Six local environmental projects from across the Philadelphia region are the latest recipients of $50,000 grants from the PECO/Natural Lands Trust Green Region Grants Program.

Through the Green Region Program, PECO helps municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania with ongoing efforts to protect and improve open land. To date, more than 13 municipalities have already received funding.

The recipients for the Spring awards are:

· New Hope Borough, Bucks County: Open Space Plan - a $10,000 grant to develop a plan for a park at the site of a former historic building that burned down in 2005.

· Borough of South Coatesville, Chester County: Community Revitalization Plan - a $5,000 grant will be awarded to develop a community-wide revitalization plan for use in securing additional grants.

· Caln Township, Chester County: Kings Highway Property Plan - a $5,000 grant to help develop a plan for the use of a 91-acre parcel of land along Kings Highway.

· Chadds Ford, Delaware County: Open Space Plan - a $5,000 grant will be awarded to help township leaders develop an open space plan to identify, evaluate and prioritize the current assets and resources for the community.

· Concord Township, Delaware County: Collman Tract Open Space Plan - a $5,000 to develop the Collman tract, a 10-acre former farmland, for municipal and passive recreational use. The tract is along Smithbridge Road, which is adjacent to the Concord Township municipal complex, which will eventually access the township's walking trail.

· Jenkintown Borough, Montgomery County: Open Space Plan – a $10,000 to update Jenkintown's open space plan to help it secure funding from the Montgomery County Open Space Board.

· Overbrook, Philadelphia County: Lancaster Avenue Redevelopment Corporation – a $10,000 to help the Lancaster Avenue Redevelopment Corporation transform several lots into low-pollen-producing butterfly sanctuaries.

Municipalities may apply for a Green Region grant of up to $10,000 per project in their region. This year, PECO will fund nearly $100,000 in projects - the same amount the company distributed last year for this program. A Green Region review committee, which includes representatives from PECO, Exelon, county agencies and conservation organizations, reviewed applications and issued the grants.

"We hope these grants help nurture ongoing efforts to promote open space initiatives," said Denis O'Brien, PECO president. "We realize that open spaces add immensely to the quality of life for the region's citizens and we're pleased to be able to contribute to these efforts."

Natural Lands Trust, a non-profit, regional land conservation group, administers Green Region. Grants are available twice a year with application deadlines in the spring and fall.

The grants can be used, along with other sources of funding, to cover a variety of planning and direct expenses associated with developing and implementing open space protection programs, including: consulting fees, surveys, environmental assessments, habitat improvements, and capital improvements for passive recreation.

For information, guidelines and applications, visit the Green Region Program webpage or contact Oliver Bass, Natural Lands Trust, 610-353-5587 x. 244

6/2/2006