Environmental Grant Program

At American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations who share our vision.

Established in 2005, our annual Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this modest assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within an American Water service area
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

For more information, please see our 2013 Program Brochure and Grant Application Form.

For more information about the program in your state, please see the state subsidiary links below:

California

2013 California American Water Environmental Grant Program

At California American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations who share our vision.

Established in 2005, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Address a source water or watershed protection need in the community;
• Be completed between May 1, 2013 and November 29, 2013;
• Be a new or innovative program for the community, or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program;
• Be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations
• Provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after the American Water grant monies are utilized); and
• Be located within one or more of California American Water's service areas.

For more information about the program, contact Brian Barreto at 626-614-2542 or brian.barreto@amwater.com

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

California American Water issued two grants totaling $10,000 to the following organizations:

• The Ocean Foundation received $5,000 to fund its Ocean Connectors Project to launch their innovative new watershed restoration effort in San Diego. This program's goal is to inspire 1,000 low-income elementary students to take community action to protect watersheds and the environment. Students will actively work to restore and improve various sites, such as in the Otay River Watershed, a degraded watershed in South San Diego County.
• Monterey County Business Council was awarded $5,000 for its Rainwater Catchment and Graywater Recycling Outreach program. This project will develop and distribute educational materials to more than 15,000 Monterey County residents about rainwater harvesting and graywater recycling to meet individual household water needs as well as to expand the existing directory of local product and service providers as a resource to residents.   

Back to top

Illinois

2013 Illinois American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At Illinois American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations who share our vision.

Established in 2005, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment. 

Illinois American Water is now accepting applications for the 2013 Environmental Grant Program. The company will award grants of up to $10,000 to support diverse types of environmental sustainability activities such as watershed cleanups, reforestation efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects and hazardous waste collection efforts.

• address a source water or watershed* protection need in the community
• be completed between May 1, 2013 and November 29, 2013
• be a new or innovative program for the community, or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program
• be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations
• provide evidence of sustainability (continue existence after the American Water grant monies are utilized)

For more information about the program, contact Karen Cotton at karen.cotton@amwater.com.

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

Illinois American Water is issuing six grants totaling $25,766 to the following organizations:

• Living Lands and Waters received its requested $1,500 grant in full for the Great Mississippi River Clean Up.  Mississippi River clean up efforts took place on Sept. 15, 2012 from the Grafton boat launch.  The goal of the project was to engage volunteers to help with the removal of approximately four tons of debris from the river.
• The Morton Arboretum located in the Chicago Metro District received a $6,075 grant for the Wetland Restoration Stewardship Program which engaged and educated audiences through volunteer workdays. Workday activities included native plantings, removal of invasive plants, trash removal and educational programs.
•  The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center received a $3,071 grant for Mississippi River Workshops which provided educators with activities, curriculum guide and tools for participating in The Mississippi River XChange (MRX) program. MRX is a platform for high school students along the Mississippi River to share information about their watershed and source water protection.
•  The City of Waterloo received its requested $4,120 grant in full for the restoration of a historic freshwater spring located at the site of the Monroe County History Museum.  This site is also home to the first Illinois settlement.  The project included debris removal, erosion prevention and the installation of a walking bridge.
•  The City of Peoria received a $6,000 grant for the Peoria Rain Garden and Native Landscaping Program which incorporated a pilot rain garden, native seeds and print materials to educate residents about the importance of rain gardens for storm water management.
•  Bradley University in Peoria received a $5,000 grant for Phase 2 of the River Action League which engages community volunteers to collect Illinois River samples for research and watershed improvement.  The project incorporated additional testing protocols, data publication and a partnership with the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

See 2011 Winners in the press release.

See 2010 Winners in the press release.

Back to top

Indiana

2013 Indiana American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At Indiana American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations who share our vision.

Established in 2005, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within the Indiana American Water service area
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

For more information about the program, contact Joe Loughmiller at 317-885-2434 or joe.loughmiller@amwater.com.

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

Indiana American Water is issued four grants totaling more than $10,000 to the following organizations:

• Wabash Park Department received a grant of $3,266 to complete a 70-foot long vegetated storm water swale located within a parking lot for a new section of pedestrian trail along the Wabash River. The swale will help enhance and preserve water quality by capturing and filtering storm water runoff from this parking area and adjoining street surfaces that would otherwise end up in the Wabash River.
• Gary Storm Water Management District's grant of $3,000 was used for a community-wide, multi-stakeholder stewardship project to improve water quality through community clean ups, education and outreach, and a rain garden project. The district and its partners will launch a stewardship campaign to increase local residents' participation and involvement in community cleanups and design a watershed management and green infrastructure/low-impact development project that will improve water quality in areas basins.
• Motivate Our Minds was awarded a grant of $2,000 to help fund construction of an environmental learning center for Motivate Our Minds students and the Whitely community in Muncie. The center will expand existing learning opportunities by serving as a classroom teaching tool and this grant will help teaching faculty to incorporate water education into the classroom. The project incorporates a rain garden, pervious concrete parking lot and a sustainable learn & playground component.
• Stage One Family Theatre received $2,000 to educate very young citizens of Southern Indiana and the Louisville area about the environment through the inter-disciplinary exploration of drama and science. The Eco Drama program is critical because it reaches students at a young, impressionable age and teaches them to be environmental stewards.

Back to top

Iowa

2013 Iowa American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At Iowa American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations who share our vision.

Established in 2005, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment. 

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within an Iowa American Water service area
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

For more information about the program, contact Lisa Reisen at 563-468-9221 or Lisa.Reisen@amwater.com .

