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Green Stormwater Mini Grants
Bring Home Some Green!
Pierce Conservation District offers Green Stormwater Mini Grants annually to individuals, businesses, and community groups in the Commencement Bay, Chambers Creek, and Lower Puyallup River Watersheds. Get up to $4,000 for projects that reduce polluted stormwater runoff entering our local waterbodies. Eligible project types include rain gardens, large rain tanks, depaving, and removing lawn to plant urban habitat. Before you apply, you will need to schedule a free site visit to refine your project ideas with PCD staff.
Request for site visits and grant applications for new projects are open annually August 1st - November 15th.
Stormwater Solutions
When rainwater falls on impervious surfaces like roofs, roads, and lawns, it flows across these surfaces and picks up pollutants along the way. This toxic soup then flows untreated into local creeks and streams, eventually reaching Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Scientists estimate that 75% of pollutants in the Salish Sea come from stormwater runoff.
Because stormwater runoff comes from all of our neighborhoods and communities, individual actions can add up to make a big difference in improving our water quality, protecting public health, and recovering endangered wildlife. With a Green Stormwater Mini Grant, you'll get both technical and financial support to create a project that captures and absorbs stormwater runoff. Grant recipients can receive up to $4,000 to plant rain gardens, remove excessive pavement, create urban habitat, or collect rainwater in large tanks.
Learn more and get project ideas from the 2024 GSI Mini Grant Annual Report.
How it Works
1. Schedule a Free Site Visit. This is a great chance to highlight any ideas or challenges you have with your property. PCD staff can help identify the best green stormwater project for your site to meet your goals. Click here to request your site visit today!
2. Choose Your Project(s). After the visit, decide if you plan to plant a rain garden, create urban wildlife habitat, depave, and/or install a rain tank.
3. Apply for the Mini Grant. Fill out our online application and submit your project scope, a budget estimate, some before photos, and any other supplemental materials.
4. Receive a Notice of Award. If your project is selected for grant funding, you will receive a Notice of Award and Financial Assistance Contract from Pierce Conservation District.
5. Design Your Project. Once under contract, PCD will work with you to select plants and fully design your project.
6. Install Your Project. Whether you're working with PCD, a contractor you hired, or doing it yourself, you'll be ready to execute the project design and install your green stormwater project!
7. Enjoy! Take care of your new garden, green space, or rain tank so you can continue to help protect the Salish Sea from pollution. PCD staff are always available for any maintenance questions and support along the way.
projects from past awardees
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Who is eligible?
- What projects qualify?
- What do I need to apply?
- How does the cost share work?
- How will projects be scored?
- What happens after I apply?
- More Info
Individuals, businesses, and organizations are eligible for a Green Stormwater Mini Grant to support an approved project within one of our three priority watersheds. The maximum grant award for any one property is $4,000. You do not need to own the property where the project will be, but the property owner must provide written permission for the project and commit to a long-term maintenance plan for the project.
Green Stormwater Mini Grants are available for projects within one of three priority watersheds: Chambers Creek, Commencement Bay, and Lower Puyallup River (see map below). These watersheds were identified as the most in need of green stormwater infrastructure in Pierce County due to their high percentage of impervious surfaces.
Mini Grants are available to support four different project types: Depave, rain gardens, rain tanks, and urban habitat. Applicants can submit a grant for just one project type or multiple. Combining project types can help increase the stormwater impact of your project. Keep in mind that the $4,000 maximum award is per property, not per project. Each project type also must meet our minimum standards to qualify for funding:
| Project Type | Description | Minimum Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Depave | Removing unwanted and/or excessive pavement to replace it with natural landscaping. Projects to replace driveways and other surfaces with permeable pavement are not eligible at this time. | At least 300 sq ft of pavement must be removed and replaced with natural landscaping (trees, rain garden, urban habitat, etc.) |
| Rain Garden | Replacing turf grass or non-native landscaping with a rain garden that intentionally captures and filters stormwater runoff. | At least 500 sq ft or 50% of a building's roof runoff must be directed into the rain garden. Rain gardens that collect runoff from driveways and roads will be evaluated by staff. |
| Rain Tank | Harvesting rain water in a large (>200 gallon) cistern for later use and to disperse and infiltrate rain water. | At least 500 sq ft or 50% of a building's roof runoff must be directed into the rain tank, and overflow must be infiltrated onsite. |
| Urban Habitat | Replacing turf grass or non-native landscaping with primarily native plants that benefit pollinators, birds, and other urban wildlife. | At least 500 sq ft of impervious turf grass (or other non-native landscaping) is removed and replaced with natural landscaping (75% of the species must be native and/or pollinator-friendly). |
Refer to PCD’s Financial Assistance Program Policy for additional requirements and limitations.
- Complete your free site visit. PCD staff will follow up with you after your site visit with important info for your application such as project measurements, and important info about the additional requirements below.
- Make sure your project meets the minimum standards. To qualify for a grant, your project has to meet our minimum standards (listed under "What projects qualify?"). If you have questions about the size of your project, reach out to the PCD staff member who visited your property. Rain garden and rain tank projects must first complete the soil infiltration test.
