(Columbus-March 2, 2010) The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) will host a free workshop for District 3 applicants applying for the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund (COCF) on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. The COCF is part of the Clean Ohio program and can be used to acquire green space and restore riparian corridors. District 3 has approximately $2.4 million to be awarded in its Round 6B and $2.9 million for Round 7. To register for the workshop, contact Wilma Yoder at wyoder@morpc.org or call (614) 233-4175 by March 12, 2010.

"To date more than $20 million has been awarded in Clean Ohio Conservation funds in Franklin County. Last year $118,400 was awarded to the Village of Obetz to acquire 18 acres of land along the Big Walnut Creek for a multi use trail. In the same year, the city of Westerville was awarded $210,000 to purchase 14 acres of land along the east bank of Alum Creek near Polaris Parkway," states Wilma Yoder, District 3 Liaison.

Local governments, park and joint recreation districts, conservancy districts, soil and water conservation districts, and non-profit organizations located in Franklin County are all eligible to apply for these funds. Application documents and information will be available under the "Center for Energy & Environment-Clean Ohio Fund" tab on the MORPC website at www.morpc.org after March 17, 2010.

Designated as central Ohio's metropolitan planning agency, MORPC is a voluntary association of 47 local governments. The Center for Energy & Environment at MORPC serves as a community resource in the region by offering a variety of services including: daily air quality forecasts, trail coordination, educational presentations, watershed planning, home weatherization, government carbon footprint analysis and more.