There are a wide variety of grants available to implement stormwater management and water quality improvements. Partnerships can improve your chances of receiving a grant, and CWMP participants are potential partners.
The following links provide overviews and details on several grant opportunities in Pennsylvania:
Use the form below to search for grants and funding opportunities. Note that grant requirements and deadlines change from year to year, check grant website for current deadlines and other details.
Dirt and Gravel Roads
Timing projects must be complted in 18 months
Eligible projects stormwater related improvements to dirt and gravel and low volume roads
Eligible applicants Any municipality that has received Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance training from the Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads is eligible.
Match prefer 35% to 50%
Eligible costs Eligible costs include labor, materials, and equipment. We can only pay 10% of the total grant for engineering.
State/jurisdiction PA
Preservation Partnership Grants
Timing typically mid to late February annually
Eligible projects Land and farmland acquisition, park and trail improvements for water qualtiy, habitat, trails and trail amenities
Eligible applicants municipalities and Authorities
Match typically 50% depends on grant program
Eligible costs see website
Maximum grant 250000
State/jurisdiction PA
Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund Grants
Timing varies, March to July
Eligible projects These grants provide for the distribution of unconventional gas well impact fees to counties, municipalities and commonwealth agencies. The grants support improvements to municipalities' water systems and for public services and environmental protection projects. Funding programs include Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement; Baseline Water Quality Data; Flood Mitigation; Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging; Sewage Facilities; Watershed Restoration and Protection; and Greenways, Trails and Recreation. (See Transportation Grants section for more on the Greenways, Trails and Recreation funding program.)
Eligible applicants counties, municipalities, nonprofits and commonwealth agencies.
Match typically at least 15% match or more
Eligible costs depends on project type
State/jurisdiction PA
Riparian Forest Buffer Grant Requirements
Timing Jan.- April
Eligible projects DCNR supports both conventional riparian forest buffers and multifunctional buffers.
Eligible applicants County or Municipal Government, Higher Educational Institution, Other Educational Institution, Non-profit with 501(c)3 IRS Status and Non-profit with PA Bureau of Charitable Organization Status.
Match 50% match required, Local match can include cash and/or non-cash (volunteer, donation, in-kind) sources.
Eligible costs Eligible projects for Riparian Forest Buffer Program funding include: landowner outreach, buffer design, site preparation and buffer installation, plant materials and tree shelter, post-planting establishment (approx. three years)
Minimum grant 50
State/jurisdiction PA
Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2)
Timing
Eligible projects This grant provides funds for the planning, acquisition, and development of public parks, recreation areas, motorized and non-motorized trails, river conservation and access, and the conservation of open space.
Eligible applicants Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, nonprofit organizations, and State Heritage Areas.
State/jurisdiction PA
Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund
Timing March-April
Eligible projects The strategic program areas of the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund include:Sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration and conservation activitiesImprove and maintain water quality to support fish and wildlife, as well as habitats of fish and wildlife, and drinking water for people Sustain and enhance water management for volume and flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat Improve recreational opportunities for public access in the basin consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat.
Eligible applicants For Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (USFWS), nonprofit organizations; federal, state, interstate and local governments; Indian tribes; and educational institutions.
For Delaware River Restoration Funds, projects are required to be located in Phase 2 focus area. Contact a Brandywine Christina Cluster member; Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, Stroud Water Research, Brandywine Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy of PA/DE.
Match 50%
Eligible costs see grants website for details of various programs
Minimum grant 50
Maximum grant 500
State/jurisdiction PA
Challenge Cost Share Program
Timing April-May
Eligible projects The Challenge Cost Share Program is intended to support specific National Park Service mission-related projects that align
Eligible applicants Applications are submitted only by National Park Service staff; project partners are expected to collaborate fully in the application process, but are not themselves eligible to apply.Partners may be educational institutions, private for-profit entities, or non-profit organizations.The project must have the endorsement of the NPS, as well as assurance from the local partner(s) that the project
Match The partner organization is required to match the amount of Challenge Cost Share funding received with an equal share from the partner(s); any combination of cash, goods, and services can be counted toward the partner's cost share requirement, as long as all come from non-federal sources.
