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For Immediate Release
June 21, 2000

White Announces Growing Greener Grant Workshops

August 11 deadline for grant applications.

Harrisburg – Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) today announced that applications are being accepted for the second round of state Growing Greener environmental improvement grants.

White sponsored the legislation creating the Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act last year. The program invests nearly $650 million to clean up and restore Pennsylvania’s environment over five years. During the first round of Growing Greener grants, the state awarded $37.5 million to support efforts – several of them in the local area – to restore watersheds, reclaim mines and plug oil and gas wells.

The deadline for groups to apply for the grants is August 11, 2000.

To assist in applying, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers will be holding grant workshops across the state, including at the following sites in the region (each site has two workshops, one beginning at 1 p.m. and one beginning at 6 p.m):

• Tuesday, July 11 at the Community Center of Crawford County, 1034 Park Avenue, Meadville;
• Wednesday, July 12 at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton, Route 30 East, 100 Sheraton Drive, Greensburg, Westmoreland County.

Additional information is available at www.GrowingGreener.org.

White noted that first-year Growing Greener projects will restore or construct 3,603 acres of wetlands, improve 279 miles of streams impacted by acid mine drainage, build 43 miles of stream improvement structures and reclaim 795 acres of abandoned mine land.

The program has also spearheaded 55 watershed assessment or protection plans, 85 watershed restoration plans and 58 environmental education projects and helped organize or expand 21 watershed groups.

"I hope interested local groups will submit grant applications," White said. "Over 10 organizations in our area have already received first round Growing Greener grants."

CONTACT: Patrick Henderson (717) 787-9684