The table below provides descriptions and links to additional information on federal and state grant and loan programs that fund stormwater and water quality projects in Massachusetts. A PDF version (PDF, 102 KB) is also available.
Looking for other types of state grant opportunities? The Community Grant Finder provides a central location to learn about state grant opportunities for cities and towns.
Funding Table
| Funding Source | Eligible Projects | Eligible Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| §319 Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) | Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) design, BMP construction, stormwater utilities, feasibility assessment, education and outreach | Massachusetts public or private organizations |
| §604b Water Quality Management Planning Grants, MassDEP | Water quality assessment and watershed management planning, BMP design, stormwater utilities | Regional planning agencies, counties, conservation districts, municipalities |
| Buzzards Bay Municipal Grants, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program | BMP design, boat-waste pumpouts, water quality monitoring/assessment | Municipalities within the Buzzards Bay watershed |
| Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loans, MassDEP, Massachusetts Clean Water Trust | Stormwater management planning, BMP design, BMP construction, stormwater utilities | Municipalities, water districts, wastewater districts |
| Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) | Stormwater BMP design, BMP construction, water quality monitoring/assessment, education and outreach | Municipalities within the Massachusetts coastal watershed; also nonprofits, regional planning agencies, and stormwater collaboratives in partnership with the above municipalities |
| Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Grants, CZM | BMP design, BMP construction, boat-waste pumpouts, water quality monitoring/assessment | Municipalities within the Massachusetts coastal watershed |
| Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Flooding and drainage improvements, planning and capacity building | Municipalities and counties (eligibility based on U.S. Census population data) |
| Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grants, National Fish and Wildlife Federation (NFWF) | Design and construction of green infrastructure BMPs, water quality monitoring/assessment, outreach and education | Nonprofits, state government agencies, municipal governments, tribes, educational institutions |
| Hazard Mitigation Grants, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation | BMP design, BMP construction (including green infrastructure to reduce flooding hazards) | State agencies, tribes, municipal governments |
| Healthy Communities Grant Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Education and outreach, assessment, BMP construction | Nonprofits, state government agencies, municipal governments, tribes, educational institutions |
| Healthy Estuaries Grants, Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership | Water quality monitoring/assessment, BMP design | Municipalities, nonprofits, regional planning agencies, research and education institutions |
| Massachusetts Environmental Trust Grants, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) | Water quality monitoring/assessment, outreach, education, research, BMP design, BMP construction | Municipalities, nonprofits |
| MassWorks Infrastructure Grants, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development | BMP design, BMP construction | Municipalities |
| Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant Program, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs | Green infrastructure, smart growth/LID, reduction of impervious cover and other nature-based design and construction projects targeting water quality in the context of climate change vulnerability | Municipalities |
| National Estuary Program Coastal Watersheds Grant, Restore America’s Estuaries/EPA | Projects targeting nutrients, loss of habitat, or flooding/coastal erosion within the 28 National Estuary Program watershed geographic areas | State, tribal, and other public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, and organizations |
| Rural Development Water & Waste Disposal Loans & Grants, U.S. Department of Agriculture | BMP design, BMP construction | State and municipal government, nonprofits, tribes |
| Southeast New England Coastal Watershed Restoration Program Watershed Implementation Grants, Restore America’s Estuaries and EPA | Green infrastructure BMP design, construction, retrofits, and water quality assessment, education and outreach (projects must be located in the Southeast New England Region) | Municipalities, counties, state agencies, tribes, regional planning organizations, nonprofits, academic institutions |
| Southeast New England Network, EPA | Training and technical assistance to advance stormwater and watershed management, ecological restoration, and climate resilience (the network is funded by EPA’s Southeast New England Program) | Municipalities, organizations, and tribes in the Southeast New England Region |
| Statewide Water Management Act Grants, MassDEP | Water quality assessment, BMP design, BMP construction, stormwater management | Massachusetts public water suppliers, municipalities |
| Stormwater MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program, MassDEP | Efforts to support requirements of the 2016 small MS4 general permit through resource-sharing partnerships | Municipalities or regional planning agencies/nonprofits on behalf of municipalities |
| Urban Waters Small Grants, EPA | Water quality monitoring/assessment, education, outreach, BMP design, BMP construction | State and municipal government, nonprofits, tribes, educational institutions, interstate agencies |
| Water Quality Monitoring Grants, MassDEP | Efforts to build or expand capacity for bacteria monitoring data | Nonprofits, federally recognized tribes |
Additional resources for funding opportunities:
- See the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Finance Clearinghouse within the Clearinghouse for Environmental Finance for additional grants and resources.