Community Water Quality Improvement Grant Program

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), through its Division of Watershed Stewardship and Environmental Finance team, is currently accepting applications for the Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program. This initiative is a part of Delaware's broader strategy to enhance the state’s water quality infrastructure, promote sustainable practices, and support local environmental stewardship. DNREC plays a critical role in protecting Delaware’s natural resources, public health, and offering educational and recreational opportunities. Their Environmental Finance team is responsible for managing the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, making financial resources available to a broad spectrum of applicants including municipalities, nonprofits, and private entities. The primary objective of the Community Water Quality Improvement Grants is to fund innovative and sustainable projects that yield measurable improvements in water quality within developed lands. Eligible projects must align with existing watershed improvement plans and utilize effective methods, techniques, or practices to achieve environmental results. The grants focus particularly on projects that restore or enhance water quality in impaired watersheds, promote community-based stormwater management solutions in partnership with municipalities, or incorporate voluntary pollution control strategies. Past recipients have implemented initiatives such as green roofs, living shorelines, bioswales, streambank restorations, and green infrastructure enhancements to manage stormwater runoff and reduce erosion. Funding available in this cycle ranges from $25,000 to $75,000 per award. DNREC permits each applicant to submit up to two proposals during the current cycle. All submitted proposals will be reviewed by DNREC staff, and recommendations will be presented to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council for final funding decisions. The program operates on a competitive basis, meaning projects must clearly demonstrate innovation, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and measurable environmental outcomes to be favorably considered. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations, conservation districts, community-based organizations, and homeowners’ associations. These groups must be capable of executing water quality improvement projects that fulfill the program's goals. The initiative does not accept proposals from individuals or businesses, and all applications must directly benefit Delaware’s developed lands. While the grant is not open to national competition, it is available statewide within Delaware, without restriction to specific counties or municipalities. To apply, interested parties must submit their proposals via email to NPS.grants@delaware.gov, with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line. Proposals must be received by DNREC by the close of business at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30. File size for each emailed proposal must be under 10MB. All application materials, including guidelines and forms, can be accessed through DNREC’s Environmental Finance portal at de.gov/envfinance. Applicants seeking further information or clarification may reach out to Michael Globetti at michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Joanna Wilson at joanna.wilson@delaware.gov. The grant opportunity opened in September 2024 and will close in late October 2024. The program does not operate on a rolling basis, but given DNREC’s past practices, it is likely to recur on an annual basis. Organizations interested in future cycles should consider a check-back in August 2025 for new announcements.