DuPage County Water Quality Improvement Program Grant (Illinois

The DuPage County Stormwater Management is currently accepting proposals Water Quality Improvement Program Grant.

Donor Name: DuPage County Stormwater Management

State: Illinois

County: DuPage County (IL)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 01/05/2024

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

DuPage County Stormwater Management recognizes the financial burden a property owner may face undertaking a project that improves regional water quality. Stormwater Management’s WQIP offers is a competitive grant that provides financial assistance to projects providing a regional water quality benefit to local waterways. The grant funds up to 25% of eligible construction costs for water quality improvement projects.

Highest consideration will be given to projects that provide a water quality benefit on a regional scale. Grant reimbursement is only allowable for construction costs. Projects that build resilience and offer strong multijurisdictional and multi-purpose benefits will also be highly considered.

Funding Information

DuPage County expects to award a total of $300,000 from WQIP funds and anticipates notifying grantees following the DuPage County Stormwater Management Committee.
DuPage County estimates providing a share of no more than $100,000 per project, depending on program interest.
All funded projects must be completed within 24 months from the agreement date.

Examples of eligible projects include:

Stream Restoration Projects such as bank stabilization involving bioengineering practices, channel rehabilitation (e.g., removal of concrete lining, daylighting a storm sewer or stream, remeandering a previously channelized section of a stream, installing pool-riffle complexes).
Detention basin retrofit (e.g., convert an open water basin to a constructed wetland basin, planting native vegetation in place of turf grass.
Lake or pond shoreline stabilization.
Native planting projects such as added naturalized green space, riparian buffer rehabilitation, wetland or wetland buffer creation, restoration, or enhancement.
Green infrastructure practices that reduce/filter stormwater runoff, such as green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales, cisterns, infiltration practices, permeable pavement, dry wells, urban planter boxes and tree wells that provide additional storage and treatment of runoff.

Criteria

The following shall govern DuPage County decisions on WQIP funding recommendations.

Projects must provide a regional water quality benefit, as well as pollutant load reduction. Estimates of load reductions must be determined using an IEPA or DuPage County approved methodology.
Projects that are required to be implemented as part of a development permit are not eligible for funding assistance. However, if the applicant can demonstrate that a portion of the project exceeds permit requirements for water quality, then that portion of the project may be eligible for funding.
The completed DuPage County WQIP Funding Request Form with supporting documents shall be submitted to DuPage County Stormwater Management by the deadline established in the Request-for- Proposal Packet, in order to be considered for funding.
Funding requests are only being accepted for construction of water quality projects. Eligible construction costs will be reimbursed to grantees. Projects required as part of a regulatory permit are not eligible for funding.
Applicants shall cost-share at least 75%. Expenses incurred or activities occurring prior to approval of funding by DuPage County are not eligible for reimbursement or to meet cost-share requirements. Several entities may combine resources to meet the applicant cost share requirement, or individual applicants may propose Federal or State or other grant resources to meet the applicant cost share requirement.
The project shall comply with or be consistent with all applicable watershed plans and stormwater management ordinances, regulations, laws and statutes.
The requests are limited to available DuPage County WQIP funds.
“Land Rights” – For all properties where in-the-ground construction will or may occur, the Applicant shall provide Owner-authorized land access and/or land rights or evidence of possessory interest in the form of previously recorded documentation or written authorization, from all property owners affected. Documentation or authorization may include recorded permanent easements; land covenants, deedrestricted areas or prescriptive easement (with the Owner’s authorization or evidence of possessory interest); or other Owner-approved and DuPage County accepted legal instruments (i.e.: Owner- executed License Agreement). Work within public road rights-of-way shall not be performed without appropriate permits or authorization.
DuPage County municipalities, townships, non-profits, businesses, organizations, HOA’s, and individuals are eligible to receive funds under the WQIP grant. However, as noted above, the projects must provide a regional benefit. For that reason, individuals may consider collaborating with neighbors, homeowner’s associations or others to maximize the project benefit.