PA Conservation Works! Grant Workshops Set For Pittsburgh On August 5

To help local government officials and non-profit organizations apply for funds through PA Conservation Works!, a new competitive grant program funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Southwest Regional Office in Pittsburgh will host training sessions August 5.

“Applying for grants can be complicated, and we want to help make the process go more smoothly,” acting DEP Southwest Regional Director Ron Schwartz said. “Organizations and government entities may not be familiar with the criteria for this new grant program, so we plan to cover a lot of ground during these training sessions.”

“Improving our energy efficiency will lead to a brighter future for our region and a better economy,” Schwartz said. “We want to be as helpful as possible in supporting area organizations as they strive to achieve those goals.”

The first session, from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., will outline the requirements for the program, which is open to Pennsylvania boroughs, townships and cities with fewer than 35,000 residents and counties with fewer than 200,000 residents.

During the second session, from 10 a.m. to noon, participants will learn about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Portfolio program.

Conservation Works! grants are available for up to $250,000 for individual projects and $500,000 for joint projects designed to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and reduce energy costs by at least 25 percent. All projects must create jobs, be initiated within six months and be completed by September 30, 2011.

To register, contact Carol Mensing at 412-442-4000. Seating for the first session is unlimited; the second session is limited and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

DEP will also hold a webinar on the PA Conservation Works! program July 27. Click here for details.  Click here for details on PA Conservation Works!