URBANA, Ill. — Communities across Illinois are working to address legacy pollution and invest in clean energy technologies. Municipalities can explore grant opportunities to fund the installation of green infrastructure, the transition to clean energy, and the cleanup of polluted areas with a free webinar from University of Illinois Extension’s Thriving Communities series. 

Learn about funding opportunity program requirements, eligibility, application processes, and resources in the webinar, Current Funding Opportunities for Energy and the Environment, at noon on Oct. 8. 

Presenters will explore funding opportunities for three different needs: stormwater management, clean energy projects for rural areas, and the revitalization of polluted brownfields. 

• 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 speaker is Christine Davis, the Illinois EPA Bureau of Water manager for the watershed management section.
• The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations coordinates the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program, which supports clean energy projects for communities with fewer than 10,000 residents. These projects aim to build energy independence, increase tax revenue, stimulate economic development, and create local jobs. Awarded grants range from $2 million to $50 million. The speaker is Monika Vadali, Senior Program Manager on the Renewable Energy Team at the Great Plains Institute. 
• 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. The speaker is Roxanne Anderson, Regional Director for EPA Region 5 at the Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields program. 

Sign up for the presentation at go.illinois.edu/TCfunding. For more information, please contact Linda Derhak at lderhak2@illinois.edu. 

The Thriving Community series is offered by University of Illinois Extension in partnership with Prairie Rivers Network to help communities 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 electric vehicle infrastructure, and funding opportunities for clean energy. Recordings of past sessions are available at go.illinois.edu/ThrivingCommunities. The series is coordinated by Illinois Extension community economic development and natural resources, environment, and energy staff.