Grant Available to Local Communities to Preserve and Promote Natural and Cultural Assets

Online, November 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, along with Audubon Pennsylvania and the Kittatinny Coalition, is now accepting applications for the Appalachian Trail and Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Assistance Mini-Grant Program until December 31, 2012, to help local municipalities and partnering non-profits preserve and promote local natural and cultural assets along the Kittatinny Ridge. In early 2013, $70,000 in grants will be awarded with a required 20% local match.

This program has been developed to work with communities to preserve and enhance the Appalachian Trail experience and Kittatinny Ridge landscape for future generations of Pennsylvania's residents and visitors, using proven local strategies already used in communities along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.

While priority will be given to plans for municipal conservation assessment or land use action, eligible projects can align with broader goals of successful conservation and trail-related awareness campaigns or planning and protection strategies. These can include ecologic and natural resources, scenic forested, agricultural or open area view sheds, heritage or cultural resources, and recreational trails.

"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy's grant program emphasizes multi-partner collaborations and sound local land use planning. It is a major goal of the Kittatinny Coalition to foster local stewardship and promotion of these assets and to encourage sustained public/private collaborations in the process," stated Kim McKee, Act 24 Coordinator of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

The ATC and Audubon Pennsylvania co-lead the Kittatinny Coalition, an alliance of organizations, agencies and academic institutions working together to conserve the natural, scenic, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The coalition identifies its key role as being a regional facilitator and leader in projects that preserve and promote the natural and cultural assets of the region.

Funds for the grants come from the National Park Service's Appalachian Trail Park Office and are provided to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy through a cooperative agreement.

For more information or to download the application, visit www.kittatinnyridge.org/grants.

About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail - ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. For more information please visit www.appalachiantrail.org.

Contact: Kim McKee
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Tel: 717.258.5771 ext. 208
Fax: 717.258.1442
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.appalachiantrail.org