1. MS4 Guide
  2. Compliance Funding

Compliance Funding

Funding Opportunities

There is no funding specific to MS4 Compliance. However, there are many opportunities to gain direct funding which can be used for compliance. In addition to these options, some communities have formed collaboratives to share the responsibilities and costs of equipment, monitoring, public education, etc. Connecticut's first, the Eastern CT Stormwater Collaborative, was formed in 2018. Another example is the Central Massachusetts Stormwater Coalition. It is a good idea to check with your regional Council of Government (COG) to see if they are coordinating any efforts to pool resources.

Long Island Sound Futures Fund 2023

The request for proposals is now open. The proposal deadline is Wednesday, May 10th, 2023. Grants range from 50k - 1.5m. For more information, see the Request for Proposals.

The Long Island Sound Study's Future Fund provides over $10M in grants to local communities within the Long Island Sound watershed. Types of projects which can be submitted for funding should fall under:

Several workshops will be held over the coming months:

Dates Webinar or Workshop Times Register Location
March 15, 2023 NY & CT Webinar 1:30pm – 3:00pm Register
March 16, 2023 MA, NH, VT Webinar 1:30pm – 3:00pm Register
March 23, 2023 Pembroke, NH 9:00am – 12:00pm Register Edward Cross Training Center Complex, Multipurpose Room 722 Riverwood Drive, Pembroke, NH
March 27, 2023 Hartford, CT 9:30am – 1:00pm Register Hartford Public Library, Park Street Location, 603 Park Street, Hartford, CT 06106
March 28, 2023 Groton, CT 9:30am – 11:00am Register Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Road, Groton, CT 06340
March 28, 2023 New Haven, CT 2:00pm – 3:30pm Register University of New Haven, Alumni Lounge, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516
March 29, 2023 Bridgeport, CT 10:30am – 12:00pm Register Bridgeport Public Library North Branch, 3455 Madison Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606
April 11, 2023 Huntington, NY 9:30am – 11:00am Register Town Board Room, 100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743
April 18, 2023 Bronx, NY 9:30am – 11:00am Register Maritime Academic Center, SUNY Maritime, 6 Pennyfield Ave, The Bronx, NY 10465
April 18, 2023 New Rochelle, NY 1:30pm – 3:00pm Register New Rochelle Department of Public Works Center Training Room, 25 Industrial Lane, New Rochelle, NY 10801

 

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CT DEEP Climate Resilience Fund

We wanted to let you know that the CT DEEP Climate Resilience Funding can be used for feasibility studies for stormwater utility development.

About the funding:

The Climate Resilience Fund is meant to provide a jumpstart for developing a resilience project pipeline which can win federal grant support for construction and implementation. This grant will NOT cover construction and implementation – only planning and initial steps of development prior to submission for competitive federal grants. For implementation, some grants which may be of interest for stormwater resilience projects are the Clean Water Fund Reserve for Construction of Green Infrastructure and the Reserve for Construction of Resiliency Projects. Some of the hazards requiring climate resilience action relevant to stormwater utilities are extreme precipitation, flooding from riverine, stormwater, tidal sources, or a combination, as well sea level rise.

There are two tracks for grant proposals:

  • Track 1 is planning. Applicants can seek up $250,000 for planning of climate mitigation projects. This track will be for communities which have not planned for resilience before and are unaware of what their vulnerability is or have completed climate mitigation planning but are unaware of how climate change may affect those plans. The deadline for Track 1 applications is 11:59pm on November 10th, 2022.
  • Track 2 is project development and is for advancing resilience project scoping and development. There is no cap on funding requests, but requests are expected to range from $300,000 to $700,000. This track will be for communities who have completed planning and identified projects which will reduce risk of impact of climate hazards if implemented. The deadline for Track 2 applications is 11:59pm on December 1st, 2022.

Feasibility Studies

Feasibility studies can be used as an expense under a local funding strategy component of a budget for Track 1 or Track 2 grant proposals. No match is required for the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund. A stormwater feasibility study is an eligible expense so applicants can include that as part of their proposed scope of work and budget.

