Small Grants Program

Thank you for your patience as work through the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-21 Round has not yet begun. We are currently finalizing all program documentation and a set of videos that will serve as the replacement for the Landowner Orientation Workshops previously required to apply for the program.

We plan to release all program documentation by mid-January, 2021. Please check back at that time.

Project Clear is MSD’s initiative to improve water quality and alleviate many wastewater concerns in the St. Louis region. MSD will invest billions of dollars over a generation for community rainscaping projects, system improvements, and an ambitious program of maintenance and repair. Rainscaping investments alone will total $120 million.  Last season (2019-2020), over 100 applications were selected to receive grant funding, totaling more than $425,000.

Eligibility–All homes, schools, churches, government properties, organizations, businesses, non-profit and other institutional landowners in MSD’s Service Area are currently eligible to apply for a Rainscaping Small Grant. Employees of MSD or Missouri Botanical Garden are not eligible for grants.

Please see if your property is located within the Rainscaping Grants Program Area

Grant Amount/Number of Grants – If approved, landowners may be awarded one grant per address. No additional grants will be awarded for addresses that received grants in a previous year. Additionally, landowners will not be eligible for a second grant after receiving one at another property. One grant per parcel and 1 grant per person until further notice.

Grant Quantity is Limited – See above matrix for grants available per area per year.

Plan Help – Applicants may seek bids and advice from contractors. Costs for design and installation are reimbursable, if grant is approved.

Approval – Applications will be competitively scored. Priority consideration will be given to projects that manage a large amount of stormwater. Additionally, projects that propose a high percentage of native plants, are cost effective, well-designed, available for outreach, and have a detailed maintenance plan, will all be considered in the approval process.

Orientation Attendance – Until further notice – Orientation attendance will not be required to submit applications. The process will be highly competitive. You will need to watch all the instructional videos below to ensure you have all the information you need to submit a successful application. Our team will not review incomplete applications or applications with plans and designs that to not meet programmatic goals.

Applications Open – No deadline in 2020-21 Round. Will accept applications on a rolling basis – until further notice.

Grant Evaluations – Grants received by December 31, 2020, will receive notifications by the end of February 2021. Applications received in 2021 should expect a two month turn around for notifications throughout the remainder of the year. NOTE: DO NOT begin project until receiving approval from the Rainscaping Team.

Planting Time – Spring & Fall 2021 – Completion Packets need to be received by October 15, 2021. There will not be a spring deadline completion packet deadline, however, landowners should avoid the heat of summer for installation, to avoid challenges with plant establishment.

Quality Control/Ground Truthing/Completion Forms Processed – Our goal is to process within 6 weeks of receipt of Project Completion Forms.

Reimbursements Dispersed to Landowners – Our goal is to reimbursed within 14 weeks of receipt of Project Completion Forms.

MSD Background

Program Parameters

What is Rainscaping?

Rainscaping Technical Background

Plant Options

Changes for Current Cycle (2020-21 Round)

How to Apply – Program Procedures, Requirements, Timeline and Guidance

Examples from Previous Rounds

PROGRAM CONTACT  

(314) 577-0202   |  Rainscaping@mobot.org

HELPFUL DOCUMENTS

1. 1. 2019-2020 Rainscaping Small Grants APPLICATION
   2. 2019-2020 Rainscaping Small Grants LANDOWNER GUIDE
   3. 2018-2019 Rainscaping Small Grants LANDOWNER ORIENTATION POWER POINT
   4. Rainscaping Small Grants Presentation – Model & Full Round Photos
   5. Rainscaping Small Grants Presentation – 2016-17 Round Photos
   6. Rainscaping Small Grants Presentation – 2017-18 Round Photos
   7. Rainscaping Small Grants Presentation – 2018-19 Round Photos
   8. Rainscaping Small Grants Presentation – Spring Forward From Planting until Now Photos
   9. Missouri Botanical Garden Native Plant List
   10. Missouri Botanical Garden Rainscaping Guidance
   11. Rain Garden Maintenance
   12. Rainscaping Cost Comparisons