Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant Applications Open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 16, 2019

 

Contact: Marla Meyer Papernick, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Phone: 412-389-0178
Email: [email protected]

 

Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant Program Applications Open

 
Pittsburgh— The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) has been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) to administer the 2020 Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape (LHCL) Mini-Grant Program.

This program will provide mini-grants of $1,000 to $7,000 for projects in Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties that complement and advance the goals of the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape. The mission of the LCHL is to foster conservation and stewardship of the natural and built environments while promoting sustainable economic development through outdoor recreation.

Applications should address one or more of the following topics:

  • Trails: Promote and support continued development of the trails network to enhance recreation, trail connectivity, livability, economic growth, and healthy lifestyles.
  • Land Conservation: Encourage land conservation through strategic assessment and collaboration with diverse partners.
  • Water Conservation: Protect and conserve water resources for potable water, recreation, and ecosystem sustainability.
  • Tourism, Outdoor Recreation: Expand the connections between the built and natural amenities in the Landscape. Engage community leaders, business investors, tourism professionals, and residents to capitalize on those connections to promote, enhance, and conserve the natural, heritage, and outdoor recreational resources while encouraging economic development.
  • Infrastructure: Address infrastructure needs of parks, forests, trails and amenities that support outdoor recreation and/or tourism. This includes large-scale initiatives such as broadband access and water and sewer infrastructure.
  • Communication: Build awareness of initiatives that support LHCL mission and goals amongst a variety of audiences including partners, residents, visitors, elected officials, business persons.

All mini-grants require a one-to-one match. PEC and PA DCNR encourage any municipality, county, registered Pennsylvania non-profits, county conservation districts, and learning institutions to consider projects that may fit the grant criteria. The LHCL Mini-Grant application, guidelines and instructions are available via the PEC website at  https://pecpa.org/apply

Important Dates:

Application Open: November 4, 2019
Application Deadline: December 13, 2019
Grant Awards Announced: April 2020

 

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About the Pennsylvania Environmental Council
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is a statewide organization that brings people, government, and business together to find real-world solutions for environmental challenges. These solutions bring about sustainable communities, protect our water resources, and address energy and climate issues. PEC was founded in 1970 and serves the entire state through offices in Luzerne, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and State College.

 

For more information, visit www.pecpa.org.