EPA makes available $3M to establish stormwater Centers of Excellence

Jan. 23, 2024
EPA is seeking applications from higher education, research, and nonprofit institutions to establish national Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technologies.

The U.S. EPA announced that $3 million is available through the Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technologies grant program.

EPA is seeking applications to establish national Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technologies to help expand stormwater infrastructure solutions across the country. The funding for these Centers of Excellence was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Information on the request for applications is available on EPA’s website.

Eligible applicants for the funding include institutions of higher education, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Once selected, the Stormwater Centers of Excellence will develop and enhance stormwater best practices by conducting research on new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies and alternative funding approaches; providing technical assistance to state, Tribal and local governments; and collaborating with regional institutions.

“Climate stress is often felt as water stress, and improving stormwater infrastructure is critical to helping communities and ecosystems be resilient for the future,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has enabled EPA to establish Centers of Excellence to help reduce flooding and improve local water quality by supporting both new investments in infrastructure and the latest research and best practices on technologies and solutions to meet their needs.”

Many communities struggle to address stormwater issues because of the costs associated with construction, operation and maintenance of the necessary infrastructure, and because their systems were built for the rain and storm patterns of the last century. In addition, a number of communities across the nation need practical stormwater technologies and the scientific understanding of those technologies to effectively implement stormwater management solutions.