Statewide Waterway Access Grant Program

The Statewide Waterway Access Grant, known as SWAG, is a mini grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR). This grant is funded through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR). Funding from the PA DCNR is provided through the Environmental Stewardship Fund and is administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. The purpose of this grant program is to improve non-motorized public access to Pennsylvania’s rivers, streams, and other waterways by supporting projects that align with POWR’s mission of stewardship, facilitation, and enjoyment of the state’s water resources. The SWAG program offers financial support for eligible projects involving the acquisition, design, engineering, construction, upgrade, or rehabilitation of public access sites for non-motorized watercraft. These sites must be made publicly accessible and remain free of charge for at least 25 years following project completion. To ensure this, a 25-year public access maintenance agreement must be signed by successful applicants. Projects must be located on land owned by the applicant or under a long-term lease or agreement. All necessary permits and local land use approvals must be secured by the applicant before project initiation. Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations that possess a valid 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Charitable Organizations. Applicants must also commit to maintaining the facility and covering any ordinary or routine maintenance costs throughout the 25-year agreement period. Fiscal sponsors are not mentioned in the program overview, so eligibility is limited to directly qualified organizations. Applicants may request up to $30,000 in funding. All grant awards require a one-to-one match that can be fulfilled through a combination of cash and in-kind contributions. Projects must be capable of being completed within a 12 to 18-month timeframe, and extensions will not be granted. All applications must be submitted via the Submittable online platform, where applicants are required to create an account to begin the submission process. While there is no formal deadline, applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis, and applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Evaluation of submitted projects is based on several criteria. These include how well the project reflects community planning efforts, alignment with POWR’s mission and priorities, completeness and clarity of the application, feasibility of project completion within a year, the realism and comprehensiveness of the proposed budget, and whether the match is secured with formal documentation. Additional support letters are encouraged to demonstrate need and collaboration. Projects that address a unique or extraordinary community need may receive bonus points during review. Applicants with questions about the content of their proposals can contact Janet Sweeney at POWR via email at jsweeney@pecpa.org. For technical assistance related to the submission platform, Submittable support is available on weekdays. More information about POWR and the mini grant program is available on their website at www.pawatersheds.org. While there is no linked PDF guidance document provided in the current grant description, applicants are advised to review any additional materials made available on the grant portal before applying.

Applicants should submit detailed project descriptions with documented match, include support letters, ensure permits and approvals are in place, and align the project with POWR priorities to be competitive.