Eligible costs https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1837/upload/FY16_CCS.pdf. (note it can be other than education - for instance dam removal would be applicable
Maximum grant 25000
State/jurisdiction PA
Boating Facility Grants Program
Timing typically due end of December
Eligible projects Public boating facilities and access
Eligible applicants Municipalities , county's nonprofit groups
Match 50% match required, Local match can include cash and/or non-cash (volunteer, donation, in-kind) sources.
Eligible costs land acquisition, project design, engineering, development, expansion and construction of public recreation board access facilities.
State/jurisdiction PA
Growing Greener Plus
Timing varies annually
Eligible projects Watershed Restoration and Protection. The primary purpose of the program is to restore impaired waters and protect waterways from nonpoint source pollution within the Commonwealth.
Eligible applicants Eligible applicants or sponsors must be one of the following: incorporated watershed associations, municipalities, counties, county conservation districts, council of governments and other authorized organizations
Match For Growing Greener and AMD Set-Aside projects, a 15% match of the grant request is required from other sources. Eligible match contributions will be permitted for up to three years prior to the grant submittal deadline date through the life of the grant agreement as long as the eligible match expenditures are directly related to the project. Match contributions cannot include other DEP funding sources or DEP in-kind services, including laboratory analysis.
Eligible costs Projects that will improve water quality on impaired watersheds including those polluted by agriculture, urban runoff, stream channel degradation, and AMD.
Maximum grant 500000
State/jurisdiction PA
Environmental Education Grants (3 levels)
Timing Sept. - Dec. deadlines can vary annually
Eligible projects Education programs that address: Climate Change, Water, Environmental Justice
Eligible applicants Public schools and school districts (K-12)
Match 20%
Eligible costs People Costs (May not exceed 35% of grant funds), travel costs, resources costs: Ed resources, supplies, equipment, facility rental, marketing, website, postage
Minimum grant 3000
Maximum grant 85000
State/jurisdiction PA
PECO Green Region Open Space Program
Timing October
Eligible projects The PECO program awards grants for southeastern Pennsylvania municipal efforts to preserve, protect, and improve open spaces.
Eligible applicants Eligible applicants include municipalities and regional recreational authorities within PECO's service territory in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or York counties.
Match 50%
Eligible costs Planning, consultant fees, publications, acquisitionof land or easements.
Maximum grant 10
State/jurisdiction PA
PA Small Water & Sewer Program
Timing Sept. - Dec. deadlines can vary annually
Eligible projects Grants for small water, sewer, storm sewer, and flood control infrastructure projects.
Eligible applicants Municipalities and Authorities
Match min. 15%
Eligible costs Activities to assist with the construction, improvement, expansion, or rehabilitation or repair of a water supply system, sanitary sewer system, storm sewer system, or flood control projects.
Minimum grant 30
Maximum grant 500
State/jurisdiction PA
TreeVitalize Watersheds Grant Program
Timing November
Eligible projects This grant program focuses on planting trees along streams, neighboring upland areas, and natural stormwater basins.
