Press release posted by the Department of Environmental Protection on 18 April 2026

As part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (Department) Growing Greener Plus Grants Program (Program), applications will soon be accepted for Growing Greener (Watershed Restoration and Protection) grants under 27 Pa.C.S. §§ 6101—6119 (relating to Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act) and Bond Forfeiture grants under section 18(j) of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) (52 P.S. § 1396.18(j)).

Growing Greener grants are designed to improve or protect this Commonwealth’s waters from nonpoint source pollution associated with agricultural activities, abandoned mine drainage (AMD), stormwater runoff, energy resource extraction, and streambank and shoreline degradation, while Bond Forfeiture grants are designed to address legacy mining impacts. The Program is also being used to solicit applications from counties for funding to start the process of developing or updating Stormwater Management Plans (Act 167 Plans) required by the Commonwealth’s Storm Water Management Act (32 P.S. §§ 680.1—680.17).

Eligible applicants for Growing Greener grants include counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, county conservation districts, watershed organizations, councils of governments, educational institutions and other authorized organizations involved in water resource restoration and protection. The maximum Growing Greener grant request amount is $500,000.

The Department has identified multiple priority areas for this grant solicitation. Priority areas for Growing Greener grants include projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution—especially nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment pollution from agricultural and stormwater runoff. The Department is particularly interested in design and construction projects that implement effective best management practices (BMP) that reduce or eliminate pollutant loadings and lead to local water quality improvements.

Funding for Act 167 Plans development is a two-phased process. The Program is only being used to solicit applications for the first phase, the development of a Phase I scope of study as required by 25 Pa. Code § 111.14 (relating to Phase I—scope of study). Depending on the county population, counties may be eligible to apply for up to $60,000 in Phase I funding. Act 167 Plans Phase II funding is a separate grant application outside of the Program.

Through the Growing Greener Plus application process, applicants can also apply for funding through the Department’s SMCRA Bond Forfeiture Grant Program to address legacy mining impacts. SMCRA grants are available to various entities including municipalities, municipal authorities and nonprofit organizations for projects meeting Bond Forfeiture grant requirements. Other AMD projects may be eligible for Growing Greener Watershed Restoration and Protection funds, for a limited number, to address impacts from coal mining operations that were abandoned between August 3, 1977, through July 31, 1982. Applicants proposing a project to correct AMD from a coal mining operation that was abandoned prior to August 3, 1977, are encouraged to apply to the Abandoned Mine Land/AMD Grant Program administered by the Department’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation.

Grant applications and all attachments must be submitted through the Commonwealth’s Electronic Single Application website, eGrants at https://grants.pa.gov/Login.aspx.

Applications will be accepted beginning April 22, 2026,
through 4 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Late submissions will not be considered

Interested applicants with questions may email ra-epgrowinggreener@pa.gov.

For more information, visit the Department’s Program webpage at https://www.pa.gov/services/dep/water/bwrnsm/apply-for-a-department-of-environmental-protection-growing-greener-plus-grant.

Growing Greener Plus Grants Program | Funding Watershed Restoration and Protection Efforts