Delaware County’s popular Delco Green Ways Grant Program is now accepting applications for Grant Round 2 through Sept.  17.

Municipalities are encouraged to apply for the grants, which are part of the county’s efforts to implement 2035 Open Space, Recreation, and Greenway goals.

The Green Ways grants allow communities to get wish-list projects completed.

“This is an incredible program to help fund and complete municipalities’ wish-list projects and an opportunity to do something transformative for your community and help unify Delaware County’s green spaces, trails, parks and people,” said Delaware County Councilwoman Elaine Schaefer.

The grants program grew out of the Delco Green Space Task Force (GSTF) that convened in 2021.

The members are thought-leader volunteers sharing expertise in green space preservation, natural lands conservation, parks and recreation management, fundraising, economics, business, real estate, law, health, communications, and community organizing.

In this second round of grant applications:

• Municipalities do not need to match to qualify. In fact, Green Ways funds can be matched to other grant opportunities.
• Nonprofits can apply for the grants as long as they have a municipal partner.
• There are mini-grant opportunities to expand and support planning efforts.
• CONSERVE projects for conservation easements now require public benefit, versus public access
• ENHANCE projects now allow 15 percent of the total project cost to be used for planning and design
• CONNECT projects for trail engineering allow up to a $250,000 cap.
• Now included are the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Indicators of Potential Disadvantage (IDP) scores to support communities in need

The purpose of these community investments is to yield social, health, environmental and economic returns that promote a more unified and equitable countywide system.

Driven by the County’s theme of UNITY, Grant Round 2 will incentivize partnerships and multi-municipal plans to help build capacity and shape a culture which advances the County’s green space, trails, and parks as a unified system, while propelling your community’s potential.

Awards will be announced by Oct. 20.

For questions, contact planning_department@co.delaware.pa.us or call 610-891-5200.

Learn more about Delco Green Ways here.

Here’s a video with more details about the grant program.