Conservation group offers grants

YOUNGSTOWN -- Eastgate Regional Council of Governments announced the start of the application season for the next round of grants from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund.
Those eligible to apply for funds are local governments, park and joint recreation districts, conservancy districts, soil and water conservation districts, and qualifying nonprofit groups. A 25 percent local contribution is required for all projects and can be in the form of local funds, private contributions, or in-kind services such as labor, materials or equipment, Eastgate officials said.
The Clean Ohio Fund was created in 2000 through the passage of Bond Issue 1. Eastgate acts as the administrators of the fund. The Natural Resource Assistance Council, which is the council made up of local representatives, chooses the projects that will be sent to the state for funding. The NRAC has awarded more than $3 million, which has protected more than 900 acres of open space in Mahoning and Trumbull counties during the past three rounds.
The pre-applications will be due June 23, and the final applications will be due Sept. 1. For more information, call Eastgate at (330) 779-3800.