Pennsylvania — POWR Statewide Waterway Access Grant (SWAG; Up to $30,000; Rolling)

Rolling Pennsylvania waterway access grants up to $30,000 for eligible nonprofit and public entities improving free nonmotorized public access. Requires 1:1 documented match, site control and 25-year public access/maintenance.

FundingUp to $30,000 per applicant public-access project. Mandatory 1:1 match, cash, in-kind, or combination; funded through PA Fish and Boat Commission and PA DCNR.

DeadlineRolling applications and awards, with no universal fixed deadline or closing time published on current official application portal. Project must be ready and completed within a 12-18-month timeframe, with no extensions.

Last verified2026-11-06

Required next actionOPEN — Confirm nonprofit/public entity eligibility, Pennsylvania non-motorized public-access project, applicant site ownership or long-term agreement, 1:1 documented match, required permits, 25-year public free access/maintenance commitment and 12-18-month completion plan. Apply through PEC/POWR Submittable.

Broad Eligibility

Pennsylvania public entities (township, borough, municipal/county govt) or eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits registered with PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations; official portal overview also notes educational institutions. Public non-motorized waterway access projects on owned/long-leased sites; 1:1 match, permits, 25-year maintenance and free public access required.

Atlas Analysis

Pennsylvania Statewide Waterway Access Grant (SWAG)

The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), through the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), administers the Statewide Waterway Access Grant with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources support. Eligible community-based projects may receive up to $30,000 to improve public nonmotorized access to Pennsylvania rivers, streams, and other waterways.

Status, funding and match

The official application portal lists this competition as open on a rolling basis, with no fixed closing date or submission hour. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis subject to funding and review. Projects require a mandatory 1:1 match made up of cash, eligible in-kind contributions, or both. Applicants must document matching commitments. Projects must be ready for implementation and completed within a 12–18 month timeframe; the program states that extensions are unavailable.

Eligible organizations

Eligible applicants include Pennsylvania municipalities, boroughs, townships, county governments and other qualifying public entities, and eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trusts, river and watershed organizations registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Charitable Organizations. The official summary also references qualifying educational institutions, which should confirm their particular application status with POWR.

Allowable projects and requirements

Funding may support appropriate access acquisition, planning, engineering/design, portage, construction, upgrades and rehabilitation of public nonmotorized waterway access. Projects must be on applicant-owned property or sites held under a sufficiently long-term lease or agreement. Grantees must commit to keeping the facilities open to the public without charge for 25 years and maintaining the site during that term. Applicants are responsible for applicable permits and local land-use approvals and must document project readiness, budget, match, partners and community support. Private-access projects or unrelated vendor procurements are not eligible grant projects.

Controlling official program and application: https://pennsylvaniaenvironmentalcouncil.submittable.com/submit. Information independently verified November 6, 2026.