Surface Water Matching Planning Grant Program

The Surface Water Matching Planning Grant (SWMPG) is administered by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council (WIAC) through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Non-Federal Administrative Account. This program is managed in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), specifically its Division of Watershed Stewardship and Environmental Finance Office. The program is intended to support Delaware’s counties and municipalities in improving water quality through advanced planning and preliminary engineering for water pollution control projects. The grant's primary purpose is to assist eligible entities in preparing stormwater and drainage plans, conducting feasibility studies, and developing engineering reports necessary to pursue additional funding through the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund. Project types supported under this grant include stormwater retrofits, green infrastructure installations, stream and wetland restorations, and other point and nonpoint source pollution control efforts. The goal is to produce enduring water quality improvements in impaired watersheds in alignment with Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. Funding is capped at $50,000 per grant cycle and requires a 1:1 cash match from the applicant, which must be secured at the time of application. Eligible expenses include planning, feasibility analysis, and preliminary engineering and design. Up to 10% of awarded funds may be used for administrative costs. Ineligible expenses include costs required by DNREC enforcement actions, agricultural practices, mitigation requirements, and any expenses incurred before a purchase order is issued by the Delaware Department of Finance. The grant duration cannot exceed two years from the date of purchase order issuance. Eligible applicants include Delaware county and municipal governments, conservation districts, and Delaware estuary programs. Nonprofits, educational institutions, homeowner associations, and for-profit entities are not directly eligible but may partner with an eligible applicant. Projects must occur within Delaware and be consistent with State Strategies for Policies and Spending as well as local comprehensive or surface water plans. Only one application per applicant is accepted per cycle, and cumulative annual funding is limited to $100,000 per county or municipality. Applications must follow a structured format that includes a cover page, an information sheet, and detailed responses addressing project goals, geographic scope, cost-effectiveness, technical merit, and organizational capacity. Evaluations are conducted by a team of experts who rank proposals and recommend selections to WIAC. Preferences are given to proposals that are likely to proceed to implementation, especially in MS4 municipalities, or those aligning with EPA’s green project guidance. Final approvals are made by the Secretary of DNREC. All applications must be submitted electronically by 4:30 p.m. on August 20, 2025, to the Division of Watershed Stewardship. Late submissions will not be reviewed. Awards will be announced and recipients notified in October 2025. Interested applicants can contact James Sullivan at (302) 608-5457 or via email at James.Sullivan@delaware.gov for further assistance.

Proposals must be under 10 MB and submitted in both Word and PDF by email. Follow evaluation rubric closely.