Communities use a variety of sources to fund capital projects, pay for operations and maintenance costs and sustain programs. The same is true for communities locating funding for investments in climate resilience and and adaptation. No single source of funding can pay for all climate resilience investments across the nation.

Opportunities from the USEPA and Other Federal Agencies

The U.S. and Environmental Protection Agency and a number of other federal government entities offer financial and technical resources to advance local adaptation efforts. Below, the expandable accordions highlight USEPA funding opportunities that encourage climate adaptation, general USEPA and other federal funding and information on technical assistance.

Indiana Opportunities

• Community Crossings Matching Grant
  Community Crossings Matching Grant Program provides funding to cities, towns, and counties across Indiana to make improvements to local roads and bridges. Community Crossings is a partnership between INDOT and Hoosier communities, both urban and rural, to invest in infrastructure projects that catalyze economic development, create jobs, and strengthen local transportation networks. Eligible projects could include road resurfacing and preservation, bridge rehabilitation or replacement, road reconstruction with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in connection with a road project. Material costs for chip sealing and crack filing operations are also eligible for funding. The call for projects in 2019 will begin January 7, 2019 and close Friday, February 1, 2019 at 5 PM Eastern Standard Time. Call for projects are issued every January and July. Local governments are capped at $1 million per calendar year. 
• DieselWise Indiana
  This Indiana Department of Environmental Management's (IDEMprogram works on projects that reduce harmful tailpipe emissions from diesel-powered vehicles. Through DieselWise Indiana, IDEM works with schools, municipal and public entities, and the private sector. DieselWise Indiana grant opportunities are offered annually, usually in the fall. Visit the DieselWise Indiana website for an extensive list of strategies for minimizing diesel emissions. 
  • Read this case study about how East Chicago, Indiana, schools benefited from a DieselWise Indiana grant.

• Indiana Recycling Market Development Program
  The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Recycling Market Development Program helps communities better manage solid waste by developing markets for recycling. Reuse, reduction and recycling grants are offered annually, usually with a June application deadline. Indiana municipalities, nonprofits, and public and private businesses are typically eligible. The 2018 funding cycle offered grants ranging from $1,000 to $500,000, with a 50% match required. 
• State Revolving Loan Fund Loan Programs
  The State Revolving Fund Loan Programs offer low-interest loans for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure improvements that benefit the public health and environment. The program is provided by the Indiana Finance Authority and is available to cities, towns, counties, regional sewer/water districts, conservancy districts, water authorities, private, and nonprofit organizations. 

Nationwide Opportunities

• Partners for Places
  Partners for Places is a matching grant program for U.S. (and Canadian) cities and counties provided by Funders’ Network. The funds are used to foster partnerships between local government, sustainability offices and place-based foundations. The grant assists in projects for the environment, economy and communities. A 1:1 match is required and grant investments range from $25,000 to $150,000. One or two funding rounds are announced each year. The next funding round will be announced December 5, 2018, and applications will be due January 31, 2019. 
• Preparedness & Resilience Grant 
  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering grants of up to $575,000 to implement and sustain cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk from natural hazards and future disasters under the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program. FEMA seeks to fund projects that develop mitigation strategies or infrastructure resilience programs that advance capital projects on a community level to reduce damage from future disasters and lower flood insurance premiums such as hazard-specific retrofitting, stormwater management, floodwater storage and diversion, and wetland restoration/creation. A 25% minimum local match is required, although some communities of fewer than 3,000 are eligible for a lower cost share. Applications are due January 31, 2019.

Common Funding Sources

An illustrative list of common funding sources is provided below. The particular mix of sources will vary across communities, depending on their particular circumstances and needs.

• Taxes such as property, sales and income levies
• Fees such as charges for inspections and permits
• State and federal grants such as those that support improvements to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems
• Bonds that enable communities to borrow money to pay for projects
• Loans to pay for projects and programs, sometimes at low or no interest
• Public-Private Partnerships that entail contractual agreements between a public agency and a private sector entity allowing for cooperation and collaboration in the financing, planning, design, construction and maintenance of projects

Resources about Funding Opportunities

• Getting to Green: Paying for Green Infrastructure (PDF)(43 pp, 2 MB, EPA 842-R-14-005)
  This document offers a useful summary of the different types of funding sources, their advantages and disadvantages and examples of several municipal programs that have employed them.
  
• Environmental Finance Centers 
  This network of Environmental Finance Centers, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, helps communities consider funding and financing options that provide innovative solutions to help manage the costs of environmental protection programs and activities. 
• Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center 
  This USEPA resource provides financial expertise to communities that are financing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

Technical Assistance Opportunity from the Institute

• 2019 Resilience Cohort - For Completing a Greenhouse Gas Inventory
  The 2019 Resilience Cohort is a structured technical assistance program to guide Indiana local governments through the steps of creating a community-wide greenhouse gas inventory. ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a nonprofit dedicated to helping cities and counties reduce carbon pollution, will provide guidance, technical assistance and training for the five-month Cohort, which is scheduled for April – September 2019. Up to 15 cities and counties are eligible to participate. The 2019 Resilience Cohort is offered in partnership with the IU Office of Sustainability's Indiana Sustainability Development Program. The application is due December 14, 2018.