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The Pike County Commissioners collaborated with Rep. Jeff Olsommer (R-Pike/Wayne) and Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) to secure a $400,000 grant through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Economic Development Initiatives Program, intended to help address the spongy moth infestation in Pike County.

The Commissioners’ Office announced it will use the awarded funds to administer a county-wide Spongy Moth Cost-Share program open to those conducting aerial application of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a microbiome naturally found in soil used to suppress spongy moth caterpillar populations and to minimize defoliation and the secondary impacts of these invasive caterpillars. Applicants who meet the conditions to participate will be reimbursed a portion of the treatment costs.

Applicants will be classified by acreage and landownership to ensure funds are distributed equitably among Pike County residents taking proactive measures to help eradicate spongy moth. Approved applicants are eligible for reimbursement of up to 25% or a reimbursement cap of $10,000 for those in Categories B, C, and D.

Categories are as follows:

• Category A: Homeowners Associations and Private Landowners spraying between 25 and 299 acres
• Category B: Homeowners Associations and Private Landowners spraying more than 300 acres
• Category C: Hunt Clubs spraying at least 25 acres
• Category D: Businesses/Municipalities/Organizations/Other spraying at least 25 acres

To be partially reimbursed, applicants must:

• Submit an application (along with supporting documentation including proof of contract from an aerial sprayer licensed to work in Pennsylvania, map of the spray block, etc.)
• Be a minimum treatment area of 25 contiguous acres
• Treat ONLY with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
• Be treated via Aerial Fixed-Wing or Rotary application ONLY

If you are applying on behalf of a homeowners association, you must be an authorized agent of the community.

The 2025 Spongy Moth Cost-Share program will begin accepting applications for partial reimbursement on January 6, 2025, at 9:00 am. The application can be found on the Spongy Moth page of the County website, www.pikepa.org/spongymoth. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, until funds are exhausted.

Approved applicants will not receive reimbursement until after spraying is complete, around May 2025, and will need to submit a final paid invoice and a map of the flight path from the certified aerial sprayer.

Regardless of your participation in this cost-share program, concerned landowners should act now to protect their trees next spring. Aerial applicators need to order supplies months in advance, so secure a sprayer using Bt now!

Mitigation resources for landowners, including a list of approved aerial applicators can be found on the county website, www.pikepa.org/spongymoth.

Pike County Spongy Moth Task Force

The Pike County Spongy Moth Task Force is recruiting additional members! If you are interested in representing your municipality on the Task Force, please contact Jessica Yoder, Spongy Moth Task Force Co-Chair at 570-296-3500 x1382 to learn more.