Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP)

Read the Application Guidelines carefully, then apply online at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us.

PA DEP Program Staff

Samantha Harmon

Small Business Ombudsman

The Small Business Advantage Grant provides reimbursement grants ranging from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to Pennsylvania small businesses to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste. Maximum grant award amounts will vary from up to $7,500 to up to $12,000, based on the environmental impact of the project and whether the project location is in an Environmental Justice Area in Pennsylvania.



Eligible applicants must:
- Be a for-profit business and be taxed as a for-profit business in Pennsylvania.
- Have a primary physical location or base of operations in Pennsylvania.
- For trucking projects, the vehicle proposed for retrofit must operate at least 50% of the time in Pennsylvania.
- Be registered to do business in Pennsylvania.
- Have or obtain a Vendor Identification Number (also called an SAP Vendor Number) from the Pennsylvania Office of Budget.
- Have 100 or fewer Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees for the entire company or companies under common ownership/management.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

- 2022 Small Business Advantage Grant Program Guidelines
- 2022 Small Business Advantage Grant Calculator
- Small Business Advantage Grant Calculator Instructions
- Small Business Advantage Grant Non-Owner Signatory Authorization (Authorized Representative Form)
- Small Business Advantage Grant Non-Vendor Supply Quote Form
- On-Line Application
- Landowner Consent Form
- Change of Scope Form
- One-Year Follow-Up Form
- VIDEO – Small Business Advantage Grant Overview
- VIDEO – SBAG Application Process Overview and Walkthrough
- VIDEO – SBAG Calculator – Getting Started Tutorial
- VIDEO – Lighting Grant Calculator Tutorial
- VIDEO – HVAC and Boilers Calculator Tutorial
- VIDEO – Refrigeration Calculator Tutorial
- VIDEO – Trucks Calculator Tutorial
- VIDEO – Medical X-Rays and Scanners Calculator Tutorial
- VIDEO – Natural Resource Protection Calculator Tutorial

Waste & Manure Management

Biofuel

Hydro Power

Solar Power

Wind Energy

Conservation

Water Management

Program is open until funds are exhausted.

Complete the DEP Determination of Eligibility application (email ra-epombudsman@pa.gov); after DEP approval, submit DCED's Single Application for Assistance through an approved Community Economic Development Organization (CEDO).

Deadline text on the page: The PPAA loan is open-ended and does not have a close date, however, funds may be limited due to availability.

DCED Customer Service Center

Single Application questions

General office

DEP Grants Office

Fixed 2% loans up to $100,000 for Pennsylvania small businesses (100 or fewer FTE) to buy equipment or change processes that reduce waste, pollution or energy use — lighting, HVAC, motors, processing equipment, closed-loop water systems. Farms qualify as small businesses; the sister Small Business Advantage Grant has funded maple and other ag producers.



To be eligible, the business and project site must be located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and employ 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. Projects must also have a payback period less than or equal to the term of the loan, and the expected benefits must extend beyond the term of the loan.

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

2% fixed; max 10 years; max $100,000 per 12 months; up to 75% of eligible cost (other grants/loans may cover the remaining 25%).

Published amounts: The interest rate for the loan is fixed at 2% for the duration of the term, with a maximum loan term of 10 years. The maximum loan amount is $100,000 for any 12-month period. Loans may be used to fund up to 75% of the total eligible project cost.

The application period is from April 22 – June 22, 2026, with applications due through the Commonwealth eGrants system by 4:00 p.m. on June 22, 2026. Applications submitted after 4:00 p.m. will not be considered for funding.

Applicants should contact DEP’s Watershed Support Section and their county conservation district when developing projects and preparing their grant application. If the project works with known landowners, the landowner letter of commitment is required to be submitted with the application. If the landowner is not known at the time of application submittal, this should be identified in the workplan; and if an award is made, the grantee must provide the executed Landowner-Grantee Agreement prior to BMP construction.

Sign up for notification for Growing Greener Watershed Protection, Section EPA 319 Nonpoint Source Management, and Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Grant Programs notification.

DEP Watershed Support Section (Section 319 grants)

The&#x2004;Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management grant funds are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and authorized through Section 319(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to help states implement watershed management programs (33 U.S.C § 1329(h)). The grant program’s primary purpose is to implement Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs).


Approximately 54 percent of Pennsylvania’s impaired waterways are polluted from nonpoint source pollution. Major sources of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution include acid mine drainage (AMD), urban and agricultural runoff, atmospheric deposition, on-lot sewage systems, earthmoving, stream hydromodification and timber harvesting.


Project categories:

- BMP Implementation as identified in an existing Section 319 WIP. This includes design and permitting and/or construction for agricultural and stormwater management BMP projects, along with AMD, stream channel degradation and floodplain restoration to mitigate the risk of flood damage in the watershed.

- Section 319 WIP Revisions or updates to existing WIPs that are at least eight years old.

- Tier III Monitoring within 319 WIP Watersheds, TMDL/ARP watersheds, and other impaired waters conducted by qualified collectors, generating assessment level data according to DEP standards.



The Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management grant funds are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and authorized through Section 319(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to help states implement watershed management programs (33 U.S.C § 1329(h)). The grant program’s primary purpose is to implement Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs).

Approximately 54 percent of Pennsylvania’s impaired waterways are polluted from nonpoint source pollution. Major sources of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution include acid mine drainage (AMD), urban and agricultural runoff, atmospheric deposition, on-lot sewage systems, earthmoving, stream hydromodification and timber harvesting.

Project categories:
- BMP Implementation as identified in an existing Section 319 WIP. This includes design and permitting and/or construction for agricultural and stormwater management BMP projects, along with AMD, stream channel degradation and floodplain restoration to mitigate the risk of flood damage in the watershed.
- Section 319 WIP Revisions or updates to existing WIPs that are at least eight years old.
- Tier III Monitoring within 319 WIP Watersheds, TMDL/ARP watersheds, and other impaired waters conducted by qualified collectors, generating assessment level data according to DEP standards.

- Incorporated watershed association.
- County or municipality.
- County conservation district.
- Council of governments.
- Educational institution.
- Municipal authority.
- Tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations.
- To be eligible for a grant award, grant applicants must be in good standing with the Commonwealth, which will be verified with two program checks: eFACTS compliance check and Contractor Responsibility Program (CRP) check.
- Implementation projects must be implemented in one of the EPA approved 319 WIP watersheds.
- Preference will be given to applicants proposing projects on Pennsylvania Agriculture Conservation Stewardship Program certified farms.
- Preference will be given for WIP implementation in Tier 1-4 within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

- 2027 Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants Program Guidance
- Sample Agriculture Workplan
- Map of Watershed Implementation Plans
- eGrants Instructions for Applicants
- Sign up for grant notifications

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Fertilizer

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Weeds

- If funded, the grant’s timeframe will be approximately October 1, 2027 – June 30, 2030.
- Proposed projects containing the following items are ineligible and will not be scored or funded: Projects that exceed 10% administrative costs.
- The maximum grant request amount for the Tier III Monitoring program is $100,000.
- For funded projects larger than $250,000, grantees must comply with the federal Buy America, Build America Act.

List of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) Funding Opportunities