Environmental Funds & Investments

For Immediate Release: May 11, 2012

Group Rallies to Save Pennsylvania Farms

(Lancaster, PA) Conservation groups concerned about the Governor’s proposed budget cuts to farmland preservation have pulled together to form the Coalition to Save Farms. Members of the group include Lancaster Farmland Trust, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Renew Growing Greener Coalition, Pennsylvania Association of Land Trusts, Brandywine Conservancy, and the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Association.

Pennsylvania’s award winning farmland preservation program is funded through a dedicated tax on the sale of cigarettes. The Governor wants to permanently redirect this funding to the general fund. With no source of funds to replace the cigarette tax, the program will not survive. For more than 20 years, the Commonwealth has made an investment in protecting the land that grows our food, supports our economy, and provides jobs for our citizens.

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For Immediate Release: March 29, 2012

Schuylkill County Calls for Renewal of Growing Greener

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, today announced

that Schuylkill County has passed a resolution calling for the renewal of the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund.

Schuylkill County is the 37th county to  adopt a resolution in support of Growing Greener (Click of Map). In addition, at least 115 municipalities have also passed resolutions in favor of the program.

“Funding for the Environmental Stewardship Fund is at its lowest point in history,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition. “Counties throughout the state realize that without this program they will be hard-pressed to make critical investments in keeping our drinking water clean, protecting our land, and ensuring our children and families have parks and green open spaces where they can play.” …

For Immediate Release:  March 7, 2012

Proposed Budget Cuts Cast Cloud Over Agriculture Week

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, today said that proposed budget cuts to conservation funding are casting a cloud over Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Week.

“The Governor is encouraging all citizens to pay tribute to our farmers, but at the same time his administration recommends the future elimination of funding for farmland preservation, which helps support our agriculture industry,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Coalition.  “We urge the legislature to restore funding for this and other conservation programs, otherwise these cuts will chip away at the cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economy until it crumbles.” …

For Immediate Release:  February 6, 2012

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Expresses Support for Environmental Funding in Marcellus Shale Proposal

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, today issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath, expressing support for the environmental funding outlined in the current Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal:

“At first glance, this proposal appears to be a good first step toward restoring funding for the Environmental Stewardship Fund and supporting Growing Greener programs and projects that protect our drinking water, conserve our open space, enhance recreational opportunities and stimulate economic recovery across the Commonwealth. …

For Immediate Release:  January 26, 2012 

Support for Growing Greener Reaches Significant Milestone

Thirty-Five Counties – More Than Half the State – Call for Renewal of Critical Environmental Program 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that 35 counties – more than half the state – have passed resolutions calling for the renewal of the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund, Pennsylvania’s primary source of funding to help local communities protect water quality, preserve open space and farmland, and enhance parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

Berks County today adopted a resolution in support of the Growing Greener initiative, marking a significant milestone in the efforts to save the critical program. In addition, Bedford County adopted a resolution this week.

“The Growing Greener program has made a tremendous impact in counties throughout the Commonwealth,” said Chairman of the Berks County Board of Commissioners Christian Leinbach. “In Berks County, the program has helped us enhance our heritage areas, conserve our open space and protect our water quality.  We could not achieve this without Growing Greener.” …

For Immediate Release: December 2, 2011

Eight More Organizations Join Coalition in Calling for Growing Greener Funding

 (HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that eight more organizations have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

The Tulpehocken Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Bike Pittsburgh, and the Rail Trail Council of Northeastern PA have signed the Coalition’s Statement of Support, which calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the renewal of Growing Greener.

In addition, Beaver County as well as Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County, Bucks County Recreation Council and the Centre Regional Recreation Authority all have adopted resolutions in support of the program.

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For Immediate Release:  November 15, 2011

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Applauds Elk County for Resolution Calling for Renewal of State Funding to Protect Environment 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today applauded Elk County for passing a resolution calling for the renewal of Growing Greener, the state’s primary source of funding to help local communities protect water quality, preserve open space and farmland, and enhance parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

“The Coalition commends the Elk County Commissioners for recognizing the significant contributions Growing Greener has made to the community from protecting drinking water to protecting open space,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition. “It is the Coalition’s sincere hope that the legislature – as it debates funding for the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund – realizes that public support for the program continues to grow.” …

For Immediate Release:  November 11, 2011 

Local Support for Growing Greener Continues to Spread Across Commonwealth
Municipal, County Governments Urge Legislature to Restore Funding for Key Environmental Program

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that 11 more municipalities, counties and organizations this week have formally voiced support for restoring Growing Greener, the state’s primary source of funding to help local communities protect water quality, preserve open space and farmland, and enhance parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

At least 140 government entities including 30 counties – representing more than seven million Pennsylvanians – have adopted resolutions in support of the program, with the following municipalities joining the list of supporters this week:

• Cooke Township, Cumberland County
• Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County
• Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County
• Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County …

For Immediate Release:  November 4, 2011

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Applauds Armstrong, Butler, Huntington Counties for Resolutions Calling for Renewal of State Funding to Protect Environment 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today applauded Armstrong, Butler and Huntington counties for passing resolutions calling for the renewal of Growing Greener, the state’s primary source of funding to help local communities protect water quality, preserve open space and farmland, and enhance parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

“County commissioners across the Commonwealth continue to recognize the value of Growing Greener in their local communities and understand that funding this program is critical to the health of their waterways, open space, farmland, parks and trails,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition. “As the legislature debates how to allocate revenues associated with natural gas drilling, it is imperative that any proposal includes significant funding for Growing Greener.” …