For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2018

Contact:

Marcy Knoll Wilmes, knollm@michigan.gov, 517-342-4348
DEQ Media Office, deq-assist@michigan.gov, 517-284-9278

Grants Available for Volunteer Efforts to Clean Michigan's Waters 

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today announced the availability of $25,000 for small grants to support local efforts to clean up Michigan rivers, streams, and creeks.

Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program provides grants to local units of government to help clean Michigan waterways. Local units of government may partner with nonprofit organizations or other volunteer groups to carry out the work.  A 25 percent minimum local match is required.

The program is funded by fees from the sale of Michigan’s specialty water quality protection license plates, available from the Secretary of State’s Office.

The application deadline is February 11, 2019.  The grant application package is available at https://www.glc.org/work/VRSCCP/apply. Applications are reviewed and assessed by the MDEQ and GLC, with final decisions anticipated in early May 2019.

To learn more about the grant program, contact Laura Kaminski, GLC, at 734‑971-9135 or laurak@glc.org.  Questions about the grant application process should be directed to Marcy Knoll Wilmes, Water Resources Division, MDEQ, at 517-342-4348 or knollm@michigan.gov.