Stormwater Grant
The Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office (WCWRC) is committed to the protection of surface water and the environment by providing stormwater management, flood control, development review, and water quality programs. Through funds made available by the County’s American Rescue Plan Act, WCWRC is committing a total of $2,000,000 from years 2023-2025 to aid in further implementation. The program’s intent is to further enable stormwater projects that provide multiple benefits and provides incentives for undertaking projects in disadvantaged communities.
Funding is available for construction costs as part of an overall project. Eligible projects will be those that provide improved water quality, flood control, or green infrastructure while restoring or protecting environmental features in local watersheds.
Application Process and Timing
Funding is expected to be awarded and distributed in multiple grant cycles. Applications for the initial round are due by 5:00pm on May 1, 2023.
Staff will review and score applications and make recommendations for funding to the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner.
The awarded funds will not be made available to the applicant until a project agreement has been executed and stipulated deadlines/milestones have been met.
Please note that this is a reimbursement-based grant program.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include local units of government in Washtenaw County.
All construction project areas must be within the County borders.
Multiple applications can be considered from each applicant each grant cycle, but please note that the number of awards per organization may be limited.
Applicants that do not receive grant monies in the initial cycle will be given preference in subsequent cycles.
Watch the informational webinar hosted on February 15, 2023, for additional project details.
View the PowerPoint presentation used in the webinar hosted on February 15, 2023.
Funding
A total of $2,000,000 in matching funds is available for eligible projects submitted through December 31, 2024, to be distributed in multiple grant cycles. Award monies must be spent by December 31, 2026. Funding will be allocated among three project categories.
- Local road crossings and stormwater renewals/improvements
- water quality (including green infrastructure)
- flood control/stormwater resilience (including channel conveyance renewals or infiltration)
Award amounts will be based upon number and quality of submissions, but a minimum of $150k will be dedicated to each category (assuming there are quality applications in all three categories and that the project achieves the minimum scoring threshold). Maximum award amount for any single project will be $200k in this round.
Only projects that provide a minimum of 50% matching funds (of construction cost) will be considered. Matching funds from multiple sources or other grants are eligible.
Eligible Project Types
Applicants may choose to apply for funding from multiple project categories in the same grant cycle (up to the maximum of three applications); however, limited funding is available and not all requested funds may be awarded.
Construction
WCWRC will fund projects that will be ready for construction to begin within the next 18 months. Applications should include any pre-application activities such as planning, feasibility, hydraulic/hydrologic studies, engineering, etc. already complete.
Construction projects will be required to:
- Be competitively bid and awarded to lowest responsible bidder.
- Comply with all applicable regulatory and permit requirements, including county provisions such as ADA or prevailing wage.
- Use engineering plans that will be or were prepared by a licensed engineer, landscape architect, or similar professional.
- Overhead costs associated with the applicant’s staff shall not be considered expenses eligible for reimbursement.
Applicants should document the project’s contribution to overall stormwater management and its value to county residents. In reviewing applications, the project will be scored against criteria established in the scoring criteria form:
- Conveyance Resilience
- Rainfall trends show increased frequency and intensity, particularly over the past twenty years. These trends are only expected to continue. Projects incorporating future rainfall trends for conveyance without measurable detriment to downstream communities will score higher.
- Storage and Water Quality Resilience
- Protects or restores floodplains and wetlands, incorporates multiple BMP’s, and encourages infiltration.
Benefit to Public Health and Environment
- Includes hazard mitigation and addresses pollutant reduction within a formal plan. Additional points awarded for high traffic roadways that contribute greater pollutant loads to local watersheds.
Storm Water Project Plan
- Communities should have a developed watershed or overall stormwater management plan. Includes asset management plans, capital improvement plans, or related.
Existing Asset Condition
- Assets in degraded or impaired condition, as rated on recognized grading system.
Disadvantaged Communities
- Located in communities that may need additional support before, during and after disasters. Federal Vulnerability Index rating used for scoring purposes.
Local Matching Funds and Partnerships
- Considers percentage of local match and applicants submitted through a partnership with other local groups.
Cost Effectiveness
- Addresses the greatest number of hazard mitigation benefits for the lowest cost.
WCWRC reserves the right to modify these criteria when beneficial to the interest of the County, its residents, and communities prior to agreement.