As the local leader for Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) is preparing to disburse $75,000 as part of the 2017 Lehigh Valley Greenways Mini-Grant Program. The online application period is now open and runs through 4 p.m. March 3.

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

Priorities for 2017 are:

• Promote the region’s natural areas and land/water trails through programming and informational signage in order to increase appreciation of natural and cultural resources and improve public health;

• Advance land conservation of the Lehigh Valley’s critical landscapes;

• Implement ecological restoration projects (stream habitat improvements, riparian buffers, native grass/wildflower meadows, rain gardens, no-mow areas along streams and in public parks);

• Host educational events, trainings and workshops to advance the goals of Lehigh Valley Greenways; and

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

Eligible applicants include municipalities, municipal agencies, county conservation districts, educational institutions (colleges, universities, school districts) and nonprofit organizations with both tax-exempt 501(c3) status and registered with Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations. Projects must be located within Lehigh County or Northampton County.

Please note that projects along the D&L Trail in Carbon and Luzerne counties should apply to Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape for mini-grant funding.

The current application cycle will be awarded in April 2017 for single-year projects to start and end between May 1, 2017, and July 31, 2018. Grant requests should be a minimum of $1,000 and maximum of $10,000 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.

Interested applicants can review full mini-grant guidelines and fill out the online application at lvgreenways.org/mini-grants/apply-for-a-mini-grant. All applicants are requested to send a representative to the pre-application meeting 1-3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, 400 Belfast Road, Nazareth.

The grant awards are part of Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape program and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Environmental Stewardship Fund. Lehigh Valley Greenways mini-grant funds may not be used to match other DCNR funded grant projects.

Lehigh Valley Greenways is one of seven Conservation Landscapes supported by Pennsylvania DCNR and includes more than 25 organizations and municipal partners in Lehigh and Northampton counties dedicated to the conservation of and connection to our natural resources.

For more information on Lehigh Valley Greenways and the mini-grant program, contact Claire Sadler at 610-923-3548, ext. 226, or Claire@delawareandlehigh.org.