For feasibility studies as a standalone activity for grant proposals, please email: DEEP.climateresilience@ct.gov for a brief meeting and separate application. For these standalone activities, they will follow the Track 2 deadline. Please reach out by Nov 15 to ensure time for conversation and completed application by Dec 1. 

Stormwater Utilities

As of July 1st, 2021, Connecticut municipalities can now implement their own stormwater utilities. These utilities function the same as other utilities, such as water or sewage, charging a fee on impervious cover in order to generate sustainable funding for stormwater management. Just as residents pay a fee for how much water they use, which in return funds the drinking water services within their area, stormwater utilities charge residents and property owners on the amount of impervious cover on their property. The fee is not based on property tax, but on impervious cover, allowing all properties, even tax-exempt properties, to contribute to the stormwater fund. This funding can be used directly for Stormwater Management and MS4 compliance.

For more information, check out our Stormwater Utilities page and out Stormwater Utility and MS4 Compliance Fact Sheet.

EPA: New England Stormwater Toolbox Equipment Loan Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 is now accepting applications from all New England non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the 2023 EPA Region 1 Stormwater Toolbox Equipment Loan Program.

This EPA program supplies NGOs within New England with a loan of stormwater monitoring equipment. This equipment can then be distributed to any municipalities regulated by the MS4 for assistance in volunteer monitoring. The equipment includes water quality monitoring equipment such as a YSI, Colorimeter and Test strips to monitor WQ parameters, Chlorine, Ammonia, and Surfactants. The loan comes with initial supplies, but does not come with any replenishing or consumable supplies (gloves, reagents, etc). The program runs on a year long schedule with applications due in the Winter and toolboxes sent out in the Spring to be returned in the Fall.

There are 6 toolboxes for loan. The loan program is open to all NGO monitoring groups - groups subject to MS4 permit requirements are not eligible. Watershed associations are the most common applicants, but most non-governmental organizations are eligible. EPA typically verifies with the individual entity to determine eligibility if it comes into question. There is no limit to how many times a group can apply. A Quality Assurance Program or Project Plan must be submitted with the application.

Contact: Shea.Shannon@epa.gov

More information:

Vision and Goal

The ultimate goal of the equipment loan program is to provide the tools and a framework to enable groups to take an active role in their community and watershed. This can allow groups to enhance environmental stewardship, create healthy, sustainable communities and to collaborate with government at all levels in protecting the environment. The equipment loan program will give groups access to uniform monitoring equipment and methodologies to collect data that can have a meaningful impact in their communities.

Eligibility

Any NGO is eligible to apply (universities, watershed associations, planning commissions, tribes, etc.). Any interested applicant must have a Quality Assurance Program or Project Plan (QAPP) currently in place OR be willing to develop one, in order to be eligible for the program. Municipalities and other members of the regulated community that are subject to NPDES monitoring requirements are not eligible to apply.

Building Equitable Partnerships

EPA is committed to being intentional in its efforts to protect the health and environment of all Americans, including those historically marginalized, overburdened, underserved, and living with the legacy of structural racism. Region 1 is actively working to deploy technical tools and resources to incorporate environmental justice (EJ) considerations into our activities. We need your help to accomplish this task. So, in order to reach the largest number of eligible NGOS throughout New England possible, we are asking that you please forward along this information to those you know who work with NGOS or any of your NGO contacts that would be interested in or benefit from this opportunity, including groups in watersheds with EJ concerns. Thank you to all for your assistance in getting the word out.

Program Details and Application

A detailed description of the program, including available equipment, organization eligibility, selection process and criteria, and conditions of the equipment loan agreement can be found in the program plan. In order to apply, applicants must be familiar with all the items in the plan, as well as the EPA New England Bacterial Source Tracking Protocol, which is the EPA scientific framework behind the toolbox. APPLICATION HERE.

Deadlines

Applications will be accepted through close of business on 03/06/2023 with selections to be announced by 03/20/2023. We will not respond to applicants that we do not select.