On August 5, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) announced the Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) Program, a $5M funding opportunity for projects that improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and help mitigate riverine flooding. Funded by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, GIGO seeks proposals for green infrastructure projects that utilize best management practices (BMPs), with an emphasis on projects that preserve, restore, or mimic natural hydrology. Eligible BMPs include permeable pavers, rain gardens, detention ponds, bioinfiltration systems, and floodplain reconnection. Projects are encouraged to incorporate “treatment trains” by constructing multiple BMPs in sequence for effective and efficient stormwater management.
The Illinois EPA will prioritize projects that are the most cost-effective and yield the largest potential for stormwater runoff control. Examples of eligible projects can be found here.
