As the local leader for Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is preparing to award $75,000 as part of the 2024 Lehigh Valley Greenways Mini Grant Program.

The online application period is open until 4 p.m. Friday, March 8.

Lehigh Valley Greenways mini grants are intended to inspire collaborative, single-year projects that protect and promote the natural resources of the Lehigh Valley and advance the goals of Lehigh Valley Greenways. Land conservation & restoration, outdoor recreation & trail connections, community revitalization, and local education & outreach are the goals of Lehigh Valley Greenways.

Funding priorities for 2024 are:

• (Municipalities) Adoption of model ordinances and/or an official map to protect natural resources and improve bicycle/pedestrian connections

• Implementation of ecological restoration projects (ex. stream habitat improvements, riparian buffers, native grass/wildflower meadows, rain gardens, bioswales, and no-mow areas along streams, trails and in parks)

• Hosting of educational events, trainings and workshops which involve an inclusive audience to advance the goals of Lehigh Valley Greenways

• Improvement of THE LINK, Lehigh Valley’s growing multi-use trail network (ex. close trail gaps, install safety and directional signage, improve stormwater management, create safe road crossings, add trail amenities)

• Incorporation of climate change adaptation strategies into all relevant projects

Eligible applicants include municipalities, municipal agencies, county conservation districts, educational institutions (colleges, universities, school districts), and nonprofit organizations with both tax-exempt 501c3 status and registered with PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations.

Projects must be located within Lehigh or Northampton counties.

The current application cycle will be awarded in April 2024 for single-year projects to start and end between May 1 and Nov. 30, 2025.

Grant requests should be a minimum of $1,000 and maximum of $15,000 with total project costs at least double the grant request. Mini grants must be matched with cash and/or eligible in-kind contributions at a minimum 1:1 ratio.

To review full mini grant guidelines and fill out the online application, visit https://lvgreenways.org/mini-grants/apply-for-a-mini-grant.

The grant awards are part of Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape program and funded by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Environmental Stewardship Fund and administered by Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

For more information on Lehigh Valley Greenways and the mini grant program, please contact Brit Kondravy at 610-923-3548 x225 or conservation@delawareandlehigh.org.