Statewide Waterway Access Grant Program

The Statewide Waterway Access Grant (SWAG) Program is a mini-grant initiative administered by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR). This program operates in close partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR), the latter of which provides funding through the Environmental Stewardship Fund managed by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. The initiative is dedicated to enhancing public access to Pennsylvania’s waterways by supporting projects that focus on the design, construction, upgrade, or rehabilitation of non-motorized waterway access points. The core aim of the SWAG Program is to advance POWR’s broader mission, which emphasizes stewardship and the sustainable enjoyment of Pennsylvania's aquatic resources. Through this program, grants of up to $30,000 are made available for public access infrastructure projects across the state. The program prioritizes proposals that demonstrably improve recreational access and align with strategic community or watershed goals. The grant seeks to support efforts that increase the usability and safety of water trails and related access points, ensuring long-term benefit to the public. Eligible applicants for the program include townships, boroughs, municipal and county governments, as well as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations. Examples include community watershed associations, conservancies, and water trail managers. To qualify, the applicant must have ownership or a long-term lease on the property where the access improvements will occur. Moreover, the access facility must remain free and open to the public for a period of 25 years, during which the applicant will be responsible for routine maintenance and must sign a maintenance agreement to that effect. A defining characteristic of the SWAG Program is its one-to-one matching requirement. Applicants must provide an equal value match to the grant request, which can consist of cash, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both. Projects must comply with the operational and funding guidelines of POWR, PFBC, and PA DCNR. Additionally, depending on the nature of the project, grantees may be required to install signage acknowledging funding support, and must secure all necessary permits and local land use approvals prior to the commencement of construction. Applications to the SWAG Program are accepted and awarded on a rolling basis. This means there is no fixed submission deadline, but all proposed projects must be able to commence immediately and be completed within a 12 to 18-month period. No extensions are offered, so readiness is a critical factor in the evaluation process. Submissions must be thorough, clearly articulated, and include required supporting documentation such as letters of commitment for matching funds and support letters indicating community need and collaboration. The evaluation criteria place strong emphasis on alignment with community plans, the advancement of POWR’s organizational priorities, completeness and quality of the application, financial feasibility, and community impact. Projects demonstrating an extraordinary or unique community benefit may also receive additional bonus points. For assistance with content-specific questions, applicants may contact Janet Sweeney at POWR, while technical support with the online submission platform Submittable is also available during business hours. Applicants are encouraged to visit the official POWR website for further program information and updates.

Projects that demonstrate readiness, community need, and provide clear match documentation may receive bonus consideration.