Pennsylvania Natural Resources Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Pennsylvania farmers, agricultural processors, and service providers for adopting innovative technologies and sustainable practices to improve productivity and environmental stewardship.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in eastern and central Pennsylvania to help low-income families pay their home energy costs.

The Philadelphia City Fund is offering a one-year grant of $15,000 to Philadelphia-based organizations working towards long-term environmental justice and community resilience, with activities including community organizing, education, youth leadership, and project implementation, to be used within 12 months of being awarded.

The City of Philadelphia's Community Resilience and Environmental Justice (CREJ) Fund is offering $15,000 grants to 20 Philadelphia-based organizations working on long-term environmental justice projects, with the aim to support grassroots activism, community resilience, and the removal of environmental injustices.

The Vision Partnership Program (VPP) – Cash Grant is a grant available to Chester County municipalities and multi-municipal groups seeking to improve their planning programs while achieving consistency with and implementation of the goals, objectives, recommendations, and map of Landscapes3. Donor Name: Chester County State: Pennsylvania County: Chester County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/25/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Purpose Recognizing the benefits of grant awards to municipal planning projects, the Chester County Board of Commissioners established VPP in 1996 to promote cooperation between local governments and the County while implementing Landscapes, the County’s Comprehensive Plan.  The program was revised in 2010 to reflect Landscapes2 and revised again in 2019 to reflect Landscapes3. The purpose of VPP is to advance consistency with and implementation of the county comprehensive plan while accomplishing impactful, lasting, and positive benefits for municipalities through innovative municipal planning; multi-municipal planning; and new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies that address opportunities and issues of community concern. Funding Information Plans or Ordinances Adopt $50,000 plus $10,000 for each additional municipality. Planning Studies Accept $30,000 plus $5,000 for each additional municipality. Eligible Costs The following costs are considered eligible for reimbursement if they are included in and directly related to the project scope of work attached to the executed grant contract: Professional planning consultant fees; Data collection and analysis; Mapping and graphics; Monthly duplicating costs of deliverables; Mailing costs, such as for mailings to municipal residents, not to exceed five (5) percent of the total eligible costs for the project; Review of draft materials by non-planning professionals, such as attorneys or engineers, not to exceed ten (10) percent of the total eligible costs for the project (note: this must be described specifically in the project scope of work); Travel costs, such as mileage for required meetings, not to exceed two (2) percent of the total eligible costs for the project; and Publication of the adopted document, up to thirty (30) copies. Eligible Projects  Comprehensive Plan Open Space, Park, and Recreation Plan (to include a greenway plan) Zoning Ordinance and Amendments (to include amendments specific to topic areas such as agriculture, historic resources, natural resources, housing, traditional neighborhood development, form based code, transfer of development rights, and establishing mixed-use, diverse, walkable communities) Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and Amendments (to include amendments specific to topic areas such as bicyclist/pedestrian circulation, natural and cultural resource protection, woodland inventories, and forestation/woodland management plans) Official Map and Ordinance Urban Center Revitalization Plan Resource Protection/Stewardship Plan (addressing topics such as open space, natural resources, parks, scenic resources, historic and cultural resources) Environmental and Community Sustainability/Resilience Plan/Study (to include energy conservation, clean energy transition) Community Design Guide (addressing topics such as housing, historic resources, and villages) Village Master Plan Heritage Interpretation Plan (in accordance with Preserving Our Places, CCPC, 1998) Historic Resource Survey (in accordance with PHMC standards) Housing Plan/Study Economic Development Study Transportation Corridor Plan/Study Streetscape Master Plan Multimodal Plan/Study Trail Feasibility Study Plans/Ordinances that support transition to renewable or alternative energy Agricultural Economic Development Plan Eligibility Criteria  Meeting eligibility requirements is not a guarantee of grant funding under the Vision Partnership Program. Eligible Applicants  The VPP cash grant program is open to all Chester County municipalities which have endorsed or acknowledged Landscapes3. Eligible applicants include a single municipality or a multi-municipal group, which may consist of two (2) or more contiguous municipalities or two (2) or more municipalities when located in the same school district. The application shall identify and be submitted by a lead municipality in the case of a multimunicipal group application. To ensure proper grant administration and promote successful completion of projects, municipalities are encouraged to complete VPP projects funded under previous rounds before applying for additional VPP funding. However, the Chester County Planning Commission may consider approving municipalities to undertake more than one VPP funded project at a time on a case-by-case basis. Municipalities involved in a multi-municipal comprehensive plan shall not be eligible for VPP funding to undertake a full comprehensive plan update at the same time as the contract term of the multi-municipal plan. Partial updates to a specific comprehensive plan section, such as the historic resources plan, may be considered on a case-by-case basis. General Project Eligibility  The project shall advance one or more of the Landscapes3 goals and objectives, and implement one or more of the Landscapes3 recommendations at the municipal or multimunicipal level. Projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, as amended, such as comprehensive plans (or elements thereof) or ordinances, shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the MPC. Projects not adopted under the provisions of the MPC are defined as “Planning Studies” for the purposes of VPP. General project types that may be eligible include plans, ordinances, ordinance amendments, and planning studies. Projects shall be supported by a municipal or multi-municipal comprehensive plan that was adopted within the prior ten (10) years, unless the municipality has undergone the formal review process as outlined in Section 301(c) of the MPC or the applicant provides documentation identifying why the urgency of the proposed project supersedes the need for an update of their comprehensive plan. For more information, visit Chester County.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is offering a grant of $2000 for projects that address urgent, unforeseen situations on designated water trails, with the aim of creating recreational opportunities, supporting sustainable use of natural resources, and improving access to Pennsylvania Water Trails.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to public entities and nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania for projects that enhance public access to waterways, ensuring they remain open and free for community use for 25 years.

