Stormwater Capacity Grants Program

The Stormwater Capacity Grants Program is administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology through its Water Quality Program. This initiative is designed to support municipalities in meeting regulatory requirements under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater General Permits. The program operates as a non-competitive funding opportunity, meaning that eligible entities receive funding without undergoing a comparative scoring process. Its primary purpose is to provide financial assistance to cities and counties in Washington State that are required to implement stormwater management programs under Phase I or Phase II NPDES permits. The program focuses on enhancing local government capacity to implement and maintain compliance with municipal stormwater permit requirements. Funding supports a broad range of activities directly tied to stormwater program implementation. These include public education and outreach, public participation initiatives, illicit discharge detection and elimination programs, stormwater system mapping, and training for municipal staff. Additional supported activities include inspections, development of stormwater regulations, watershed planning participation, and water quality monitoring tied to permit obligations. Grant funds may also be used for operational improvements such as pollution prevention measures, infrastructure inspections, and maintenance activities related to municipal stormwater systems. Equipment purchases are eligible if they are specialized and directly contribute to permit compliance. However, general-purpose equipment and capital construction projects are explicitly excluded from funding. The program emphasizes practical, compliance-focused investments that enhance municipal ability to manage stormwater effectively. Eligibility for the program is limited to cities and counties within Washington State that are covered by Phase I or Phase II Municipal Stormwater General Permits. Each eligible jurisdiction may receive one grant award per biennium. Other entities such as ports, universities, school districts, and state agencies are not eligible to apply directly but may participate as partners under an eligible municipality. The program also includes administrative safeguards, such as potential suspension of eligibility for jurisdictions that have not fully utilized previous funding awards. The application process is conducted through the Department of Ecology’s grant and loan management system. Applicants must ensure system access, verify the status of previous grants, complete a streamlined application form, and formally submit it through the system. The application is not scored competitively and is primarily used to confirm eligibility and establish project and contact details. Authorized officials must submit the application, and proper administrative roles must be assigned within the system. For the most recent biennium cycle, applications opened on July 1, 2025 and closed on September 3, 2025. Following submission, award agreements were expected to be finalized before the end of 2025, with project implementation extending through March 31, 2027. Reporting requirements include quarterly progress reports and final closeout documentation. Payments are issued on a reimbursement basis, contingent on submission of appropriate documentation and progress reports. The program is recurring and operates on a biennial cycle aligned with the Washington State budget process. Funding levels and award limits are determined each biennium. For the 2025–2027 cycle, the maximum award per eligible recipient was set at $120,000, with no matching funds required. The program reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to supporting local governments in maintaining water quality standards and regulatory compliance through targeted capacity-building investments. Additional program details and official guidance are available in the published funding guidelines document.

Do not leave the application in draft status; it must be changed to submitted. Make sure the authorized official is a city or county staff member rather than a consultant or contractor. Resolve prior-cycle closeout items early because Ecology may delay or deny activation of a new grant if the previous grant is not properly closed out.