The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program, funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP), and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, welcomes requests for urban green infrastructure proposals.
Donor Name: Chesapeake Bay Trust
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/10/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The goal of the grant is to help communities develop and implement plans that reduce stormwater runoff, increase the number and amount of green spaces in urban areas, improve the health of local waters and the Chesapeake Bay, and enhance quality of life and community livability. This work is intended to facilitate and encourage communities’ integration of green techniques into traditional gray infrastructure projects.
The G3 program promotes green stormwater infrastructure as standard practice, fostering green infrastructure through market incentives and building local capacity. Expanding green spaces reduces pollutants (like sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus) in waterways. Green infrastructure practices—including rain gardens, tree canopies, pervious pavements, and bioswales—improve stormwater absorption, air quality, and urban livability, with benefits like reduced urban heat, improved walkability, and public health.
Tracks
- Track 1: Conceptual Plans for Green Streets/Green Infrastructure Projects
- This project track supports the development of a conceptual plan for green streets/green infrastructure projects. A concept plan is the first step in the planning process. The conceptual green street should be part of a broader, integrated community watershed plan. Conceptual plans for large-scale, high-performing green street/green stormwater infrastructure projects must treat over one inch of runoff. One of the most important criteria used to evaluate conceptual design proposals is the likelihood of ultimate implementation.
- Track 2: Engineered Designs for Green Street/Green Infrastructure Projects
- This project track supports the development of engineered designs for green streets/green infrastructure projects. Proposals for engineered designs should include all the design elements that would result in a final design that is implementable. Engineered plans for large-scale, high-performing green street/green stormwater infrastructure projects must treat over one inch of runoff. Such projects should be connected to a larger vision for a Green Town (e.g., comprehensive green streets, community resiliency programs, greening of school grounds, etc.). Cost projections shall be a part of the final design product and will include costs associated with implementation, operation, and maintenance. One of the most important criteria used to evaluate engineered design proposals is the likelihood of ultimate implementation.
- Track 3: Implementation/Construction of Green Streets/Green Infrastructure Projects
- This project track supports the construction of green streets and large-scale green infrastructure projects (e.g., rain gardens, bioretention cells, permeable surfaces, green roofs, etc.).
- Track 4: Community Greening
- This project track supports small to medium-scale community greening projects (e.g., tree plantings, community gardens and urban farms, pollinator gardens, conservation landscaping, reclaiming vacant lots to install site appropriate practices, etc.).
- Track 5: White Papers and Tool Development
- This project track supports white papers that summarize the analysis of one or more aspects of green infrastructure or tools that promote green infrastructure efforts. White papers may be proposed that summarize research of a priority subject to further green infrastructure use. Tools may be proposed that will bridge a gap or move applications forward to further green infrastructure use.
- Track 6: Green Street Charrette/Technical Planning Assistance
- A charrette is a planning or visioning session where community members, planners, developers, and other key stakeholders collaborate on the development of a green plan, vision, or design for a project.
Funding Information
The funding partners anticipate approximately $1.3 million in funding is available in FY25.
- Track 1: Conceptual Plans (up to $20,000)
- Track 2: Engineered Designs (up to $35,000)
- Track 3: Construction/Implementation (up to $175,000)
- Track 4: Community Greening (up to $50,000)
- Track 5: White Papers and Tool Development (up to $20,000)
- Track 6: Charrettes/Technical Assistance (no direct funding).
Grant Period
Projects must be completed within 12 months upon receipt of the award.
Eligible Project Locations
This program funds projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed portions of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and Virginia.
Eligibility Criteria
Funding Partners and the Trust welcome requests from the following organizations:
- Local government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- Community and Homeowner Associations
- Faith-based Organizations
- Eligible applicants will have and maintain in full force and effect during the term of the proposed project liability insurance coverage in connection with the performance or failure to perform services proposed.
For more information, visit Chesapeake Bay Trust.