The York County Community Foundation is offering a three-year grant of $100,000 to $500,000 for municipalities, county agencies, school districts, and non-profit organizations in York County, Pennsylvania, to preserve and protect open spaces, natural habitats, and waterways through land acquisition, planning studies, and ordinance assistance, with a focus on public access, recreational opportunities, and natural resource protection.

The Chester County Community Foundation is seeking applications for its Fund for ChesCo Capacity Building Grants. Donor Name: Chester County Community Foundation State: Pennsylvania County: Chester County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/11/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The goal of capacity building grants is to strengthen the effectiveness of NPO’s serving the Chester County region, in areas including: Mission, Vision & Strategy Governance & Leadership Partnerships & Collaborations Operations & Technology Fundraising, Development & Marketing What is capacity building? Capacity building helps bring a nonprofit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity, in order to more effectively & efficiently fulfill its mission. Capacity building may include (but is not limited to) projects which address: Mission, Vision & Strategy: Organizational Assessment – Strategic Planning – Financial Planning Governance & Leadership: Board Development – Executive Transition/Succession Planning – Leadership Development – Staff Training & Professional Development Partnerships & Collaborations: Coalition Building – Collaboration – Mergers & Acquisitions – Strategic Restructuring Resource Development & Marketing: Major Gift Donor Identification, Cultivation, Development & Stewardship – Development Campaigns (Annual, Capital, Planned Giving) – Earned Income Development – Social Enterprise Feasibility & Development – Marketing, Branding & Communications Technology & Operations: Business Continuity Planning – Financial Management – Human Resources – Volunteer Management – Industry Certification – Risk Management – Technology Improvements. Funding Information Grant awards typically range from $500-$5,000. Eligibility Criteria For eligibility in this grant program, nonprofits must be located in & serve Chester County. Nonprofits budgets must be $500,000 or less. For more information, visit CCCF.

