EPA and American Rivers Award $1.37 Million in Grants to Restore Potomac Highlands Rivers, Clean Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and American Rivers announced the six recipients of $1,373,119 in environmental grants April 12 to benefit communities, protect rivers and clean water in the Potomac Highlands region of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

The announcement was made at Frostburg University in Frostburg, Md. by EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and American Rivers Senior Vice President for Conservation Chris Williams. The university will be involved in the Frostburg Grows, Grow It Local Greenhouse Project, submitted by Western Maryland Resource Conservation & Development Council Inc., one of six projects selected to receive a grant. This project will convert unused mine land into a five-acre greenhouse complex designed to train community members for high quality jobs while producing local food and tree seedlings.

Under a cooperative agreement with EPA, American Rivers is implementing the environmental grant program, which supports local economies and quality of life improvements in the Potomac Highlands, as well as protecting the Highlands' valuable ecosystems, some of which host diverse and globally important resources.

"The communities that comprise the Potomac Highlands will significantly benefit from this grant," said Garvin. "The projects receiving grants today undertake a variety of approaches to achieve tangible economic and environmental benefits for this unique area. These grants will provide jobs and job training as well as a significant boost to recreational activities."

Williams added, “We hope these projects inspire other communities and are replicated across the region and the nation.”

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin said, "The exciting Grow it Local Greenhouse project will not only have numerous ecological benefits, it will also support the regional economy and green jobs."

You can read about each of the grant recipients here, in the original article.