Learn what funding is available to help communities address pollution and invest in clean energy.  

A wide variety of funding is available for municipalities to install green infrastructure and clean energy projects and revitalize and clean up polluted brownfields. Learn about funding opportunity program requirements, eligibility, application processes, and resources in the latest live webinar from the Thriving Communities series.

• The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities program supports the construction of green infrastructure best management practices aimed at reducing stormwater runoff before it reaches rivers, streams, and lakes. Projects include rainwater harvesting, detention ponds, wetland creation, and grants range from $75,000 to $2.5 million.
• The federal Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations coordinates the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program, which supports clean energy projects that benefit rural and remote communities. These projects aim to build energy independence, increase tax revenue, stimulate economic development, and create local jobs. This program is available to communities with populations under 10,000 people, and grant awards range from $2 million to $50 million.
• The EPA offers several grant opportunities to clean up and revitalize brownfields, which are abandoned or underutilized properties that may contain a hazardous substance, pollutants, or contaminants, which can hinder redevelopment, expansion, or reuse. 

For more information, please contact Linda Derhak at lderhak2@illinois.edu. 

About the Presenters

• Christine Davis is the Illinois EPA Bureau of Water manager for the watershed management section, which maintains voluntary and regulatory programs to help protect Illinois’ surface and groundwater resources.  
• Monika Vadali, Senior Program Manager, Renewable Energy Team, Great Plains Institute, will speak about the Energy in Remote and Rural Areas program. 
• Roxanne Anderson, Regional Director for EPA Region 5 at the Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields, will speak about the Brownfields opportunities.

Thriving Communities Webinar Series 

Communities across Illinois are working to address legacy pollution and invest in clean energy technologies. The Thriving Community series from University of Illinois Extension and Prairie Rivers Network aims to help communities thrive by providing technical assistance and information to help them navigate energy and environment federal grant application systems, provide guidance on community inclusion, and lead focused strategic planning efforts. Previous topics have included flood mitigation assistance, preparing communities for charging electric vehicles, and funding opportunities for clean energy. Recordings of past webinars are available at go.illinois.edu/ThrivingCommunities.