The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) was awarded a total of $80,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) through their Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2) to administer the 2026 Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscape (PFWCL) Mini Grant Program.
Donor Name: Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC)
State: Pennsylvania
County: Carbon County (PA), Lackawanna County (PA), Luzerne County (PA), Monroe County (PA), Pike County (PA), Wayne County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/04/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The DCNR funding is provided through the Environmental Stewardship Fund administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. The PFWCL mini grant is administered by PEC as a reimbursement funding program.
Priorities
- Conservation – Conserve important natural landscape areas through methods such as acquisition, easements, and other land protection measures while championing stewardship of the region’s array of natural resources.
- Mapping, Signage, Access Improvements
- Promote land stewardship through education and outreach
- Develop educational programs regarding land and water conservation
- Protect waterways by addressing AMD and non-point source pollution
- Community – Engage communities to promote, enhance, and sustain local natural, cultural, and outdoor recreational resources.
- Promote recreational opportunities and use of land and water trails and conserved lands
- Implement projects identified in Open Space and Greenway Plans
- Create educational programs that engage participants using the natural, cultural, and outdoor recreational resources
- Develop tools to highlight the natural, cultural, and outdoor recreational assets and their benefits
- Connections – Identify and create greenway and trail connections to public lands and communities throughout the landscape.
- Conduct trail corridor studies/feasibility studies
- Enhance and provide trailheads and trail amenities
- Develop wayfinding and educational signage
- Construct public access amenities.
Funding Information
Mini grants of $2,000 to $10,000 that support and advance the priorities of the PFWCL will be considered.
All PFWCL mini grants require a 20% match of the total project cost, up to the maximum grant award of $10,000. Total project cost cannot exceed $50,000.
- Cash Match – No portion of the cash match can originate from DCNR funding.
- In-kind Match – the value of municipal labor and/or professional services is equal to the hourly billable rate multiplied by the number of hours performing that service or job. The value of volunteer in-kind will be valued at the current Independent Sector Volunteer Rate for Pennsylvania at the time the work was performed. Currently this value is $32.28/hour. No portion of the in-kind match can originate from a DCNR funded project.
Eligible Projects
Projects must be located within the PFWCL region which includes the counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status 501(c)(3), municipalities, counties and educational institutions.
- Non-profit organizations must submit proof of non-profit status and be registered with the PA Department of State Bureau of Charitable Organizations.
For more information, visit PEC.
