CNT is among the members of an advisory committee that has been helping the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) establish the critical elements of a new program to fund green infrastructure projects—identifying eligible applicants and projects, matching fund requirements and the criteria for prioritizing project applications. Our work to make green infrastructure a preferred stormwater management tool will only be successful if it is accessible to municipalities that want to test it but do not have the resources and funding to begin.

We’re pleased to announce that $5,000,000 has been set aside this year by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to pay for worthy green infrastructure projects. This is significant news for municipalities, counties, and other units of government, watershed groups and other non-profit organizations, universities, land management agencies, and soil and water conservation districts, among others, that want to apply for state funding for design and construction of green infrastructure projects for stormwater management.

This program is so new that it is not yet on the IEPA’s website, and should NOT be confused with the “Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grant Program” under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. CNT is providing this preview to give applicants an opportunity to start identifying and designing projects.

To date, the proposed project categories, match requirements and expected project funding levels are as follows:

1. Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) rehabilitation – $300,000 to $3 million; 15% match
2. Retention and Infiltration – $100,000 to $750,000; 25% match
3. Small Projects – $15,000 to $75,000; 25% match

The total amount of the Green Infrastructure Grant fund will be $5 million in 2010-2011. This limits the amount of money available in each category, and ensures a competitive application process. Currently, there are about 45 criteria that will be used to evaluate project applications. Project elements given the highest priority include those that improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff volume, recharge groundwater and utilize cost effective green infrastructure practices to meet these goals.

Authority for the grant program is contained in the approved state budget for Fiscal Year 2010-2011, which began July 1, 2010. IEPA plans to issue requests for applications in early August 2010 and set an application deadline of October 1, 2010.

CNT recommends that municipalities, non-profit organizations and others immediately begin to identify potentially eligible projects and evaluate which Project Criteria they would meet. Any questions about eligibility of applicants or projects should be directed to the Illinois EPA Water Bureau, 217-782-1654.