DCNR to offer electronic filing, series of workshops to help streamline grant process

NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Terry Brady
DCNR Deputy Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

DCNR TO OFFER ELECTRONIC FILING, SERIES OF WORKSHOPS TO HELP STREAMLINE GRANT PROCESS

HARRISBURG (January 13, 2009) — To streamline its 2009 grant application process, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced a new service today through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program, popularly known as “C2P2.”

“Starting on Feb. 2, our new electronic grant application process, ‘DCNR e-Grants,’ will more efficient service to applicants and help our department to be more environmentally-friendly by shedding voluminous paperwork,” said DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis.

“To learn more, including what constitutes an excellent project, borough officials are encouraged to register for one of our free workshops,” he added. “Participants also will have an opportunity to seek technical assistance on their projects and receive answers to their questions.”

DCNR officials said successful municipal grant applicants are determined largely by simple criteria adhering to the department’s guiding “Action Plan.” Successful grant applications are shaped by three specific tenets:

Promote statewide conservation;
Build and maintain sustainable communities; and
Create outdoors connections for citizens and visitors.

“What project best exemplifies these priorities? What will best foster sound land-use practices and principals, and help build and improve sustainable communities?” DiBerardinis said. “These are the questions we will continue to raise, and municipal officials can find the best answers by attending one of our workshops next month.”

Working in partnership with the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, DCNR has scheduled eight sessions from Feb. 3 - 26 to address new C2P2 applications, the bureau’s grant manual, and its new Web-based resources. At each session, trained staff will outline what constitutes an “excellent” project worthy of state funding help.

The workshops are free and registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Sessions will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon at the following locations:

Feb. 3 -- Hotel Carlisle & Embers Convention Center, 1700 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle;
Feb. 5 -- Holiday Inn, 100 Pine St., Williamsport;
Feb. 10 -- The Inn at Nichols Village, 1101 Northern Blvd., Clarks Summit;
Feb. 12 -- Blair County Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Drive, Altoona;
Feb. 18 -- Holiday Inn, Routes 80 and 68, 45 Holiday Inn Road, Clarion;
Feb. 19 -- Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North, 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars;
Feb. 24 -- Holiday Inn Conference Center, 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville; and
Feb. 26 -- Radisson Hotel, Valley Forge Convention Center, 1160 First Ave., King of Prussia.

The application period for C2P2 grants will close April 22. Applications will be accepted in e-grant and paper form until 4 p.m. for all project types—planning, acquisition and development.

Help in completing C2P2 grant applications is available by calling 717-787-7672.

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2009