The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is offering $676,000 in grant funding through its Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants program. This program aims to assist communities in Minnesota’s designated environmental justice areas by providing planning and design funding to upgrade or replace inadequate water infrastructure. Projects that receive funding through this program will support essential infrastructure upgrades that reduce sewer overflows, enhance stormwater management, increase stormwater system resiliency, minimize local flooding, and reduce the intrusion of clean water into wastewater systems.

Grants will cover up to $150,000 per project for planning and design services related to stormwater and wastewater infrastructure improvements. Eligible projects may involve addressing aging or obsolete systems, particularly those that contribute to combined or sanitary sewer overflows. Projects are expected to prepare communities to undertake further construction phases that address these critical water management issues. No matching funds are required from applicants, as federal law prohibits local cost-sharing for this program.

The application deadline for the program is November 22, 2024, at 4 p.m. CST. Prospective applicants are advised to submit any questions regarding the Request for Proposals (RFP) to grants.pca@state.mn.us by November 19, 2024, with the subject line “OSG RFP Question.” Responses to these questions will be available in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, where the RFP and other relevant documents can also be accessed. MPCA staff are not permitted to discuss the RFP outside of these official channels, and unauthorized contact may result in disqualification.

Eligibility is open to public entities, including cities, counties, and tribal organizations within Minnesota’s geographic boundaries, that have jurisdiction over sewage or waste management and are located within or near an environmental justice area. Applicants can verify their eligibility using the MPCA’s online map, updated as of September 2024. In cases where applicants have other eligible stormwater or wastewater projects, they may apply for both the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Grant and FY25 Community Resilience grants, though funding cannot be combined for the same project.

Applications must be submitted through Minnesota's SWIFT portal, where the RFP is listed as an "Event" under the name “MPCA-Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Grants” or ID “2000016294.” Applicants must register as bidders within the SWIFT Supplier Portal, a step that can be completed by selecting “Register for an Account” and “Register as a Bidder.” For any issues with registration or submission, applicants can contact the SWIFT Vendor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, option 1.

This grant program, now in its second year, is supported by federal funding and is part of MPCA's ongoing efforts to strengthen the infrastructure of communities affected by environmental and climate challenges. Through annual funding cycles, MPCA aims to continue providing resources to address long-term water infrastructure needs across Minnesota.