BELLEFONTE — A coalition that wants the state to continue Growing Greener has added the Centre County Board of Commissioners to its list of supporters.
Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve supporting the Renew Growing Greener Coalition’s efforts to get the General Assembly and Gov. Tom Corbett to pass legislation funding the initiative. Jeremy Bean, with the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, told commissioners the county has received $34 million in Growing Greener funds— the most of any county in the state.
Bean’s is one of more than 350 organizations and governmental entities in the coalition. According to the coalition, 102 government entities, including 24 counties, have come out in favor of renewing Growing Greener.
The county has used Growing Greener funding for projects such as clean up of Contrary Run, which contributed acid mine runoff to Sandy Run and Beech Creek; supporting stream restoration projects; rehabilitating community parks and trails around the county; and farmland preservation.
Commissioners’ Chairman Jon Eich spoke in favor of the Growing Greener projects and the community initiatives it has supported.
“It creates the opportunity, the atmosphere, for people not only to come to our community, but to stay here and be part of it,” Eich said.
The state set up Growing Greener in 1999 to provide funding for environmental cleanup projects, watershed restoration, sewer and water system improvements, parks and recreation projects and farmland conservation. Initially funded with $645 million, the effort was expanded to $1.3 billion in 2002 with revenue from a municipal tipping fee. In 2004, voters approved issuing a $625 million bond that supported initiatives including community projects and alternative energy.
Funding is now running out. The coalition is calling for a state investment of $200 million a year and setting up a dedicated funding source for the program.
Bean said the coalition would like to see some of that funding go to address problems from natural gas drilling if they arise.
Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648.
