Grants available for volunteer efforts to clean Michigan’s waters

DEQ Dept of Environmental Quality LogoThe DEQ and Great Lakes Commission 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 supports 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 Jan. 25, 2016. The grant application package is available at http://projects.glc.org/streamclean/app16.htm. Applications are reviewed and assessed by the DEQ and Great Lakes Commission, with final decisions anticipated in April 2016.

To learn more about the grant program, contact Laura Kaminski, Great Lakes Commission, at 734-971-9135 or laurak@glc.org. Questions about the grant application process should be directed to Gary Kohlhepp, DEQ Water Resources Division, at 517-284-5540 or kohlheppg@michigan.gov.