Eligible applicants Who can apply: Anyone with a good project on permanently protected land can apply, such as non-profit organizations, municipalities, schools, scouting groups and community organizations. If your organization is not a registered non-profit (e.g., 501(c)(3)), you can partner with a registered non-profit or your local government to apply. New applicants must complete PHS Tree Tenders training or equivalent education or training to be eligible. Private landowners can apply through a registered non-profit or local government if they are willing to sign a 20-year agreement promising to leave the plantings undisturbed and allow maintenance of the plantingsGrant applications should only be submitted for projects that are "shovel ready"
Match Required match: TreeVitalize will cover up to 75% of the total project costs. The remainder must be covered by other sources as part of the required minimum 25% match. In-kind contributions, such as volunteer and staff time for planting, site preparation, and maintenance are applicable towards those match requirements. For volunteer effort match, volunteer sign-in sheets are required and must be submitted to document the number of volunteers and the hours those volunteers participated. Staff time must be documented with timesheets. Monitoring and maintenance of previous TreeVitalize Watersheds projects may be counted as match.Consultant costs: The use of consultants for TreeVitalize Watersheds projects may be necessary in some cases. The maximum allowed amount in such cases is $1,000 per project toward consultants
Eligible costs Eligible and ineligible expenses: In addition to covering plant costs (including delivery/freight), the TreeVitalize grant may be applied toward site preparation and supplies such as tree stakes, mulch, watering bags, tree shelters and other deer protection. Non-profit staff project management time is allowed as an expense but it must be justified and not exceed $1,000. Ineligible grant expenses include shirts, hats, and food for volunteers, although such expenses can generally be counted as in-kind or cash
State/jurisdiction PA
Conservation Easement Assistance Program
Timing
Eligible projects The Conservation Easement Assistance Program provides small grants to organizations to help cover the costs of:
Eligible applicants To qualify for the program, organizations must first submit an organization qualification form. An organization must meet one of two sets of conditions for nonprofit entities or municipal authorities
State/jurisdiction PA
Homeowner On-Lot Sewage Disposal and Lateral Repair Loans
Timing on-going
Eligible projects PENNVEST, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, provides low-cost financing to improve, replace, or repair individual on-lot sewage disposal systems or to connect, for the first time, to public sewer in order to meet public health and environmental safety standards.
Eligible applicants All
Match this is a loan program at 1.75% interest
Eligible costs Rehabilitation, improvement, repair or replacement of an existing on-lot system or sewer lateral located from the house to the main line on a single family, owner-occupied property which is the primary residence of the owner.
Project costs may include design costs, construction fees and costs, permit fees and most loan origination fees.
First-time hook-ups to community wastewater collection and treatment systems.
Maximum grant 25
State/jurisdiction PA
Dockstader Foundation
Timing Feb 1-April 1
Eligible projects The mission of the E. Kneale Dockstader Foundation (EKDF) is to promote educational, charitable, scientific and activities that enhance and optimize the natural environment in southern Chester County.
Eligible applicants Local to southern Chester County, municipality or non profit I think
Maximum grant 40
State/jurisdiction PA
Farm Stewardship Program
Timing On-going
Eligible projects This program provides $4,000 towards on-farm conservation practices for every acre of riparian forest buffer installed at at least 35 feet from the stream. Farms must have up to date conservation plans and nutrient or manure management plans.
Eligible applicants Farmer is Chester and Berks Counties
Match Program does not pay for the installation of the buffer. Funding for this portion of the project must be obtained elsewhere.
Minimum grant 4000
Maximum grant 20000
State/jurisdiction PA
Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program
Timing
Eligible projects This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Eligible applicants This program assists qualified applicants
Match loan/grant program
Eligible costs Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of: Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution, Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal, Solid waste collection, disposal and closure, Storm water collection, transmission and disposal
State/jurisdiction US
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Timing Applications can be submitted any time, funding rounds vary year-to-year
Eligible projects This program provides practice incentive payments to agricultural producers to address resource conserns as a part of a conservation plan.
Eligible applicants Agricultural producers should call NRCS to determine program eligibility
Match Recipient is responsible to pay for remaining cost of implementation and maintenance.
State/jurisdiction US
Emergency Watershed Protection
Timing All applications must be submitted within 10 days of the disaster. For non-emergency situations, all applications must be submit
Eligible projects The purpose of this program is to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of flood plain easements, to prevent runoff and soil erosion in order to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and erosion on any watershed whenever natural occurrence(s) cause a sudden impairment of the watershed.
Eligible applicants Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, and conservation districts.
Match min. of 25%
Eligible costs the EWP program addresses watershed impairments, which include, but are not limited to:
State/jurisdiction US
