Notice
2024 Environmental Education Grants; Notice of Availability
July 28th, 2023
DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
2024 Environmental Education Grants; Notice of Availability
[53 Pa.B. 4041]
[Saturday, July 29, 2023]
The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) announces the opening of a new round of Environmental Education Grants for 2024. The grant round will open August 1, 2023.Three types of awards will be offered for projects addressing the 2024 Environmental Education Grants Program (Program) priorities of water, climate change and environmental justice.
Mini grants of up to $5,000 may be awarded for local (school, county, municipality or other defined area) environmental education projects. General grants ranging from $5,001—$30,000 (Level I) may be awarded for implementation of large scale regional or Statewide environmental education projects. General grants ranging from $30,001—$65,000 (Level II) may be awarded for nonformal education projects that engage youth and teachers from at least 60 Commonwealth counties at three levels: National, State and local. Additionally, Level II projects must demonstrate at least 30% of program participants live, work or attend school within an environmental justice area. For more information on environmental justice areas, visit www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice/Pages/PA-Environmental-Justice-Areas.aspx.
The Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993 (P.L. 105, No. 24), which mandates setting aside 5% of the pollution fines and penalties the Department collects annually for environmental education in this Commonwealth. In its 30-year history, the Program has funded more than $13.3 million in environmental education projects. Awardees have included schools, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, municipalities, county conservation districts and businesses.
The Environmental Education Grant guidelines and application instructions are available on the Department's web site at www.dep.pa.gov (select the ''Grants'' icon, then scroll to ''Businesses,'' and select ''Environmental Education—for educational projects in climate change, environmental justice, water quality, and other areas'').
Applications must be submitted online through the Commonwealth's Electronic Single Application web site at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/Login.aspx. The Department will begin accepting applications on August 1, 2023. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 15, 2023. Hardcopy applications and late submissions will not be considered.
Questions concerning the 2024 Program can be directed to the Department's Environmental Education and Information Center at RA-epEEgrants@pa.gov.
RICHARD NEGRIN,
Secretary
