F9: Grants and Partnerships for Safe, Clean Water, Flood Protection and Environmental Stewardship*

KPI #1: Provide a grant and partnership cycle each year for projects related to safe, clean drinking water, flood protection and environmental stewardship.

The FY25 Standard Grant Cycle closed on March 28, 2025, and a total of 42 applications were received.

On June 24, 2025, the Board awarded 13 standard grants for a total of $1,837,616. Valley Water is working with grantees to draft and finalize grant agreements for execution.

The FY26 Standard Grant Cycle will be announced in February 2026.

Visit valleywater.org/standardgrants to learn more about the standard grant funding opportunity.

Visit valleywater.org/grants for more information about grant opportunities available and sign up to receive updates.

For a cumulative list of standard grants awarded from FY22 to present, please visit: tinyurl.com/SCWgrants

For a cumulative list of standard grants and partnerships awarded prior to FY22, please visit: tinyurl.com/SCWgrants2012.

KPI #2: Provide annual funding for bottle filling stations to increase drinking water accessibility, with priority for installations in economically disadvantaged communities and locations that serve school-age children and students.

The water bottle filling station (Refill Station) grant funding opportunity provides grant funding to support access to clean drinking water in Santa Clara County. $100,000 is available year-round on a rolling basis, and $5,000 is awarded per station. In FY26 to date (July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025), a total of $50,000 Safe, Clean Water Refill Station funds were awarded to ten (10) new refill station projects. 

Funding is still available for refill station grants. 

Visit valleywater.org/refillstation for bottle filling station criteria, applicant eligibility, and application information.

For a list of refill station grants awarded since FY22, please visit tinyurl.com/SCWgrants.

KPI #3: Provide annual mini-grant funding opportunity for projects related to safe, clean drinking water, flood protection and environmental stewardship.

The Mini-Grant Program continues with dedicated annual funding and now has broader eligibility and a streamlined application process. Starting in FY25, the mini-grant award limit was increased from $5,000 to $10,000 per project. A total of $100,000 is available year-round on a rolling basis. In FY26 to date (July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025), a total of $80,000 in Safe, Clean Water mini-grant funds were awarded to eight (8) new mini-grant projects. 

Funding is still available for mini-grants. 

Visit valleywater.org/minigrants for mini-grant project criteria, applicant eligibility and application information.

For a list of mini-grants awarded since FY22, please visit tinyurl.com/SCWgrants.

For a cumulative list of mini-grants awarded prior to FY22, please visit: tinyurl.com/SCWgrants2012.

KPI #4: Provide up to $3 million per 15-year period for a Creekside Neighbor Rebate Program for watershed activities, including bank repair, sediment removal, and downed tree management.

On May 30, 2025, Valley Water launched the Creekside Neighbor Rebate Program, which provides financial assistance to property owners who undertake creek maintenance projects such as bank stabilization (erosion repair), sediment, vegetation, or debris removal, and storm drain outfall repair. Rebates of up to $150,000 are available for qualifying construction and permit costs. The program was developed following the Valley Water Board of Directors' decision on April 9, 2024, to modify the KPI, creating the new rebate-based program.  

Learn more about the Pilot Creekside Neighbor Rebate Program

January 2026