DEP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is accepting applications for its 2009 environmental education grants, which support projects and programs that increase environmental awareness and understanding in Pennsylvania’s communities. Schools, universities, intermediate units, non-profit groups and county conservation districts are eligible to apply. Grants will go to projects that promote understanding of important environmental topics, such as sustainable energy sources, air quality with a focus on lowering emissions from transportation vehicles and electric-generation to reduce ground-level ozone or smog, and watersheds and wetlands. Grants will range from $3,000 to $20,000. The deadline to submit a pre-application is Dec. 12, 2008. Beginning Jan. 16, 2009, DEP will notify approved pre-applicants to prepare a full application to submit to the department by March 6, 2009. To request a grant pre-application form, call (717) 772-1828 or visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: EE Grants.
WREN NEWSLETTER CHANGING TO EMAIL FORMAT
The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) Project is changing the format of its newsletter, Water Policy News, to an e-newsletter, beginning in 2009. To sign up for the e-newsletter, visit http://wren.palwv.org/fillin/newsletter.html. For more information, email Edith Stevens at estevens@ptd.net.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION RELEASES GUIDE ON LEASING LAND FOR GAS EXPLORATION
Penn State Cooperative Extension has released the guide, Natural Gas Exploration: A Landowner’s Guide to Leasing Land in Pennsylvania. The guide offers information on the Marcellus shale, where and how gas is drilled, the gas leasing process and terminology, the components of a gas lease, and more. A copy of the guide is available online at http://cas.psu.edu/spotlight/gasprimer08_web.pdf. For more information about gas exploration and leasing, visit Penn State’s natural gas exploration and leasing websites at www.naturalgas.psu.edu and www.wpsu.org/gasrush/.
PASA ANNOUNCES GOOD FOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM
The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) has launched a membership program for consumers, the Good Food Neighborhood Program. For $30, members will receive personalized seasonal product updates from local food providers; a subscription to Eaters Digest, a monthly e-newsletter on good food news in Pennsylvania (and beyond); occasional offers or other rewards from local food businesses; a seat at the “Community Table,” an online resource where neighbors connect around local food shopping, cooking and learning; information on tastings, farm tours and other local food events; and more. For more information, visit www.buylocalpa.org.
RENEWABLE ENERGY DIRECTORY FROM ST. FRANCIS UNIVERSITY
Homeowners and businesses looking for information on renewable energy should visit www.francis.edu/renewable for a directory offered by St. Francis University’s Renewable Energy Center. The directory lists more than 60 installers of renewable energy systems for homeowners and businesses; includes an overview of renewable energy technology; lists financing options for renewable energy projects; and offers getting started tips on energy audits and questions to ask installers.
HARVARD RELEASES STUDY ON AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING
Harvard University’s Joint Center on Housing Studies has released a new study, America’s Rental Housing: The Key To A Balanced National Policy, which stresses the importance of assisting homeowners facing foreclosure and proposes the development of a new and more balanced set of housing policy initiatives that would expand opportunities for renters and homeowners. The study results suggest the transformation of foreclosed and vacant properties into the next generation of affordable rental housing. For a copy of the study, visit www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/rental/rh08_americas_rental_housing/index.html.
BETTER KID CARE PROGRAM OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO CAREGIVERS
Childcare providers, parents and employers throughout Pennsylvania are encouraged to take advantage of the Better Kid Care Program, which offers about 200,000 hours of professional development each year. The program, an outreach and education effort of Penn State Cooperative Extension, aims to improve the availability, accessibility and quality of childcare through a website, satellite workshops, video distance education units, on-site training and a toll-free mentoring helpline. The program is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, a joint office of the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare. For more information, visit www.betterkidcare.psu.edu or call (800) 452-9108.
HUMANITIES PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CENTRAL PA NONPROFITS
The Pennsylvania Humanities Council and Pennsylvania State University’s Institute for Arts and Humanities are inviting central Pennsylvania’s community groups and cultural institutions to apply for Public Humanities Scholars. The program matches nonprofits, such as public libraries, arts organizations, historical societies/sites, museums, senior centers, schools and parks, with Penn State scholars to plan and present quality humanities programs in their communities. The program is dedicated to groups in the following counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Snyder and Union. The application deadline for 2009 projects is November 1, 2008. For a copy of the program guidelines and an application form, visit www.pahumanities.org, email grants@pahumanities.org, or call (800) 462-0442.
WEBSITE OFFERS BENEFIT PROGRAM INFORMATION
Visit www.GovBenefits.gov to learn more about a variety of federal, state and local government benefit programs. GovBenefits.gov, which was launched by the federal government in 2002, is a resource for veterans, seniors, students, teachers, children, people with disabilities, dependents, disaster victims, farmers, caregivers, job seekers, prospective homeowners, and more. Citizens are encouraged to visit the website regularly, particularly when life events, such as applying for college, seeking food/nutrition services, property damage following a storm, retirement, or starting a business, occur that could change their eligibility status. GovBenefits.gov is a collaborative effort of 10 Federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Labor (managing partner), Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, State, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and the Social Security Administration.
CASEY FOUNDATION RELEASES PUBLICATIONS ON RURAL FAMILY ECONOMIC SUCCESS
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published two new case stories describing how innovative rural regions are building Rural Family Economic Success. Using Local Creativity and Entrepreneurship to Build Family-Supporting Jobs in North Carolina focuses on building incomes of rural families by helping them start entrepreneurial craft businesses, while Strengthening Rural Families: Expanding College and Job-Skills Opportunities in Western Maine illustrates how to develop career-related educational offerings in a remote rural area. For a copy of either publication or more information, visit www.aecf.org/Home/KnowledgeCenter/SpecialInterestAreas/RuralFamilies.aspx.
GRAMEEN FOUNDATION LAUNCHES PROGRESS OUT OF POVERTY WEBSITE
Grameen Foundation, which was created to accelerate the impact of microfinance on the world’s poorest people, has launched www.progressoutofpoverty.org, a website that demonstrates how microfinance institutions (MFIs) can understand and improve their social performance. The website features information and resources about the Progress out of Poverty Index™, a poverty assessment tool that helps MFIs measure the poverty levels of their clients. The website provides MFIs with a step-by-step guide and training toolbox for implementing the index and allows users to share their knowledge, experience and resources. The site also includes specific details on the nine countries where Grameen Foundation is currently working with the index to assist MFIs in realizing their social missions more effectively.
NETWORK OFFERS INFORMATION ON REVERSE MORTGAGES
If you’re interested in learning more about the basics of reverse mortgages, visit the Community Investment Network’s website at http://www.communityinvestmentnetwork.org/financial-literacy-asset-building/about-reverse-mortgages/. The web page provides details on how these mortgages work, who is eligible, how interest is charged and more. The Community Investment Network is a service of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and provides a wealth of information on a variety of topics including housing, small business and entrepreneurship, rural advocacy, and community revitalization. Visit the network’s website at http://www.communityinvestmentnetwork.org/ for more information.
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