DELAWARE -The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is accepting proposals from organizations seeking matching grants for projects designed to improve water quality across the state.
Delaware nonprofit organizations, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowners associations can apply for funding through DNREC’s Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30.
Grant awards during this funding cycle are expected to range from $25,000 to $75,000. Applicants may submit up to two project proposals per grant cycle.
DNREC staff will review proposals through a competitive grant process, with recommended projects presented to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council.
The grants support projects and programs that improve water quality on developed land in areas with specific watershed improvement plans and strategies. Projects must demonstrate innovative, sustainable and cost-effective approaches that produce measurable water quality improvements.
Eligible projects can include restoring water quality in impaired watersheds, improving community stormwater management in existing developments in partnership with municipalities and developing voluntary pollution-control or watershed restoration strategies.
Past projects funded through the program have included a green roof, living shoreline and marsh improvements to reduce erosion, a stormwater retrofit featuring a wetland and bioswale, stream bank restoration and green stormwater improvements on Conwell Street in Seaford.
Project guidelines and the grant application are available at de.gov/envfinance.
Proposals must be no larger than 10 MB and should be emailed to DNREC_EF_Grants@delaware.gov, care of Michael Fleming, with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line.
