MARIETTA — A training session for the District 18 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Program will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at the Holiday Inn, Marietta.

Topics covered in training session include preparation of the application, new requirements, and policy updates.

This training is offered for all persons interested in applying for the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Program. Local government entities (county, township, city, village) park and joint recreational districts, conservancy districts, soil and water conservation districts, and non-profit organizations are eligible to participate in this program.

The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund is part of the Clean Ohio Fund originally proposed by Governor Bob Taft in his 2000 State of the State address. Clean Ohio is a $400 million bond program instituted to preserve natural areas and farmland, protect streams, create outdoor recreational activities, and revitalize urban areas by cleaning up brownfield sites. Grants will be awarded to eligible conservation projects, including the purchase of open spaces and the costs associated with making them accessible to the general public; and for the protection of stream corridors, providing wildlife habitat and reducing erosion.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend the training session. RSVP by Wednesday, August 15, to Jenny Myers at Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District by phone at (740) 376-1026. For more information on the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund program, contact her at (740) 376-1025.