The following is a press release written by Justin Crossley for City of Bloomington.
Bloomington, Ind. – The City of Bloomington Utilities Department (CBU) invites homeowners to apply for funding through the sixth annual Residential Stormwater Grants Program. CBU helps homeowners pay for environmentally friendly drainage projects such as rain gardens, bioswales, and detention pond maintenance. Residents may be interested in this program if they struggle with standing water, flooding at their homes, or soil erosion.
CBU hosted a public information meeting about the grant application process and project requirements on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 5:30 pm at the Utilities Service Center, 600 E. Miller Dr. This information was recorded and is available on the CBU grants webpage at bloomington.in.gov/utilities/stormwater/grants.
CBU provides small grants to homeowners for sustainable stormwater infrastructure projects on private residential property. These projects help control stormwater before it enters local waterways or the City’s stormwater conveyance infrastructure, known as the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). Improving stormwater management can reduce localized flooding and erosion and reduce pollutants entering local waterways since stormwater flows directly into streams and water systems without treatment.
For consideration during the 2024 review window, prospective applicants must apply by 5 pm on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at bloomington.in.gov/utilities/stormwater/grants. CBU recommends that residents get a head start on applications in the spring because it takes time to research options, develop a plan, and meet with potential contractors.
The City Council approved funding for the program through an updated stormwater fee in 2018. In 2023, the Residential Stormwater Grants Program funded 6 projects ranging from $1,500 to $11,000 and included rain gardens, dry creek beds, and other drainage stabilization projects. Stormwater revenue also funds green infrastructure improvements in City projects to replace traditionally gray infrastructure. These projects contribute to improved stormwater management in the community.
A review committee will rank the applications and decide which projects to fund and how much each will receive. Projects will be selected based on their potential to improve drainage and reduce the number of pollutants discharged into local waterways. Projects containing stormwater solutions involving more than one property and/or residing in low-income areas as designated by the Census will be preferred. Grant recipients selected will have components of their projects that improve stormwater quantity and quality funded by CBU. Other parts of a proposed project that don’t affect stormwater will need to be paid for by the homeowner.
For more information and alternate submittal options, please reach out to CBU’s Education Specialist at stormwater@bloomington.in.gov.
