Filter First - Healthy Hydration Grant

The Filter First – Healthy Hydration Grant is administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education. The program supports public and nonpublic schools and licensed child care centers across Michigan to reduce children’s exposure to lead in drinking water. The grant program reflects the state legislature’s commitment to ensuring that children have safe, lead-free drinking water by funding the installation and maintenance of certified filtration systems at points of consumption. The initiative aligns with the broader Filter First law, which mandates proactive measures to protect public health within educational environments. The grant reimburses eligible Michigan educational institutions for the purchase and installation of certified filtered bottle-filling stations, tap-mounted filters, water filter pitchers, or universal cartridge replacement filters that meet NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53. These standards ensure that devices remove particulate matter and significantly reduce lead levels. In-line filters, drinking fountains, and devices that fail to meet the approved standards are excluded from reimbursement. The funds may cover labor, bottle-filling stations, filters, and cartridges incurred between October 24, 2023, and June 30, 2026. Indirect or administrative costs, such as overhead or rent, are not allowed under this funding. Approximately $360,000 remains available for distribution under the program, and awards will be made based on a priority scoring system that considers environmental justice indicators, community income levels, and rural status. Points are assigned for underserved or high-need communities based on Justice40 parameters, poverty estimates, and rural classifications, as well as for the type of eligible equipment requested. Filtered bottle-filling stations receive the highest priority, followed by tap-mounted filters, pitchers, and universal cartridge filters. Communities with higher proportions of students eligible for free or reduced lunch are also given additional scoring weight to ensure equitable distribution of resources. To apply, eligible entities must submit an application through the Michigan Department of Education’s GEMS/MARS online system. The application window opens on September 8, 2025, and closes on October 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants must have an active MiLogin account, be registered in the Educational Entity Master (EEM), maintain an active SIGMA Vendor Self-Service (VSS) account, and possess a Unique Entity ID (UEI) registered in SAM.gov. Applications are only accepted through the GEMS/MARS portal, and no paper or email submissions will be reviewed. Grant awards are expected to be announced in early December 2025. Recipients will be reimbursed after submitting documentation to EGLE that includes a paid invoice highlighting eligible items, a Financial Status Report (FSR), and filter specification sheets. Reimbursement requests must be submitted to EGLE’s Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division via the program email address. The program does not require matching funds. Schools and child care centers that already received 2024 Filter First – Healthy Hydration Grant funds are not eligible for this current cycle. The program’s ongoing administration and oversight are divided between EGLE, which manages the program requirements, funding approvals, and technical compliance, and the Michigan Department of Education, which operates the GEMS/MARS application system and issues reimbursement notifications. For questions about grant compliance, applicants may contact EGLE at EGLE-DWEHD-FilterFirst@Michigan.gov, and for technical issues with the application portal, inquiries may be directed to MDE-GEMS@Michigan.gov. The Filter First – Healthy Hydration Grant is an annually recurring initiative, ensuring continued support for safe drinking water in Michigan educational environments.

Ensure all required registrations (MiLogin, EEM, SIGMA, SAM.gov) are active prior to submission to avoid portal access issues; incomplete or noncompliant filter specifications may result in ineligibility for reimbursement.