Funding Green Infrastructure Projects

FUNDING GI PROJECTS

Community Funding

Communities can easily integrate green infrastructure initiatives into other community improvement or capital projects such as

  • transportation corridor upgrades,
  • pedestrian safety upgrades,
  • neighborhood revitalization efforts,
  • road repaving, and
  • utility work.

By integrating green infrastructure into these planned projects, communities can achieve significant cost savings as compared to retrofit projects focused solely on installing green infrastructure practices. Education for private developers can help them include green infrastructure into their designs.

Link to Nature-Based Resources and Publications – Ky Association of Mitigation Managers (kymitigation.org)

Finding Funding for Nature-Based Projects Just Got a Little Bit Easier

Announcing a new searchable database for communities interested in funding nature-based infrastructure solutions

December 7, 2022 

The National Wildlife Federation has launched a new microsite FundingNatureBasedSolutions.nwf.org, that aims to easily connect community planners and other stakeholders with sources of federal funding for infrastructure projects that incorporate natural elements. 

The site allows users to search and sort the more than 70 types of federal grants that fund nature-based restoration solutions based on factors such as eligible recipients, project purpose, and the match required.  It also provides information about the typical application cycles, and contact information for each program. 

Recent legislation, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the Inflation Reduction Act, created several new funding streams for nature-based projects and augmented existing programs’ funding for broad purposes such as flood protection, water quality improvement, disaster recovery and transportation resilience.  The website will be updated regularly as the funding sources available evolve. 

Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center at NWF.org/News.

 

Financing Green Infrastructure Projects

December 2017

Municipal budget officers have long been familiar with the intricacies of capital improvement planning, which allows governments to align infrastructure investments with their communities’ long-range comprehensive plans.

Conventional stormwater management systems (often called “gray”) contain stormwater runoff in reservoirs and massive underground pipes and tunnels—large scale public works projects—to pre­vent polluted runoff from draining directly into waterways.  

Read more, link to the APA and NRPA Financing Green Infrastructure Projects.

Using Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure to Get Benefits From FEMA Programs

EPA promotes the use of Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) as a cost-effective and resilient approach to stormwater management.  LID/GI provides many community benefits including cleaner water, wildlife habitat, enhanced aesthetics, and can be designed to supplement localized or watershed flood protection.

LID/GI projects that reduce flood losses to properties insured under the NFIP may be eligible for grant funding through FEMA.  In addition, LID/GI projects may allow a community to claim points toward flood insurance discounts.

LID/GI ordinances and other environmental planning may allow a community to claim points toward flood insurance discounts under the Community Rating System (CRS) developed by FEMA.  LID/GI projects that reduce flood losses to properties insured under the NFIP may be eligible for grant funding through FEMA.

Funding Sources