The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) has announced the availability of grants under an expanded environmental education grant program. The 2017 round includes grants of up to $50,000 for large-scale regional or statewide proposals as well as mini-grants of up to $3,000. Grant applicants are encouraged to undertake projects that address DEP’s priority topics of climate change, water education, and environmental justice.
School districts, municipalities, and county conservation districts are among the groups eligible for the environmental education grants. It is possible that municipalities could use grant monies to fund public education efforts mandated by their MS4 stormwater permits.
DEP will be holding workshops to review strategies to prepare successful grant applications. The central Pennsylvania workshop will be held September 27, 2016, 10:00am – noon at the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. DEP’s press release on the grant program can be found here.
Those interested in seeking grants are encouraged to call Martin Siegel to explore ideas.