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Front Page: Your Weekly News & Updates
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| Update your address for PACD, 2020 poster contest theme, news from Potter and Cambria Counties, strategic planning grant, Building for Tomorrow online training, small business grants, environmental education grants, Governor's award, and gully control fact sheet. |
Check Your Address on File for PACD!
It's hard to believe PACD has been in the new building for a year! Our mail forwarding order with USPS is expiring soon. Please make sure you have the PACD address updated in your system: 5925 Stevenson Avenue, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA 17112.
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2020 Poster Contest Theme
"Where would we BEE without Pollinators?"
JUST IN TIME FOR BACK TO SCHOOL!! The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has announced the 2020 Poster Contest theme: "Where would we BEE without Pollinators." PACD will be accepting photos of your county's winners until June 30, 2020. We are very excited to see all the artistic entries for this year's theme!
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Potter County Conservation District Features Grazing Trial Kit during Field Day
Potter County Conservation District (PCCD) brought together local producers this summer to demonstrate how rotational grazing can benefit their farm both financially and environmentally. First, the district selected a farm to use rotational grazing equipment to demonstrate the benefits of rotational grazing management.
PCCD then partnered with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Penn State Extension to develop a grazing plan for the selected farm. They took representative soil samples to test the biological activity of continuously grazed and rotationally grazed pastures with the same soil type. This information was presented during the field day.
Essential supplies for a grazing kit were purchased, including temporary fence, reels, posts, and automatic gate (Batt-Latch). The kit was given to the selected beef farmer in early July to install. On August 28, 2019, a field day was held at the farm to showcase the project and to discuss the benefits and challenges of rotational grazing.
In the future, another farmer that has an interest in this management style will be selected to use the grazing kit.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Photo caption: Tim Elder with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service talks about rotational grazing to the group of farmers before heading out to the pasture. Photo provided by PCCD.
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Cambria County Conservation District Holds Legislative Breakfast
On October 4, 2019, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Cambria County for the district's legislative breakfast. Approximately 50 people attended the event. During the breakfast, the district highlighted stream restoration and flood control projects.
Click here to read an article on the event.
Photo caption: Mark Stockley, Resource Conservation Supervisor at the Cambria County Conservation District, speaks during the breakfast. Photo taken by Brenda Shambaugh.
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Reminder: Strategic Planning Grant Letter of Intent Deadline is November 20
Funding available to offset costs associated with strategic planning activity has been increased to $1,500 per qualifying district for 2020. Districts interested in applying for a Strategic Planning Grant have until November 20 to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program. The LOI should include information on the timeframe and process for plan development, as well as the date of board approval for the grant application.
Detailed information on the Strategic Planning Grants program, including program requirements and a list of recent facilitators, can be found at the Building for Tomorrow website.
Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership's Leadership Development Committee.
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Have You Seen Building for Tomorrow's Online Training Modules?
Earlier this month, the Building for Tomorrow Program, which provides leadership development training and resources to Pennsylvania's conservation districts, announced the launch of its newly redesigned website at
https://www.paleadership.org
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The new training modules page features an easy-to-navigate interface and a quiz function that allows users to save their progress. It's an excellent tool for conservation district managers to use to onboard new staff and orient newly-appointed directors.
All conservation district personnel are encouraged to visit the new site and provide feedback and suggestions on content that can be added to support leadership development initiatives.
Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership's Leadership Development Committee.
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Small Business Advantage Grants Available for Farmers
Over $600,000 still available
The PA Department of Environmental Protection's 2019 Small Business Advantage Grant provides small businesses in Pennsylvania the opportunity to acquire energy-efficient or pollution-prevention technologies with a 50% reimbursement matching grant for equipment or materials.
Pennsylvania businesses with fewer than 100 full-time-equivalent employees are eligible to apply. Applicants must be for-profit entities, located in Pennsylvania, and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Eligible projects must save the applicant a minimum of $500 annually and reduce their costs by a minimum of 25%. Applications are reviewed and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
New this year is the opportunity for small businesses to implement solar-thermal (hot water) projects. Solar hot water systems must function to serve the hot water needs of the small business. Solar projects generating electricity (PV) are not eligible.
Questions? Contact Ed Boito, PA DEP Small Business Ombudsman, at
[email protected]
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2020 Environmental Education Grants Open October 31
Application Instructions Webinar Offered November 18
DEP is pleased to start accepting applications for 2020 Environmental Education Grants on October 31, 2019. Approximately $300,000 is available.
Timeline:
- October 31, 2019: Grant round opens. Grants Program Manual is available.
- December 31, 2019: Applications are due by 11:59 p.m.
- April 22, 2020: DEP announces awards on or about this day in conjunction with Earth Day.
- July 1, 2020: Awarded projects may begin.
Environmental justice, climate change, and water quality are priority topics. Large-scale projects may be awarded up to $85,000; local projects may receive up to $3,000.
Bert Myers will lead a free 75-minute webinar on how to apply on November 18, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. This webinar is ideal both for first-time applicants and for returning applicants looking for additional guidance.
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Apply now for the 2020 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence!
The Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence is open to any Pennsylvania business, farm, government agency, educational institution, non-profit organization, and individual that has created, or participated in, the development of a project that promotes environmental stewardship in Pennsylvania.
Applications can be submitted to DEP from October 15, 2019, through December 17, 2019.
Click here for more information.
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Gully Control on Cropland: "Fix It, Don't Disk It!" Fact Sheet Available
Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservation Service has a new, one-page information guide for addressing the avoidance and control of ephemeral gullies on cropland. The title is Ephemeral Gully Control on Cropland; "Fix it, don't disk it." Designed to be shared with farmers, the guide stresses the four principles for improving soil health as the first line of defense. Click here to download this resource.
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Conservation Districts in the News
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