual improvement projects in the community. The Main Street Manager is partially funded for a 5-year period while the Community Reinvestment activities require a minimum of a 50% match. A business district action plan must be completed for eligibility in this program. The program had a $2.5 million allotment for 1999-2000. For more information contact Diana Kerr, 717-787-5327.

PHMC
http://www.artsnet.org/phmc/phmc_frame.html

Keystone Historic Preservation Grants
Local governments and non-profit groups may apply for this grant that ranges in value from $5,000 to $100,000. A 50% local match is required and funds may be used for preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic properties, buildings, structures, sites, or objects. The program was allotted $1.75 million for fiscal year 1999-2000. For more information contact Bryan Van Sweden at 717-772-5071.

Certified Local Government Grants
Federal funding program limited to certified Local Governments for purposes of cultural resource surveys, technical and planning assistance, educational and interpretive programs, and national register nominations. The program includes a 40% local match that can be made with in-kind services, cash, or Community Development Block Grants. The program had just over $80,000 allotted for 1999-2000. For more information contact Michel Lefevre at 717-787-0771.

DEP Growing Greener
Growing Greener is the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania's history Growing Greener directs nearly $650 million over five years to the new Environmental Stewardship Fund. Growing Greener funds can be used for farmland-preservation projects; preserving open space; cleanup of abandoned mines, watershed planning; recreational trails and parks; and help communities address land use concerns. Eligible applicants include non-profit groups, counties, and municipalities. A local match is encouraged, but not required. For more information contact the Growing Greener Helpline at 877-724-7336.

Stormwater Planning and Management Grants
This program provides grants to counties and municipalities for preparation of stormwater management plans and stormwater ordinances. The program requires a 25% local match that can come in the form of in-kind services or cash. While greenways are not specifically funded by the project, they are excellent elements of a stormwater management system. This program is part of the Growing Greener Initiative. For more information contact Durla Lathia at 717-772-4048.

Nonpoint Source Management Section 319 Grants
Section 319 grant funding comes from the federal Clean Water Act. The grants are available to local governments and nonprofit groups for watershed assessments, watershed restoration projects, and projects of statewide importance. The grant requires a 60% local match and 25% of the construction costs of practices implemented on private land must come from non-federal sources. For more information contact Russ Wagner at 717-787-5642.

Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania
This fund is available to environmental, conservation, and recreation organizations for projects that improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania communities. For more information, contact Tim Schlitzer, 215-545-5880.

Environmental Education Grants
This program uses a 5% set aside of the pollution fines and penalties collected in the Commonwealth each year for environmental education in Pennsylvania. There are eight different grant tracks with grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000, most requiring a 20% match. Public and private schools, non-profit conservation/education organizations and county conservation districts may apply for the grants. For more information, contact DEP at 717-772-1828 or by e-mail at DEP Learning Center.

Land Recycling Grants Program
Provides grants and low interest loans for environmental assessments and remediation. The program is designed to foster the cleanup of environmental contamination at industrial sites and remediate the land to a productive use. For more information, contact DEP at 717-787-7816.