Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is offering free grant workshops to outdoor and recreation organizations interested in applying for state funding.

The DCNR application period runs from January 22 through April 11, 2018. Workshops are offered throughout the state between November 1 and 21, with two webinars offered in December and January.

These workshops will provide technical assistance to potential applicants on DCNR grants available for recreation, conservation, riparian buffer, trail, and community parks projects. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with staff and receive information on grant program selection criteria, eligibility, and documents required for various types of applications. Community leaders, municipal officials, consultants, board members, trail managers, land conservation professionals, and park and recreation professionals are encouraged to attend.

Part of each workshop is dedicated to concurrent breakout sessions, focused on community-based planning, land acquisition, trail, and community park development projects. If your organization is interested in more than one of these topics, please send at least that number of representatives.

Here’s the workshop schedule. Click on individual links for more program and registration information:
Wednesday, November 1 – Camp Hill, Giant Food Store, Community Room
Wednesday, November 8 – Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College, Educational Conference Center
Tuesday, November 14 – Clarion, Trinity Point Church of God
Wednesday, November 15 – Allison Park, Hampton Township Community Center
Thursday, November 16 – Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College, Central Campus
Tuesday, November 21 – State College, Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, Deans Hall 1

For those who can’t make it to any of the workshops, here’s information about the webinars:

Wednesday, December 13 – DCNR Grants for locally based Recreation, Conservation, Trail, and Riparian Buffer Projects (Planning, Development, and Acquisition projects): Participants will learn about eligible project activities, funding sources, matching requirements, and strategies on how to create a competitive grant application.

Thursday, January 11 – DCNR’s Statewide and Regional Partnership Grant Program: This webinar is specifically designed for those interested in obtaining grant funding to support public recreation, conservation, or heritage area initiatives across a statewide or regional landscape involving education and training, special purpose planning, implementation, and mini-grant programs. Participants will learn about eligible project activities, funding sources, matching requirements, and strategies on how to create a competitive grant application.

For more information, click on this flyer.

For additional questions and registration, contact Jim Young at jwyoung@pa.gov or (717) 783-2712.