If you have ever tried searching for green infrastructure (GI) funding, you probably quickly discovered that it has many different names and titles. The benefits of GI are varied and broad, which means there are many state-level funding sources in places that you may least expect. It just might take some digging to find that gold.
Where is the Funding Hidden?
The easiest place to start would be your state environmental department. Programs connected to the Clean Water Act state revolving funds (CW SRFs), or watershed restoration are good starting points. The EPA even maintains a list of all the Clean Water Act projects they have funded. This is a good place to look if you want to see the types of projects that have been successful.
But don’t stop with the easy searches. Some opportunities could come from agencies that don’t sound “green” at all. That can be one of the biggest challenges (or the fun treasure hunt part) with GI funding. A project might qualify very well under a funding program that never uses the phrase “green infrastructure.”
Examples:
- Community development programs deal with improving neighborhood aesthetics and increasing property values. GI projects such as green streets, landscaping improvements, and flood mitigation features can align well with those program goals. Each state may structure their programs differently, but in New Mexico, the Economic Development website features grant opportunites that can serve as a great starting point to look for potential funding sources.
- Transportation departments deal with flooded roads and drainage issues. GI practices such as trees, permeable surfaces, and green stormwater systems can help address these challenges while improving roadway resilience. In New Mexico, the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program has allocated funds to design natural infrastructure elements on land that has been significantly contributing to erosion and severe dust storms on I-10.
- Drought and water conservation programs deal with water supply and sustainability. GI projects that capture stormwater, recharge groundwater, or reduce irrigation demand can support these priorities. In Pennsylviania, Cuberland County was able to develop an open space and growth plan from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resource Keystone Grant Funding program.
- Emergency management and flood mitigation programs deal with reducing risk and protecting communities. GI approaches like wetlands, detention systems, and other nature-based flood mitigation can help reduce damage. In Michigan, the state has a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedeness Program that funds nature-based resilience projects like flood storage and restoration.
Follow the Problem, Not the Buzzword
One way to improve the chances of finding funding for your project is to focus more on the problem that the project solves rather than just what the project is.
For example, a rain garden can help improve water quality, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, cool urban areas, beautify neighborhoods, and support climate resilience all at the same time. This means that the same project can qualify under programs focused on resilience, conservation, transportation, watershed protection, public health, and even more.
Once you have matched your outcomes with your funding source, the next step is to frame it accordingly. Present the project in a way that speaks to the priorities of the “treasure holder”, if you will.
Funding Does Not Only Come from States
State funding is not the only potential source you can consider. In fact, GI funding is often pieced together from multiple sources.
Federal agencies, watershed groups, nonprofit organizations, utilities, and regional planning organizations can all play a role. In many cases, projects move forward because communities combine smaller pots of money together rather than relying on a single large grant.
Final Takeaway
Green infrastructure funding can feel difficult to track down because it rarely exists neatly under one label.
The same project might qualify as flood mitigation to one agency, drought resilience to another, and transportation improvement to another.
The most successful funding searches usually involve thinking broadly and considering funding sources related to the problem the GI is intended to solve and which agency(ies) cares about these problems.
Once you broaden your horizons, you may find that the treasure is all around you. You just have to be willing to dig a little and look.
For free assistance with developing your green infrastructure program or integrating green assets into your system, contact the EFCN: https://efcnetwork.org/get-help/
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References
- https://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/toolkits/green-infrastructure-toolkit/how-to-pay-for-green-infrastructure-funding-and-financing.html?chapter#ref-1
- https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/state-policy-options-for-green-infrastructure
- https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/clean-water-state-revolving-fund-projects
- https://www.americanrivers.org/report/funding-green-infrastructure-pennsylvania/