The Department of Environmental Protection will hold an informational session at 1 p.m. on April 22, in Harrisburg to help watershed groups, municipal officials and community planners apply for 2008 Growing Greener I and II grants.

The session will be held at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office Building, 909 Elmerton Ave., and will last until 3 p.m.

“We want to make the grant application process as easy and convenient as possible,” said Rachel Diamond, DEP’s south central regional director. “This session is designed to help interested parties submit an accurate and complete grant application.”

The session will include a brief overview of the 2008 Growing Greener application package followed by a question and answer session.

As part of the application process, applicants can also seek funding through DEP’s Flood Protection Grant Program and the federal Section 319 Non-point Source Grant Program.

Flood protection grants fund project improvements, non-routine maintenance and specialized equipment in communities that operate and maintain state and federal flood protection projects. Section 319 grants fund the development of watershed implementation plans to address non-point source impairments.

Participants are strongly encouraged to print and review the guidance package from the department’s website before attending.

This year the competition for Growing Greener Grants from the Environmental Stewardship Fund will be very aggressive since the Governor’s proposed 2008-09 budget would reduce monies available for grants from the Fund by $29.2 million to pay debt service for the Growing Greener II bond issue.

Applications must be postmarked no later May 16, or hand delivered that day by 4:30 p.m. to the DEP Grants Center on the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg. Late submissions will not be considered.

For more information, visit the Growing Greener Grant Program webpage or call DEP Watershed Manager Mary Golab at 717-705-4700. To request an application package, send email to: GrowingGreener@state.pa.us .

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4/18/2008