Do you love a parade? Do you like to plan celebrations? Do you have an idea for a book commemorating southwestern Pennsylvania?

If you do, and your proposal is accepted, you may get a piece of the more than $1 million that will be available to civic organizations, neighborhoods, communities and individuals who participate in the region's celebration of its 250th anniversary next year.

Administered by The Sprout Fund, the funds will go to projects chosen through a competitive grant program. A wide range of projects throughout the 14-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania will be eligible for funding. Organizers said they may range from parades to published books.

The grant program is part of Community Connections, an initiative of Pittsburgh 250 that encourages civic engagement to commemorate the region's 250th anniversary through service and projects.

In addition to The Sprout Fund and Cathy Lewis Long, its executive director, others participating in the project include George Miles, president and chief executive officer of WQED Multimedia, Aradhna Dhanda, president and chief executive officer of Leadership Pittsburgh, and Bill Flanagan, executive director of Pittsburgh 250.

According to a spokesman, a series of brainstorming sessions will determine which projects earn funding.

Beginning Tuesday, applications will be available from www.pittsburgh250.org/communityconnections.