This funding opportunity supports projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution in Pennsylvania's watersheds, particularly in Environmental Justice Areas, by improving water quality through initiatives like agricultural runoff control and urban stormwater management.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its Ag Research Grants. Donor Name: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture State: Pennsylvania County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/07/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: 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, 2024, to June 30, 2026, with the possibility, but not the assurance, of extending that research into subsequent years. All funding is contingent upon 2024-2025 budget appropriations. This notice establishes the procedures by which grant applications will be solicited and reviewed, and by which grants will be awarded. Research Topic Areas  Though not exclusive of original research topics, the Department is particularly interested in funding projects in the following areas: Ongoing multiyear research projects. The Department has, in previous years, provided funding for various multiyear research projects that might be continued or extended to complete research the Department identifies as addressing continued priorities of the agricultural industry, such as: Examining the economic impact of pest infestations like Phorid Flies and Spotted Lanternflies and identifying mitigating measures. Measuring the impacts on the Chesapeake Bay on farm management practices that have not received Federal or State Government cost-sharing assistance. Agriculture The Department requests applications for projects that: Gather and analyze food action plans. Study the impact of the Double Up Food Bucks program. Analyze of the Senior Food Nutrition Program and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Study of the surplus food recovery. Validate consumer affairs reporting on PA food prices. Analyze of the TEFAP program. Analyze/survey PA workforce. Study economic impact. Survey carbon community planners. Analyze Urban Agriculture capacity index. Incentivizing urban agriculture land stewardship. Identify current and potential funders for urban agriculture. Identify soil testing and remediation strategies for urban agriculture, particularly how these strategies can be operationalized, their benefits measured and the cost of implementation. Assess the quantity and quality of available on-farm and off-farm housing for agricultural workers, including farm owners. Study barriers to land access, particularly for BIPOC farmers and in rural communities. Energy in agriculture The Department is interested in further scientific study in areas such that: Analyze and map energy generation from agricultural products, plastic products and waste products. Analyze options to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by normal agricultural operations. Identify challenges and opportunities with Agrivoltaics such as gaps, barriers, implementation of panels modified to support Pennsylvania agriculture. Life Science The Department seeks applications that address animal health concerns, such as: Wildlife crop damage. Impacts to states on changing Medicare rules to allow more fresh foods to consumer health. One Health—Proposals that promote humans, the environment, animals, living together harmoniously. Animal Health—Proposals that improve or seek to understand aspects of animal health important to agriculture in this Commonwealth. Diagnosis of Animal Diseases—Proposals that promote the diagnosis of animal diseases that are important to Commonwealth animal agriculture. Animal Productivity—Proposals that seek to improve the productivity of agricultural animals in this Commonwealth. Animal Welfare—Proposals that seek to improve the welfare of agricultural animals in this Commonwealth. Review and recommend Federal Milk Marketing Order recommendations that would be most beneficial to PA dairy industry. Review and recommend alternatives to the current PA Milk Board Over-Order Premium that would be most advantageous to the PA dairy industry. Chronic Wasting Disease strategy development to reduce incidents and (or) live animal test development. Manufacturing The Department requests applications for projects that address: Food production residual waste. Assess incentives needed to increase organic processing. Biodegradable packaging and other environmental factors in selecting food and beverage products. Pharmaceutical or industrial uses for milk proteins or other milk components. Assess conversion of spent mushroom substrate to bio-char on energy and biomass uses and soil amendment uses. Robotic Technology Research what technology farmers use now and what technology they may use in five years. Assess the application and deployment of Augmented Reality on Pennsylvania animal and plant industries. For more information, visit Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

This program provides funding to public and private operators for the construction and improvement of transient moorage facilities for recreational motorboats 26 feet or longer, ensuring they are accessible for short-term stays.

This program provides funding to public entities and nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania for the design, construction, or improvement of public access facilities for non-motorized waterway recreation.

This funding is available to local governments and non-profit organizations for small-scale water, sewer, and flood control projects, with costs ranging from $30,000 to $500,000.

This program provides funding to public school districts and area career and technical schools for necessary improvements to their facilities.

This program provides funding to address the environmental and safety risks posed by abandoned oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania.

This program provides essential financial support to small businesses in Pennsylvania that have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, helping them access working capital to sustain their operations.

This program provides funding to municipalities, nonprofits, educational institutions, and other organizations in Pennsylvania for the development and improvement of parks, trails, and recreational spaces to enhance community livability and promote conservation.

The All-Terrain Vehicle and Snowmobile grant supports projects focused on the planning, acquisition of land, development, rehabilitation, maintenance, purchase of equipment for maintenance and construction, and the development of educational programs related to ATV and/or snowmobile trails and facilities. Only projects specifically related to ATV or snowmobile endeavors are eligible for submission under this category. The grant is funded by the ATV Management Restricted Account and the Snowmobile Management Restricted Account as authorized by Act 97 of 2016. Although there is no mandatory match requirement for this funding opportunity, applications that include match funding will receive additional consideration. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Fall opening/ closing deadlines: opens first business day in August and closes the last business day in September