Provider
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED)
Application Deadline
May 31, 2026
Summary
Through the Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program (GTRP), PA DCED supports the planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation, and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks, and beautification projects.
- $250,000 maximum award
- 15% local cash (or cash equivalent) match
- Commencement of work prior to receiving authority approval will result in the project being ineligible for consideration
Common Eligible Projects
Funding is provided under the following categories:
- Public Park and Recreation Areas: Rehabilitation and development of public indoor and/or outdoor park, recreation, and conservation areas and facilities. Property may be acquired for active and/or passive recreation use to create new park and recreation areas and/or expand existing recreational sites.
- Greenways and Trails: Renovation and development of linear public facilities, such as bicycle, walking, equestrian, snowmobile, and nature trails; passive recreation areas; riparian forest buffers; wetland boardwalks; and observation decks. Related support facilities such as access roads, parking areas, walks, comfort stations, lighting, landscaping, and signage are also eligible.
- Rivers Conservation: Enhancement of rivers, streams, and watersheds for recreational purposes.
More Information
https://dced.pa.gov/programs/greenways-trails-and-recreation-program-gtrp/
Provider
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED)
Application Deadline
May 31, 2026
Summary
Through the Flood Mitigation Program, PA DCED supports planning and construction projects to minimize and mitigate flood events. The following is a breakdown of information related to program funding:
- $500,000 maximum award
- No minimum award amount noted
- $50,000 minimum total project cost
- 15% match required (cash or cash equivalents)
- Commencement of work prior to receiving Authority approval will result in the project being ineligible for funding consideration
Eligible applicants: Municipalities, Councils of Governments, Authorized Organizations, Institutions of Higher Learning, Watershed Organizations, For-Profit Businesses.
Common Eligible Projects
Projects authorized by a flood protection authority, the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or identified by a local government for flood mitigation are eligible for the program.
Eligible use of funds:
- Acquisition of land, rights-of-way, and easements;
- Engineering studies required for levee certification and Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) studies;
- Construction, improvement, expansion, repair, or rehabilitation of flood control projects. Construction contingencies up to 5% of construction costs;
- Debris removal;
- Installation of security measures;
- Construction engineering costs/inspections costs, not to exceed 10% of the grant award;
- Permit fees;
- Costs to secure appropriate bonds and insurance; and
- Administrative costs, not to exceed 2% of grant award.
More Information
Provider
PA Department of Community and Economic Development
Application Deadline
December 31, 2026
Summary
The Solar for Schools Grant Program is established pursuant to the act of Jul 17, 2024 (P.L.813, No. 68) known as the Solar for Schools Act. This program seeks to reduce the cost of implementing solar energy systems into schools across the Commonwealth. In order to accomplish this goal, the Department of Community and Economic Development has established a grant program that school districts, intermediate units, charter schools including cyber, regional, and a school for education of the deaf or the blind, area career and technical schools, specific trade and technical schools, and community colleges can use to fund solar energy projects. These grants will aid in the purchase and installation of equipment, permit fees, energy storage, and utility interconnection.
Common Eligible Projects
Solar Energy Project – A project at a school facility related to photovoltaic or solar thermal devices that convert, transfer or store solar energy in or into usable forms of thermal or electric energy. In order to qualify for the program, the project must undergo a successful Solar Facility Site Assessment.
More Information
Delco Green Ways Program, History and Impact
In 2016, County Council convened the Delaware County Open Space Task Force to research opportunities to implement the County's Open Space, Recreation, and Greenway Plan, which was adopted in 2015. In 2018, the Task Force, comprised of leaders from local municipalities, nonprofit organizations, the business community, and several County staff members, presented a series of recommendations. Based on these recommendations, County Council authorized a $10 million bond allocation for open space in the County, which includes the Delco Green Ways grants to municipalities.
The objective of County’s grant program was to assist municipalities in achieving their local open space and recreation goals, while also furthering the objectives of Delaware County's goals for open space and recreation across the County. Eligible projects were to include fee simple acquisition of land or public trail easements on private land, improvements to existing public parks, regreening efforts, construction of new trails, and professional services such as comprehensive open space planning, feasibility studies, design/engineering and permitting.
Over the years, while the technical details of the Green Ways grant program evolved, the continued success of the County grant program is apparent. Since 2019, the County has committed approximately $16.8 million in conservation, trails, and recreation improvements across the County, leveraging that investment with more than $33.7 million in outside funding, including grants from other public, non-profit, and private funding sources. All four rounds were extremely competitive, with grant applications requesting twice as much money as could be funded.
Thank you to everyone who participated in Delaware County’s Green Ways grant program. We look forward to continuing to work together to ensure the successful completion of all these projects! We all benefit from a greener, more connected, modernized, and well-planned County-wide system.
Delco Green Ways Round 1 (2019)
ABOUT
The inaugural grant round of the Green Ways Grant program capped County contributions to a given project to a certain percentage of that project’s total cost and required municipalities provide a local cash match for any funded project.
