Grants Available to Improve the Waters of Tennessee

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is now accepting grant proposals for projects that will help improve water quality and reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution.

“Healthy waterways are critical to the overall health of our state,” Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson said. “These grants are a valuable resource for organizations and agencies that want to improve the quality of watersheds in urban and rural communities across Tennessee.”

Nonpoint source pollution is soil, urban runoff, fertilizers, chemicals and other contaminants that degrade surface and groundwater quality. The Nonpoint Source Program was created in 1987 as part of the Clean Water Act and provides funding to states to stop nonpoint source pollution.

Local governments, regional agencies, public institutions, private nonprofit organizations and other state agencies are eligible to apply for those federal dollars administered by TDA’s Water Resources office. Highest priority is given to projects that seek to make measurable improvements to waters impaired by nonpoint source pollution. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation assesses water quality.

The deadline for submitting grant proposals is Dec. 1. Proposals will be evaluated based on program goals and objectives, performance evaluation criteria and applicable EPA nonpoint source grant guidelines. Other priorities for funding include water quality related educational projects, projects that reduce urban runoff, and projects that aim to protect threatened waters.

The FY 2016 Request for Proposals is posted online. For more information, contact Sam Marshall with TDA’s Nonpoint Pollution Program at 615-837-5306 or sam.marshall@tn.gov.