Grants are available to Areawide Planning Agencies and other entities to carry out water quality management planning activities that protect water quality in Illinois. Projects must address water quality issues. Grant funds can be used to determine the nature, extent, and causes of point and nonpoint source water pollution; develop water quality management plans; develop technical and administrative guidance tools for water pollution control; develop preliminary designs for best management practices (BMPs) to address water quality problems; implement administrative water pollution controls; and educate the public about the impact and importance of water pollution control. Applications accepted through October 8, 2025. More Information

Deadline November 5th The Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) Program funds projects to construct green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) that prevent, eliminate, or reduce stormwater runoff into Illinois' rivers, streams, and lakes. Projects that implement treatment trains (multiple BMPs in a series) and/or multiple BMPs within the same watershed may be more effective and efficient than a single large green infrastructure BMP. NOTE: This is the last cycle of the existing GIGO program. Visit GIGO Site for more info and to apply GIGO utilizes funds distributed by the State of Illinois generated under the Build Illinois Bond Fund. Illinois EPA's Notice of Funding Opportunity includes $5,000,000 in funding for projects that will improve water quality in Illinois. GIGO has a set maximum total grant award of $2,500,000 with a minimum grant award of $75,000. No more than 50 percent of the program total, per funding cycle, shall be allocated to any one applicant or project.

New for 2025! Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) and Soil Erosion Sediment Control (SESC) applicants can now complete the application process using automated forms. This provides simple, guided steps to ensure all information is complete, proper fees are calculated and support documents provided. Visit the website to access the automation links via the GREEN buttons. Manual fillable PDFs are still an available option.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the updated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit which will become effective on August 1, 2025 (click here to view). Significant changes have been made to the draft permit based on comments received by the Illinois EPA. To help identify some of these changes, the IEPA has issued a response to comment document (click here to view). To help you with this process, the Illinois Water Environment Association (IWEA) and American Public Works Association (APWA) is hosting a virtual webinar covering the new and revised requirements of the Illinois EPA Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit.

New Illinois MS4 Permit Zoom Webinar Friday, August 1 Noon - 1 p.m.

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FREE live webinar on July 24, where Chris Chandler, PE, shares a recent success project in South Tampa that tackled decades of chronic flooding with an innovative, nature-based solution that benefited the community, the environment, and public infrastructure. This nature-based design project transformed a 48-acre unmanaged forest near MacDill Air Force Base into a powerful stormwater management system that captures and treats runoff from surrounding neighborhoods.   More Info and Registration