PROGRAMS AND APPLICATION MATERIALS
Review Grant Round 1 program and application materials here:
• Green Ways Presentation given to Delaware County Planning Commission on July 18, 2019
• 2019 Program Guidelines & Application
Application Appendices:
• Appendix A: Evaluation Criteria
• Appendix B: Budget Worksheet
• Appendix C: Municipal Resolution Template
• Appendix D: Certificate of Title Form
• Appendix E: Declaration of Public Trust, Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions
• Appendix F: 1099-S Verification Form
• Appendix G: Baseline Documentation Report Checklist for Conservation Easements
PROJECTS
In October 2019, County Council awarded 26 municipalities over $4 million for 38 individual projects. County funds leveraged an additional $20 million in matching funds. This supported the following:
• 102 new acres of preserved green space,
• 7.3 miles of trail development,
• 18 parks and recreation improvements, and
• 8 professional services projects (planning, engineering, and/or design)
For more detail regarding each conserve, Connect, Enhance, and Planning & Design award, download the Delco Green Ways Grant Round 1 Awards document.
Delco Green Ways Round 2 (2021)
ABOUT
The public’s appetite for utilizing public spaces surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, to address the unique needs of County residents and local municipalities, County Council convened the Green Space Task Force (GSTF), directing them to provide guidance on the County’s vision and policy direction for green space.
Based on GSTF feedback and a desire to build upon the success of the first grant round, County Council decided to adjust the grant program’s guidelines to encourage multi-municipal coordination and cooperation, and to boost capacity building among the County’s 49 local municipalities.
The following revisions to the program guidelines were made:
• The requirement for local municipal match was eliminated.
• Non-profits were permitted to apply, with a municipal partner.
• A new, non-competitive Park Recreation and Open Space Mini-Plan ("Mini-PROS") grant program for smaller
municipalities was established
• An allowance was made for up to 15% of an Enhance grant to pay for certain “soft” costs
• Up to $250,000 of a Connect grant could go to engineering costs.
• Inclusion of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Indicators of Potential Disadvantage (IDP) as a
scoring category.
PROGRAMS AND APPLICATION MATERIALS
Review Grant Round 2 program and application materials here:
PROJECTS
In Round 2, the County received 74 grant applications from 46 of its 49 municipalities. Applications requested over $13 million in funding. In November 2021, Council awarded 38 municipalities and one non-profit a total of almost $7.2 million for 43 projects throughout Delaware County (due to issues with a few projects, the final grant award total was $6.4m).
The Round 2 Green Ways Grant awards breakdown is:
• 16 Mini-PROS Plan grants, for a total of $722,850.
• 9 Planning & Design grants, for a total of $848,315.
• 6 Conserve grants, for a total of $2,186,477.
• 6 Connect grants, for a total of $1,990,809.
• 6 Enhance grants, for a total of $1,424,070.
For details regarding Conserve, Connect, Enhance, Planning & Design, and Mini-PROS Plans awards, download the “Delco Green Ways Grant Round 2 Awards” document.
Delco Green Ways Round 3 (2022)
ABOUT
In the summer of 2022, County Council authorized a third round of the Green Ways Grant Program. Despite a quick turn-around time, the response to Round 3 was excellent with quality projects and application requests that well exceeded the money available.
PROGRAMS AND APPLICATION MATERIALS
Review Grant Round 3 program and application materials here:
- Users’ Guide
- Click here to see the Information Sessions’ power point presentation
- On-line Grant Application
PROJECTS
In Round 3, the County received a total of 48 grant applications from 39 communities and 2 nonprofits, with requests double the available funding. In December 2022 Council voted to invest $4.99 million in 24 projects located in 23 municipalities.
The Round 3 Green Ways Grant awards breakdown is:
• 3 Mini-PROS Plan projects, totaling $150,00
• 3 Planning and Design projects, totaling $242,500.
• 3 Conserve projects, totaling $892,500.
• 5 Connect projects, totaling $1,849,000.
• 10 Enhance projects, totaling $1,857,918
Highlights of Round 3’s outstanding accomplishments include:
• The grant awards leveraged an additional $5.84 million of outside matching funds, serving as a catalyst for $10.83
million in “on the ground” improvements, and
• Just over half of Round 3’s grant funds were devoted to investments in historically disadvantaged communities.
For a more detailed breakdown regarding each Conserve, Connect, Enhance, Planning and Design and Mini-Pros Plan award please download the “Delco Green Ways Grant Round 3 Awards.”
Delco Green Ways Round 4 (2023)
ABOUT
The County received 47 grant applications from 39 communities and 2 nonprofit organizations, requesting grants totaling over $10 million. This year’s funding recommendations were focused on the County’s commitment to supporting municipalities with a history of disinvestment, and to ensuring the County’s financial investments were leveraged to the extent practical. In addition to these two priorities, the program continues its support of projects based on strategic planning at the local and County level.
PROGRAMS AND APPLICATION MATERIALS
Review Grant Round 3 program and application materials here:
PROJECTS
In Round 4, the Council voted to invest just under $5 million for in 22 projects located in 20 municipalities.
The Round 4 Green Ways awards breakdown is:
• 13 Enhance Grant projects, totaling $2.83 million.
