• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Follow Us

A coalition of environmental, conservation, and outdoor recreation organizations in PA.

Header Left

Mobile Menu

  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Coalition Partners
    • Strategic Plan
  • Advocacy Updates
    • Legislation
    • State Budget
    • Environmental Funds & Investments
  • Engage
    • Advocate for GG III
    • Restore PA
    • Defend Environmental Funds
  • Stories
  • search
  • DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Coalition Partners
    • Strategic Plan
  • Advocacy Updates
    • Legislation
    • State Budget
    • Environmental Funds & Investments
  • Engage
    • Advocate for GG III
    • Restore PA
    • Defend Environmental Funds
  • Stories
  • search
  • DONATE

Environmental Funds & Investments

Coalition Applauds $38 Million Investment in Conservation and Recreation Projects

December 6, 2013 //  by Paul Doerwald

For Immediate Release:  December 6, 2013

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Applauds
$38 Million Investment in Conservation and Recreation Projects Statewide 

Coalition Highlights Importance of Maintaining and Expanding Funding for Future Projects

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today applauded the investment of $38 million in grants to support conservation and recreation projects statewide, and highlighted the importance of maintaining and expanding funding for future projects.

“The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition applauds the state’s approval of $38 million in grants that will be used to support critical conservation and recreation projects in nearly every county throughout the Commonwealth,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition.  “These grants remind us of the importance of maintaining and expanding funding to protect vital natural resources that provide numerous economic and quality of life benefits.”

The grants were awarded through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, which is

supported with funds from a variety of sources that include The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund and the Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Program.

The following are examples of projects that have received grant funding:

  •  Natural Lands Trust will receive a grant of $834,500 to acquire and preserve a 234-acre stretch along Ridgeway Road within the Schuylkill Highlands in Berks County. The preserved forestland,  which provides habitat and recreational opportunities, will eventually be transferred to the PA Bureau of Forestry.
  •  The Nature Conservancy will receive more than $306,000 to acquire approximately 110 acres within the Tannersville Cranberry Bog in Monroe County, for habitat and wetland bog protection.
  •  Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society will receive $185,000 to provide recreation and park outreach and education.
  •  Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism was awarded a grant of $183,500 to provide technical assistance to partner organizations on the development of trails and greenways in Venango and Crawford Counties, to facilitate the construction of the Oil Creek Memorial Landing and to install signage along a segment of the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail.
  •  Allegheny Ridge Corporation will receive $200,000 to implement the Kiski Valley Outdoor Connections Plan, which include coordination of two trail acquisitions, installation of signage on regional trail systems and construction of boating accesses in Huntingdon County.
  •  Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will receive a grant of $110,000 to acquire approximately 48 acres along River Road in Confluence Borough to be used for forest protection and recreational opportunities.

“Investments in conservation contribute to the long-term economic success of Pennsylvania and to the health and well-being of its residents,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust.  “These grants will allow Natural Lands Trust to preserve hundreds of acres of land—from rural Berks County to the Mt. Airy neighborhood in Philadelphia—that will protect important wildlife habitat and provide ecreational opportunities now and for years to come.”

According to a recent survey from the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, 92 percent of 608 Pennsylvanians surveyed think that state funds dedicated to preserving farmland and

open space, providing parks and trails and protecting rivers and streams should continue to be used for these purposes.

In addition, the survey found that nearly 78 percent of respondents support increasing state funds to conserve and protect open space, clean water, natural areas, wildlife habitats, parks, historic sites, forests and farms even if would cost the average household $10 more annually. These high levels of support are constant throughout every geographic region and every gender, ethnic, educational and economic demographic throughout the state.

Regional Coalition Releases:

* Southeast Pennsylvania

* Northeast Pennsylvania

* Central Pennsylvania

* Southwest Pennsylvania

* Northwest Pennsylvania

Governor’s Release

List of Projects Funded by County

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Coalition Celebrates Marcellus Shale Legacy Grants

November 27, 2013 //  by Paul Doerwald

For Immediate Release:  November 26, 2013

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Celebrates Approval of Marcellus Legacy Fund Grants for Recreation and Critical Land and Water Conservation Projects

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today celebrated the approval of more than $28 million in Marcellus Legacy Fund grants to support recreation and critical land and water protection efforts throughout the state.

“These grants will have a lasting impact on the Commonwealth by supporting vital projects that will protect watersheds, preserve open space, mitigate flooding, build and improve recreational trails and treat contaminated water at former mining sites, said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition.

Impact fees on natural gas drilling have generated more than $400 million to date.  Forty percent of the fees collected is allocated to the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund and a portion of that is distributed in the form of grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority [CFA] to support statewide conservation and recreation efforts.  This initial round of grants distributed more than $28 million in grants.

The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition was instrumental in ensuring that funds collected through the Marcellus Legacy Fund be made available for statewide conservation and recreation projects.

