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When corporations offer grants to improve the environment, they most often go to nonprofit organizations or governments.

Park City Mountain Resort owner Powdr recently announced it will take a different approach.

It has created a new environmental grant program called "Protect Your Playground" to empower individuals to do something to protect their local environments.

The company will award $40,000 across its nine mountain resorts and four Woodward action sports camps in grant funds in the first year.

According to Powdr, the program was created to empower and inspire individuals of all ages to develop solutions for environmental issues that affect their local natural playgrounds and communities.

Applicants can request up to $2,500 in funding. These grants are reserved only for individuals and must be submitted by Feb. 21 at http://www.protectyourplayground.org.

"Powdr is passionate about reducing our carbon footprint to protect the places we live, work and play, but this initiative isn't about us," said Brent Giles, chief sustainability officer for the company. "Protect Your Playground was created to provide innovative, environmentally minded individuals with the resources they need to turn their ideas into action and impact within their own communities. We believe that together we can make systematic, lasting contributions to preserve and enhance our playgrounds for generations to come."

Applications will be reviewed by members of the individual resorts and Woodward green team, who will narrow down submissions to their top choices. Grant winners will be announced on Earth Day, which is April 22, 2014.

Twitter: @tribtomwharton