A funding round for the Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Greenways Block Grant (GBG) Program is open and applications are being accepted through 11:00 AM, July 3rd for eligible projects located within the northwest Pennsylvania Greenways Region of Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren Counties.

The primary goal of the Northwest Commission’s GBG Program is to facilitate the implementation of the natural systems greenway recommendations contained in the Northwest Pennsylvania Greenways Plan and the resulting individual
eight county plans. This will be accomplished by supporting the completion of those smaller projects not eligible or unable to compete for alternative funding methods that will benefit from the speed and agility afforded by the GBG Program.

This program leverages grant funds through the partnership of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Eligible GBG Program applicants for DEP funded projects consist of all county or municipal governments, conservation districts, incorporated watershed associations, Councils of Governments, 501C3 tax exempt corporations, educational institutions, municipal authorities, and conservancies.

Eligible applicants for DCNR funded projects consist of all county or municipal governments, council of governments, conservation districts, and housing/redevelopment authorities.

Grant requests may not exceed $40,000 for a DEP project and $25,000 for a DCNR project. Priority is given to projects which incorporate both funding streams.

The GBG application and guidelines are available on the Northwest Commission’s webpage at www.northwestpa.org/greenways-block-grant-program, or www.nwcommission.org/greenways.html.

It may also be requested by calling Sue Smith at 814-677-4800 x131 or by email at sues@northwestpa.org, or susans@nwcommission.org.