• 4 Connect Grant projects, totaling $1.08 million.
• 3 Conserve Grant projects, totaling $0.98 million.
• 2 Planning & Design projects, totaling $0.11 million
Highlights of Round 4 include:
• The County’s grant awards leverage an additional $5.08 million in outside investments, thereby serving as a catalyst for “on the ground” improvements worth approximately $10.08 million, and
• Just over half of Round 4’s grant funds are devoted to 12 historically disadvantaged communities, advancing 14 different projects.
Please download the "Delco Green Ways Grant Round 4 Awards" document for details regarding the Conserve, Connect, Enhance, Planning and Design and Mini-Pros Plan awards.
Upcoming Events
All events and meetings are open to the public and are generally held on the first Tuesday of the month unless otherwise noted.
| April 7, 2026 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom |
| May 2, 2026 | Heritage Commission Awards Ceremony- Redwood Community Center, Upland County Park, 1-4 pm |
| June 2, 2026 | Visit to Chester Heights Camp Meeting (Invitation only) |
| No meetings July or August | |
| September 1, 2026 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom |
| October 6, 2026 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom |
| November 4, 2026 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom (Wednesday because of Election Day on November 3) |
| December 2026 | Holiday Reception, TBD (Invitation only) |
| January 5, 2027 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom |
| February 2, 2027 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom |
| March 2, 2027 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom |
| April 6, 2027 | Heritage Commission Meeting, 7 pm, Zoom |
| May 2027 | Heritage Commission Awards Ceremony- Redwood Community Center, Upland County Park |
| June, 2027 | Visit to historic site, TBD |
| No meetings July or August | |
| If you would like to attend a meeting, please email DelawareCountyHeritage@co.delaware.pa.us. | |
On August 21, 2018, at the Water’s Edge Banquet Room at the Ridley Marina, the Delaware County Planning Department hosted a Flood Resiliency Workshop. This event brought together a variety of speakers including representatives from several local, state, and federal organizations, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Delaware County Planning Department staff, and Delaware County Conservation District. Topics discussed included impacts of climate change on flooding, floodplain ordinances and permitting, use of FEMA’s Map Service Center, and how to use the County Hazard Mitigation plan when applying for hazard mitigation grants. Presentation materials and handouts can be found below.
Ed Magargee, Delaware County Conservation District:
Amy Verbofsky and Melissa Andrews, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Mari Radford, Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Flood Risk Products Powerpoint
- Implementing and Enforcing Your Floodplain Ordinance Powerpoint
- Moody’s Report, November 2017
- Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves Fact Sheet
- Protecting Your Home Pamphlet
Other Resources
Additional public educational materials are available upon request from the Delaware County Planning Department and FEMA.
Questions about Floodplain Management? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
Delaware County 2035 is the Comprehensive Plan for Delaware County, PA and provides a policy framework for land use decisions in the County.
Delaware County 2035 consists of a central, Land Use Policy Framework Plan and a number of related, interconnected, but more detailed component plans. Some of these component plans – addressing additional planning-related elements within the County – have already been developed, others are currently underway, and more will be developed in the future, but all will use the same framework and build off of the Land Use policies laid out in the Framework Plan.
Questions about Delaware County 2035? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-52000 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
The Delaware County Planning Department conducts programs and initiatives to assist municipalities with sound planning practices.
The Department provides a variety of programs and initiatives to help municipalities plan for the future of their communities. Details on the variety of programs currently being conducted by the Planning Department are organized based on the following topic areas. These pages will provide you with more detail on the programs and initiatives in that area.
Questions about Programs and Initiatives? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
| I Am interested in… |
|---|
| Obtaining Community Assistance for my municipality |
| Learning about Stormwater and Flooding programs |
| Finding out about Open Space, Trails, and Natural Resources |
| Learning about Transportation Infrastructure initiatives |
| Finding out about Public Transit initiatives |
| Learning more about Historic Preservation programs |
| Finding out about other Commissions and Task Forces |
Delaware County Planning provides professional planning services, including creating a comprehensive plan or zoning ordinance.
The Planning Department provides professional planning services to assist Delaware County’s communities address development and redevelopment issues. The Department’s expert staff and local understanding is available as a resource for municipalities. The Department provides a range of services from plans and implementation strategies, to assistance with obtaining funding.
Questions about Community Assistance? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
| I am interested in... |
|---|
| Updating a comprehensive plan |
| Updating a zoning ordinance |
| Creating a revitalization/redevelopment plan |
| Studying the feasibility of a project |
| Creating an open space and recreation plan |
| Finding Funding or Writing a Grant |
Delaware County supports local stormwater and floodplain management through sound planning and technical assistance.
Stormwater and floodplain management are important for protecting the health and safety of the County’s municipalities from flooding and for the protection of water quality. Planning Department staff work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and municipalities to undertake planning projects, provide model ordinances, and support local efforts to maintain compliance with federal and state regulatory programs.
Questions about Stormwater and Flooding Planning? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
| I am interested in... |
|---|
| Stormwater Management |
| Floodplain Management |
| Exploring Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) in Delware County * |
| Finding Funding or Writing a Grant |