The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Trust announced $803,489 in grants to be awarded to 17 organizations through the “Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns” Grant Initiative (G3). 

This program was created in 2011 to advance watershed protection and economic vitality by developing green stormwater management techniques that create jobs and help make communities more livable.

The 5 projects funded in Pennsylvania include—

-- Borough of Chambersburg, Franklin County, $115,269;

-- County of Blair,  $66,825;

-- East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, $35,000;

-- Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County, $30,000; and

-- The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region, Dauphin County, $29,760.

“These funds help communities transition to a sustainable environment and economy by creating a cycle of pollution prevention, greening and job creation - leading to a better quality of life,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “By keeping rain water from coming into contact with pollution in the first place, green infrastructure improves the health of our waters, while reducing flooding, and helping our communities become more resilient to climate change.”

The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region, the host for grant announcement, is one of 17 grant recipients.

Their $29,760 grant will help build a stormwater management system to control runoff, and demonstrate the benefits of green infrastructure in the capital. This grant will also help achieve Harrisburg’s Comprehensive Plan to increase plantings to help control and absorb stormwater, and offset the urban heat island effect.

"Our goal through our new Salvation Army facility is to transform our community in a positive way. Diligent attention is being given to the local environment which enables us to provide more effective programs and services. For instance, incorporating vegetable gardens and green space into our facility design will enable us to teach and emphasize 'farm to table' concepts to kids in our youth programs, and to adults and families through our Nutrition Education and Family Services programs. This is an efficient and effective way to feed and teach hungry people in our community, while also demonstrating responsible stewardship of our environment in Harrisburg and beyond," said Major John Griner, Corps Officer at the Salvation Army.

For more information, visit the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns webpage.

NewsClips:

PA Not Meeting All Targets In Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

The Future Of The Conowingo Dam, Karl Blankenship

Millersville Opens Watershed Education, Research Center

Op-Ed: Stream Buffers Greatly Enhance Water Quality, Denise Colman, NRCS

Op-Ed: All Pennsylvania Watersheds Need Attention

Editorial: State Must Step Up Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

7/4/2016