Grants & Awards
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, and other partners, PEC administers a number of mini-grant and awards programs.
Grant and award programs administered by PEC include:
- Pennsylvania River Sojourn Grants
- Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants
- Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants
- Pennsylvania Water Trails Partnership Mini-Grants
- Ohio Basin Access for Canoes and Kayaks Mini-Grant Program
- Pennsylvania River of the Year
Programs currently accepting applications:
Nominations for 2022 Pennsylvania River of the Year
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) administers the River of the Year program with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Pennsylvania’s River of the Year is an honor designed to elevate public awareness of specific rivers and recognize important conservation needs and achievements. River of the Year designations have been presented annually since 1983.
The nomination period is open through November 15, 2021 until 5pm. Selected nominations will be voted on by the public beginning in late November.
All navigable Pennsylvania waterways are eligible for nomination, except for the following River of the Year winners from the past five years: Shenango River, Lackawanna River, Clarion River, Loyalsock Creek and the Allegheny River.
In order to be considered for PA River of the Year, the nominated waterway must be navigable and the nominating organization:
- Must be either a 501c3, county, educational institution, or a municipality
- Must be registered with the Bureau of Charitable Organizations, if a nonprofit
- Must have the capacity to host a yearlong slate of activities celebrating the River of the Year
- Must hold at least one on-water sojourn kayak/canoe event
Once the public voting has determined the 2022 PA River of the Year, the nominating organization will receive a $10,000 leadership grant to help fund their River of the Year activities.
For more information about the River of the Year program, visit www.pawatersheds.org.
POWR Ohio Basin Access for Canoes and Kayaks Mini Grant Program
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PAFBC) and the Richard King Mellon Foundation (RCMF), are excited to launch the Ohio Basin Access for Canoes and Kayaks Mini Grant Program (OBACK). This program will provide grants of up to $20,000 for design and engineering, construction, or rehabilitation of non-motorized public access projects within the Ohio River Basin. Priority will be given to projects that improve recreational access on rivers and streams as well as those that support and advance POWR’s mission, specifically the facilitation, stewardship, and enjoyment of Pennsylvania’s waterways.
Eligibility
- Grants are available to public entities, including townships, boroughs, municipal and county governments as well as to nonprofit groups including land trusts, conservancies and watershed associations that have or will have the capability to provide boat access facilities that are open and available for public use.
- Eligible projects must occur on lands owned by the project applicant, or where the applicant has a long-term lease or agreement on the site.
- Projects must remain open to the public and free of charge for 25 years (successful grantees will be required to sign a 25-year maintenance agreement).
Applications due December 15, 2021 (5:00 pm)