Main Street Hanover Awarded Environmental Action Grant to Enhance Slagle Run Restoration Project

CommunityGeneral News ArticlePress Release

Hanover, PA — Main Street Hanover has been awarded a 2026 Environmental Action Grant through the NiSource Charitable Foundation, presented by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, receiving $5,000 to support the Slagle Run Environmental Education Enhancement Project.  
 

Announced in recognition of Earth Day 2026, the Environmental Action Grant is a newly established annual program designed to support local environmental restoration and education initiatives across the state. This year, 11 nonprofit organizations throughout Pennsylvania were selected through a competitive application process, with projects evaluated by a selection committee based on their potential to create meaningful, community-based environmental impact.  
“This is an exciting and forward-thinking opportunity for us to back innovative ideas that will bring about positive and lasting environmental change, and we’re proud to announce this on Earth Day,” said Mark Kempic, president and chief operating officer of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. “Also, we do not view these grants as one-time awards, but as the start of ongoing partnerships with each and every selected organization.”  
Main Street Hanover’s project builds upon the ongoing UNT Slagle Run Stream and Floodplain Restoration Project, a major environmental initiative led in partnership with the Borough of Hanover Stormwater Authority and funded entirely by the York Countywide Action Plan (CAP). The restoration effort recently completed transforms approximately 1,600 feet of a previously degraded stream corridor into a stable, functioning floodplain ecosystem, improving stormwater management, reducing erosion, enhancing water quality, and restoring native habitat.  
Funding from the Environmental Action Grant will support the installation of educational wayfinding signage and a viewing pad at the site, creating an accessible space for residents, visitors, and students to engage with the restored environment. These features will interpret key concepts such as watershed health, floodplain function, stormwater management, and native ecosystems, turning the site into a “living classroom” for the community.   
“The addition of an educational component ensures that the impact of the UNT Slagle Run project extends beyond physical restoration,” said Moriah Tyler, Executive Director of Main Street Hanover. “By helping the public better understand how and why this work matters, we are fostering long-term environmental stewardship and creating a space for learning, reflection, and community connection.”  
“This educational area represents a natural extension of the restoration itself,” said Eric Mains, Director of Planning & Engineering for the Borough of Hanover. “By incorporating interpretive features at the site, we can translate complex engineering and ecological concepts into an accessible experience for residents of all ages, while reinforcing the long-term value of investments in resilient, natural systems.”  
The Borough of Hanover, through the Stormwater Authority and the adjacent landowner, Mr. Robert (Bob) Monahan, Jr.  who is participating in a land swap with the Borough, has provided key partnership in the restoration effort and will continue to support implementation of the educational enhancements. Together, the project partners aim to create a lasting community asset that highlights the value of green infrastructure and sustainable environmental practices.  
“True community engagement means investing in meaningful projects that benefit us most where we live and work,” said Reggie Fields, Executive Director of the NiSource Charitable Foundation. “We are proud to collaborate with these outstanding nonprofit organizations and help them fulfill their missions through these vital environmental projects.”  
Other 2026 Environmental Action Grant recipients include organizations such as the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, Grow Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, among others working to advance conservation, restoration, and environmental education efforts across Pennsylvania.  
The Environmental Action Grant program originated in Indiana more than a decade ago and was expanded in 2026 by NiSource Inc. to include all six states within its service area. This year, the foundation will distribute a total of $250,000 in grant funding to support environmental initiatives.  
Main Street Hanover, Inc. is a nationally accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life in downtown Hanover through revitalization, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. 
 
About the NiSource Charitable Foundation 
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1990 to support the communities where NiSource customers and employees live and work. The Foundation offers support for people and communities by providing charitable grants to nonprofit organizations aligned with the Foundation’s mission and Pillars for Giving and by encouraging employee volunteerism. 
 
About The Borough of Hanover 
The Borough of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania, was incorporated in 1815. The Borough serves the public through stewardship, government, development and improvements of public assets including water/sewer/stormwater & refuse utilities, parks & recreation facilities, the Hanover Market House, the Guthrie Memorial Library, as well as Code Enforcement, Police & Fire Departments. It is governed by the Borough Council, overseen by the Borough Manager, and staffed by administrative, public service, public works, sewer, water, refuse and engineering professionals. Known as the Snack Food Capital of the World, Hanover is home, not only to numerous food industries, but also to manufacturing, technology, commercial sales, and services. Hanover Borough offices, located at 33 Frederick Street, can be reached at 717-637-3877 or by email at Info@HanoverBoroughPA.gov. More information is available at www.HanoverBoroughPA.gov. 


About Main Street Hanover

The mission of Main Street Hanover is to expand the economic capacity of downtown Hanover, thus improving the business environment, enhancing the quality of place, and increasing community synergy.

 

Main Street Hanover is a 501c3 non-profit & proceeds benefit the revitalization of Downtown Hanover.

Main Street Hanover Awarded Environmental Action Grant to Enhance Slagle Run Restoration Project