Climate Adaptation Funding for Water Sector Utilities
Grant Opportunities
Bureau of Reclamation
- WaterSMART Planning and Project Design Grants for FY 2023 and FY 2024: Reclamation is providing financial assistance for applicants to develop a drought contingency plan or update an existing plan to meet the required elements described in the Drought Response Program Framework. This includes funding for: (1) Water Strategy Grants to conduct planning activities to improve water supplies; (2) Project Design Grants to conduct project-specific design for projects to improve water management; and (3) comprehensive Drought Contingency Plans. This funding opportunity is currently listed on www.grants.gov under opportunity number R23AS00109, assistance listing number 15.507. The Bureau of Reclamation has extended the application submission deadline from April 4 to May 21, 2024.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR)
- Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Change Grants): OEJECR’s Community Change Grants will offer $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds to finance community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity here. This funding opportunity is currently listed on Grants.Gov under opportunity number EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04. The application period closes on November 21, 2024.
- Community Change Equitable Resilience Technical Assistance: This program will provide free design and project development assistance, community engagement, and partnership development workshops that support climate resilience and environmental justice activities in disaster-prone areas. This program will help eligible entities develop applications to be submitted for grants under the OEJECR Community Change Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (see bullet above). For more information on the program, eligibility requirements, and possible project types, please access this link. EPA intends to offer this technical assistance to up to 50 recipients nationwide, and the announcement will remain open until 50 recipients have been identified. To request assistance, please complete the following form: Technical Assistance Request Form.
Funding Resilience
The implementation of adaptive measures to address climate impact at water sector utilities are necessary to ensure clean and safe water provisions throughout the nation.
Listed below are funding sources from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and others. These Federal Funding Sources, along with EPA’S Financial Tools, will guide you to a variety of sources that fund climate resilience infrastructure projects, pay for operation and maintenance costs, and sustain resiliency programs. Click below to expand each section.