Lexington’s Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program is now accepting applications for projects that reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality and educate citizens about water issues in Lexington.
Currently, applications are being accepted for all grants. This program is funded by the Water Quality Management Fee to provide financial assistance for neighborhoods, schools, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations that pay the Water Quality Management Fee in Fayette County.
Churchill McGee, a local small business and past grant recipient, wanted to address an increase in impervious surfaces near their business. Impervious surfaces are areas that don’t allow rainwater to drain naturally into the ground, such as buildings, roads and parking lots. Their project included de-pavement of some existing parking areas and retrofit of another with permeable pavement. The project also included stormwater education through hosting an onsite tour of the newly-constructed permeable lot, and development of an educational pamphlet that is being distributed to current and future self-storage clients.
“The DWQ Grant program allowed our project to become financially viable while at the same time providing a stormwater solution to a challenging site,” says Patrick McGee, a partner with Churchill McGee. He encourages others to apply. “While the application process associated with the program can be technical, the staff was extremely knowledgeable and patient to ensure we appropriately completed all necessary forms.”
Class A Neighborhood Grants are available for Fayette County neighborhood, community, and homeowner associations that represent single-family homeowners or farms. Neighborhood grants can be used to fund rain gardens, rain barrels, stream bank restoration, neighborhood workshops and other projects that help improve or manage stormwater through education and infrastructure improvements.
Class B Education Grants are open to schools, churches, nonprofits, and owners and tenants of businesses that do not fall under the Class A Neighborhood Grants. The education grants have been used to fund the development of stormwater-related curricula for schools, outreach campaigns about water quality, workshops for the public and educational rain gardens.
Applications for neighborhood and education grants are due on May 6, 2022. First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications for Class B Infrastructure Grants, for businesses, schools, churches, apartment complexes and other institutions, are also open. These grants have funded a variety of stormwater projects, including stream restoration, constructed wetlands, bio-retention, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting and pervious pavement installation. Funding is available for feasibility-only grants as well as design and construction projects. Applications for Class B Infrastructure Grants are due on July 29, 2022.
Grant application packets, contact information, sample scoring sheets, details on past projects and other information is available at lexingtonky.gov/IncentiveGrants.
