A group working to commemorate the region's 250th anniversary has released additional information about a grant program open to individuals, neighborhood groups and civic organizations.

The program is part of Community Connections, which encourages civic engagement in the anniversary through service and projects.

A group called Pittsburgh 250 is organizing events around the anniversary. The $1 million grant program is administered by the Sprout Fund for regional and grass-roots projects for Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

"We aim to spark people's imagination and engage them in a new way to think creatively about their community and demonstrate their civic pride by encouraging innovative ideas that express pride and progress in a way that is important to them," said Cathy Lewis Long, executive director. Regional grants of up to $50,000 will go to civic or community groups whose project, event or activity would affect larger populations or distinct groups. A panel of representatives from the 14 counties will choose grantees.

County leaders, meanwhile, will decide who will receive the grass-roots project grants that have more to do with the needs and issues in specific communities. The communities, civic groups or individuals will receive up to $5,000 for each project.

A third group of projects will be endorsed and promoted but will not receive monetary support.

A 24-month initiative, Community Connections will be out in each of the 14 counties introducing the program and encouraging applications through late summer. In May and June, it will hold community brainstorming sessions.

Grant winners will be announced in October and November. Groups and individuals can apply by downloading the application from Web site www.imaginepittsburgh.com/about-pittsburgh-250/community-connections/index.aspx by Sept. 14.