Now accepting applications for fiscal year 2020 grants.
Do you have a project that can help conserve water, prevent pollution, or restore wildlife habitats in Santa Clara County? Valley Water is now accepting applications for our 2020 grants. These funds are designed to help institutions, public agencies and non-profits advance environmental projects under the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.
The Safe, Clean Water program is a 15-year strategy that allows Valley Water to address five community priorities while delivering water resources. It is funded through a 2012 ballot measure approved by the voters of Santa Clara County. During the fiscal year 2020 grant cycle, we will be awarding up to $2.1 million in funds for selected qualifying projects.
New in 2019, we are unveiling our new grants management system, FLUXX, which can be accessed online at: valleywater.fluxx.io. This streamlined online system will allow you to track the progress of your application and provide greater transparency about the process. If you are selected for a grant, you can also upload your invoices and reports, as well as track the progress of your application in real-time. FLUXX will even allow users to access information on prior submissions and awards.
Beginning with the 2020 grants cycle, Valley Water will be offering bonus points to organizations that demonstrate financial stability and a commitment to environmental justice. Additionally, to ensure a more diverse applicant pool, bonus points will also be given to organizations that have not received a standard Valley Water grant in the past.
Ready to apply? Here is some information on the guidelines for each available grant.
Water Conservation Research Grants
Funds available for all projects in this category $100,000.
The Water Conservation Research Grant encourages organizations to undertake research projects for new and innovative water conservation programs and technologies. The primary goal is to identify water savings and device strategies. This grant has a minimum award of $5,000 and a maximum of $50,000.
In 2016, we awarded Veloctron $30,000 to test a residential and commercial water savings faucet in Palo Alto. The faucet, based on a pore-microarray technology, saved an average of 3,846 gallons of water per year, per person.
Pollution Prevention Partnerships and Grants
Funds available for all projects in this category $500,000.
The Pollution Prevention Partnerships and Grants award is for projects that help reduce contaminants in surface or groundwater and toxins in our local waterways. The minimum grant under this category is $25,000 with a maximum of $200,000.
Valley Water awarded Grassroots Ecology $93,617 for their Greening Urban Watersheds Project. The project aims to design and install rain barrels, cisterns, and bio-retention/rain garden projects throughout Palo Alto.
Wildlife Restoration Grants
Funds available for all projects in this category $1.3 million.
Restore Wildlife Habitat Grants aim to foster projects that create or enhance wetland, riparian and tidal marsh habitats. Funds are available for initiatives that protect special status species and remove fish migration barriers. Projects selected can also focus on removing non-native, invasive plant species, and replace them with native plants. Selected projects will be awarded a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $500,000.
Valley Water awarded the San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum $142,271 to eliminate grass and put in native plants in their outdoor space. The funds allowed for increasing the biodiversity in the riparian environment and attracting beneficial insects, migratory birds, small mammals, and even Monarch butterflies.
Mini-Grants
Funds available for all projects in this category $200,000.
The Mini-Grants Program aims to provide seed funding to encourage broader and long-term community engagement in wildlife habitat restoration or watershed stewardship activities in Santa Clara County. Mini-grant funding is designed to support small scale projects or help kick start larger-scale projects. Mini-grant awards are capped at $5,000.
Valley Water awarded $5,000 to Bay Area Older Adults to encourage volunteers to remove invasive plants from watersheds. The organization also lead walks to educate and engage participants about flood protection.
For more information, please visit valleywater.org/grants, email us at [email protected] or call out hotline at (408) 630-2325.
Check eligibility and submit your grant application by visiting valleywater.fluxx.io.
First-time applicants will be required to fill out the eligibility quiz before accessing the requests for proposals.