A breakdown of the grants distributed by the CFA is as follows:

  • $5.6 million to restore streams impaired by polluted runoff in 18 counties.
  • $16 million to support 116 greenway, trail and recreation projects throughout the state.
  • $5.2 million to support 12 abandoned mine drainage abatement and treatment projects statewide.
  • $700,000 to support flood mitigation projects in Blair, Bucks, Lackawanna and Northumberland counties.
  • $225,000 to plug orphaned and abandoned wells in Allegheny and Washington counties.

“The Marcellus Legacy Fund was created to help support important environmental protection efforts statewide and in local communities, and we’re glad to see that its impact is starting to be felt,” Heath said.  “This first round of grant awards will go a long way to improving environmental outcomes and upholding Pennsylvania’s status as a great place to live and work.”

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Newly Announced Growing Greener Grants

June 21, 2013 //  by Paul Doerwald

For Immediate Release:  June 21, 2013 

Growing Greener Coalition Encourages Submission of Applications for Newly Announced Grant Funding

(HARRISBURG, PA) Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener Coalition encouraged eligible applicants today to apply for $23 million in grant funding that the Corbett Administration and the Department of Environmental Protection announced would be made available for environmental protection efforts.

“The Growing Greener Coalition applauds the Commonwealth for recognizing the critical need to protect Pennsylvania’s water and land resources and natural environment,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition.  “These funds will be put to good use restoring watersheds and removing hazardous materials from ground soil, ensuring clean, safe drinking water and an improved quality of life for Commonwealth residents.”

The funds will be made available through the Department of Environmental Protection to be distributed to local agencies through a competitive grant process.  According to the Administration, funds will support watershed restoration, acid mine drainage and water quality improvement projects throughout the state.

For more information about the grants, and to download a copy of the application, visit the Department of Environmental Protection’s website (www.dep.state.pa.us) and select “Growing Greener.”  The grant application period will run through August 16th.

Support for the program will come from a combination of Act 13 impact fee revenues, Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Funds and Growing Greener II bonds.

Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF) receives its revenue through a 1999 increase in the state’s tipping fee, along with revenue transfers from the Oil & Gas Lease Fund made possible through the enactment of Act 13.

The Coalition was instrumental in ensuring that the state dedicated a portion of the impact fees from natural gas drilling to conservation, recreation and preservation projects.  This dedicated revenue is now being distributed across the Commonwealth via the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund, the Commonwealth Financing Authority and the County Conservation and Recreation Initiative all established under Act 13.

According to a recent survey from the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, 92 percent of Pennsylvanians surveyed think that state funds dedicated to preserving farmland and open space, providing parks and trails and protecting rivers and streams should continue to be used for these purposes.

The Penn State Harrisburg survey also found that nearly 78 percent of respondents support increasing state funds to conserve and protect open space, clean water, natural areas, wildlife habitats, parks, historic sites, forests and farms even if that would cost the average household $10 more annually. These high levels of support are consistent across every geographic region, gender, ethnic, educational and economic demographic throughout the state.

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

GGC: Strong Suport for State Funding

December 20, 2012 //  by Paul Doerwald

For Immediate Release: December 20, 2012 

PA Growing Greener Coalition Points to Newly Released Survey as Clear Evidence of Strong Public Support for State Conservation and Recreation Funding 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition today pointed to a newly released statewide survey as clear evidence of strong public support for state funding to preserve farmland and open space, provide parks and trails and protect rivers and streams.

The survey, conducted between Oct. 1 and Nov. 4 by the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, showed overwhelming public support for both continuing existing dedicated state funding for conservation and recreation, as well as increasing state funding to protect land, water and wildlife.   The survey questions were commissioned by The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land. …

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Coalition Applauds Restoration of Recreation and Conservation Funding

June 29, 2012 //  by Paul Doerwald

For Immediate Release:  June 29, 2012

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Applauds Restoration of Recreation and Conservation Funding

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today applauded the restoration of funding for two key programs in the 2012-13 state budget.

Andrew Heath, executive director of the Coalition, issued the following statement:

“The Coalition applauds the decision to restore funding for our parks, trails, open space, waterways and family farms and thanks our lawmakers for recognizing the importance of investing in recreation, conservation and preservation. …

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Save Our Farms Coalition

May 12, 2012 //  by Paul Doerwald

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.

…

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Schuylkill County Calls for Renewal of Growing Greener

March 29, 2012 //  by Paul Doerwald

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.” …

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Proposed Budget Cuts Cast Cloud Over Agriculture Week

March 7, 2012 //  by Paul Doerwald

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.” …

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Support for Environmental Funding in Marcellus Shale Proposal

February 6, 2012 //  by Paul Doerwald

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. …

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Hits Milestone

January 26, 2012 //  by Paul Doerwald

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.” …

Category: Environmental Funds & InvestmentsTag: homepage_feature

  • « Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Next Page »

Footer

Contact Information

Growing Greener Coalition
610 N. 3rd Street, #301
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17101
717.230.8560 | [email protected]

 

Stay Connected

Get Updates

Copyright © 2023 · Growing Greener Coalition