The Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team is pleased to announce a new mini-grant program for up to $25,000 in funding.  Applications are due September 1.

“The PA Wilds Planning Team is pleased to be able to offer these mini-grants once again,” said Jan Hampton of the Cameron County Conservation District, who serves as current Chair of the Planning Team. “Many projects have been completed through past mini-grant offerings that add natural interest and welcoming sites to our region.”

To be eligible, communities should have participated in two past workshops offered by the PA Wilds Planning Team and are required to provide a 50-50 match to the grant.  Eligible applicants also include members of the workshop teams, include non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, municipalities, Councils of Government and Conservation Districts.

Two workshops hosted by the Planning Team were held in November 2007 and 2012.

The 2007 workshop entitled “Balancing Commerce and Nature for Sustainable Community Development” included seven teams of community leaders to address issues of specific concern to their areas and to create “vision to action” plans to guide collaboration among diverse interests in their communities. 

The 2012 workshop entitled “Connecting Nature, Economy, and Community Character,” included nine teams from several different counties looking to advance sustainable tourism projects important to their areas and that revolve around the region’s natural and cultural assets.

Funding for the Planning Team’s 2015 Mini-Grant Program is provided through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and therefore must adhere to all statewide rules and regulations. 

The Planning Team anticipates making award announcements by September 30. Awardees would then have one year to complete their project.

The Pennsylvania Wilds region includes the counties of Warren, Forest, Elk, Potter, McKean, Tioga, Clinton, Lycoming, Clearfield, Jefferson, Cameron and Clarion, Northern Centre.

For full guidelines and an application, visit the Headwaters Charitable Trust website. 

8/3/2015