- Create your project design. Make a simplified site plan showing the general location of your project, its dimensions, and the dimensions of your property. Designs may be hand drawn and do not need to be to scale. Here are some past examples.
- Estimate your budget. Either fill out our budget estimate worksheet or get a quote from a local contractor. PCD staff will review and approve your budget worksheet or let you know if any corrections are needed.
- Take a few before photos. We want to see the transformation! Include 1 - 4 photos of where your project will go and upload them with your application.
- Fill out the online application. Applications open every year on August 1st and are due by 11:59 p.m. on November 15th. Submit your budget estimate, project design, before photos, and any other documents you want to include along with your application.
Green Stormwater Mini Grants require a cost-share of at least 25%. That means PCD will cover 75% of the total cost of the project (materials, labor, plants, etc.) up to a maximum award from PCD of $4,000.
For example, if a project costs a total of $5,000, PCD would provide a grant for $3,750 (75% of the project cost). If a project costs a total of $6,000, PCD would provide a grant for $4,000 because 75% of the project cost ($4,500) is above PCD's maximum award limit. You will be responsible for covering the rest of the project costs, either out of pocket or with another grant.
Projects can be funded in one of two ways:
- Reimbursement. If you would like to hire your own contractor and purchase your own materials, you are free to do so! Just keep your receipts and submit them after the project is complete. PCD will then send you a check in the mail. Your contractor must be a licensed contractor in the State of Washington, be bonded and insured, and be approved by PCD staff before work begins.
- Direct Pay. If you don't want to pay for things up front, no problem! PCD can hire contractors and purchase materials for your project up front. After the project is complete, PCD will send you an invoice for your portion of the project.
Each Green Stormwater Mini Grant application will be assessed on four different areas:
Equity (25%) As PCD works to be a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable organization, we strive to address historical inequities by intentionally directing our time and resources to support projects that are in, led by, and/or serve historically marginalized communities and neighborhoods, particularly those in areas with low or very low equity indices (according to the Pierce County Equity Index).
Community Impact (25%) Educational, demonstration, and community projects are great ways to amplify the importance of green stormwater infrastructure, addressing both a tangible water quality issue while educating and engaging others. Projects involving neighbors, schools, or community volunteers, are encouraged.
Stormwater Impact (25%) All project types have a minimum size requirement, but some far exceed these standards. The larger the project, the greater the overall impact on reducing polluted stormwater runoff.
Relative Impact (25%) While the size of a project is important, we also want to support projects that maximize the green stormwater potential of a property. Projects that may be smaller due to the size of a property can still have a big impact if they collect runoff from 100% of the property’s roof or remove all of the turf grass in the yard.
All applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed, assessed, and scored by a review committee of PCD staff and local green stormwater experts. After the committee reaches a consensus, successful applicants will be sent a Notice of Award.
Upon receiving a grant, the majority of projects will follow this timeline:
- January/February: Notice of Awards are sent to grant recipients. Additional paperwork is completed.
- March/April: Grant recipients meet with PCD and/or contractors to take the initial project scope and develop a full, shovel-ready plan.
- May/June: Rain tank projects are typically installed and completed. For non-rain tank projects, site prep work, such as pavement removal, earth moving, and mulch spreading begins.
- July/August: Pre-planting work is complete, and plants are ordered.
- September/October: Projects are planted.
- November/December: PCD inspects all projects and discusses long-term care plans with grant recipients. Final paperwork for cost share agreements is complete.
- Permitting. With the exception of Depave projects within Tacoma city limits, if permits are required for the project, the grantee is responsible for obtaining and/or purchasing them before beginning project work. A copy of the permit will be required before reimbursement. Permits for Depave projects in Tacoma will be obtained and paid for via an agreement between the City and PCD.
- Agreements. Participants of this program will be required to sign (1) a Cooperator Agreement with PCD, (2) a Financial Assistance Contract (upon grant award) that demonstrates a commitment to maintain the project for its life, (3) a Reimbursement Form upon completion of the project (if applicable).
- Grant Timeframe. Projects must be completed, and all receipts submitted to PCD within the timeframe designated in the “Notice of Award” acceptance letter. Any work completed prior to the “Notice of Award” will not be reimbursable. If a grant is awarded and no evidence of progress has been made within a 3 month period, PCD reserves the right to withdraw the grant.
- Use of Grant Funds. Grant funds are for implementation only (not intended for private design costs). Machinery rental may be reimbursed if it is necessary for implementing the Green Stormwater project. Direct contractor costs for implementation must be included in total project cost for reimbursement. Contractors chosen by grant recipients must have a current contractor's license in the State of Washington, must be bonded and insured, and must be approved by PCD staff before work begins. Non-reimbursable items include but are not limited to hardscaping materials or labor costs for paths or retaining walls, irrigation systems, annual vegetable seeds or starts, and tool purchases.
- Maintenance. Property owners are expected to maintain the project for at least the “lifespan” of the practice, which is typically a minimum of 10 years. If the property is sold in this time, the property owner must notify PCD of the change in ownership and if the new landowner will continue maintaining the project.