The Green Infrastructure Grant Program is open to nonprofit organizations and communities looking to reduce the burden on the Sewer District’s system in their area. In order to qualify, the reduction will need to be shown to be long-term and significant.
Low Impact Development (LID) projects, sometimes called “green builds,” which decrease the amount of stormwater runoff, reduce maintenance and repair costs associated with the Sewer District’s equipment and infrastructure. When the water flow is reduced through redirection into uses such as irrigation of plant life, it lessens the pressure on the system as a whole. Therefore, the grant program seeks to encourage nonprofits, and community partner groups to reduce costs and minimize the negative impacts upon the environment from excess wastewater.
Communities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses that partner with nonprofits may apply for funding through the Green Infrastructure Grant Program. Like most programs, the Green Infrastructure Grant Program has some limitations and regulations. For example, the funding cannot be used to solve legal compliance issues or mitigation. The funds may cover engineering and design fees, as well as studies for structural soundness and for any necessary soil testing. Equipment rental, the purchase of materials and plants, and labor are also allowable expenses under the program.
Projects may include parking lots with foliage and landscaping included in such a way that water runoff is reduced, the addition of a rooftop garden which utilizes stormwater runoff for irrigation, or other projects that reduce the impact of stormwater runoff on the sewer system. An experienced engineer or team can help design a project that meets the requirements of the grant program and the needs being addressed by the project in the most efficient manner possible.
By taking advantage of programs like the Green Infrastructure Grants Program, groups and businesses who partner with a nonprofit or community can reduce the costs of a Low Impact Design (LID) project, and in turn benefit both the community and the environment.
Photo Credit: Ekistics Design Studio