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

Iowa American Water is issuing three grants totaling more than $7,000 to the following organizations:

• Living Lands and Water received a $3,500 grant in full for the Great Mississippi River Clean Up. The effort will take place on July 7, 2012 in the Clinton and Camanche areas where about 100 volunteers are expected to remove about 10 tons of debris from the Mississippi River.
• River Action, Inc. received a $2,200 grant for its One Watershed Education Series that is aimed at creating a culture of conservation, more voluntary use of best management practices for runoff, and policies that encourage public participation in conservation.
• Keep Scott County Beautiful received a $1,500 grant in full for the Xstream Cleanup 2012 effort that will be held on August 11, 2012. The effort is a Quad-City wide cleanup of streams, creeks, drainage areas and sections of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers. About 1,500 volunteers are expected to participate.

Also in October 2012, Iowa American Water partnered with Gateway Impact Coalition and Clinton County law enforcement agencies to implement four Pharmaceutical Disposal Drop Box programs in Clinton, Camanche, DeWitt and Clinton County. As part of the program, Iowa American Water donated four disposal boxes to the above law enforcement agencies. This important program provides safe locations for the proper disposal of unwanted or expired medications keeping them out of the hands of children as well as out of local water supplies.

Back to top

Kentucky

2013 Kentucky American Water Environmental Grant Program 

Since launching the program in 2006, Kentucky American Water has awarded more than $96,710 for environmental projects. Past recipients include the Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community, Bluegrass PRIDE, the Fayette County Conservation District, the Friends of the Arboretum, the Friends of Raven Run, the Friends of Wolf Run, Hamburg Homeowners Association and the Southland Association.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within Kentucky American Water's 10-county service area (Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Jessamine, Owen, Scott and Woodford counties)
• Address a source water or watershed protection need
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Establish a new or innovative program or a significant expansion to an existing program
• Be carried out by a formal or informal partnership of at least two organizations; and provide evidence of sustainability.

For more information about the program, contact Susan Lancho at 859-268-6332 or susan.lancho@amwater.com.

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

Kentucky American Water issued two grants totaling nearly $20,000 to the following organizations:

• St. John Catholic School, in partnership with Georgetown College, Sheltowee Environmental Education Coalition, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute and Elkhorn Crossing High School received a $10,000 grant toward its efforts to improve the water quality in the North Elkhorn Creek watershed through a wetland restoration project in Scott County and the creation of an outdoor classroom at the site. The classroom will be used for student instruction as well as training for educators.
• The City of Winchester, in partnership with Strodes Creek Conservancy, St. Agatha Elementary School, Bluegrass PRIDE and Sekisui, Inc. – received a grant in the amount of $9,789 toward a four-acre wetland construction project along Town Branch in Winchester. The project will help remove pathogens, metals, sediment and nutrients from storm water as it overflows into the wetlands during storm events. The restored wetland area will be used for environmental education and research by neighboring universities and area schools.

Back to top

Maryland

2013 Maryland American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At Maryland American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations who share our vision.

Established in 2005, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within the Maryland American Water service area
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

For more information about the program, contact Christian Volk at christian.volk@amwater.com.

Back to top

Missouri

2013 Missouri American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At Missouri American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations who share our vision.

Established in 2005, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment. 

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within an Missouri American Water service area
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

For more information about the program, contact Christie Barnhart at 417-627-3800, ext. 1008 or christie.barnhart@amwater.com.

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

Missouri American Water issued six grants totaling nearly $23,000 to the following organizations:

• Chariton County Community Foundation was awarded $5,000 for installation of eight rain gardens in the downtown Brunswick courtyard project to prevent run-off into the Grand River.
• Missouri Rural Water Association's grant of $4,680 assisted in the creation of drug drop-off points throughout the state with funds focused primarily on education and publicity materials for 21 events.
• Mexico Parks and Recreation received $3,800 for construction of a run-off detention rain garden as part of a joint project between the YMCAS and the City of Mexico.
• St. Joseph Youth Alliance received a grant of $2,000 for development of a multi-faceted plan to improve and promote water quality in the Otoe Creek watershed.
• Keysor School's $3,000 grant was used for the construction of rain gardens in an outdoor learning center for the purpose of watershed protection.
• The Alliance of Southwest Missouri received a $4,500 grant for the purchase of a cyclonic incinerator to be used for prescription drug take-back events.

Back to top

New Jersey

2013 New Jersey American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At New Jersey American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision.

Our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Improve, protect or restore the watershed or source water
• Be located within the New Jersey American Water service area
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

Entries for New Jersey should be mailed to:

New Jersey American Water
P.O. Box 102
Bound Brook, NJ 08805
Attn: Gary Matthews

For more information about the program, contact Gary Matthews at gary.matthews@amwater.com.

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

New Jersey American Water issued five grants totaling nearly $37,000 to the following organizations:

• Barack Obama Green Charter High School was awarded $5,837 to sample the water, hold a cleanup, and use as design support of the headwaters of the Robinson's branch of the Rahway River. They will also be building a nature trail.
• Belvidere Environmental Commission's grant of $1,140 assisted to mark areas prone to storm water flows, as well as begin a wetland transition project.
• Stratford Shade Tree Commission received $10,000 towards its 2012 Shade Tree Restoration Project.
• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association utilized a grant of $10,000 to run a community-based project to better manage the area storm water which will both protect and enhance Harry's Brook.
• The City of Summit received $10,000 for a cleanup of the Martin's Brook Watershed, and to create a groundwater education program.

Back to top

New York

2013 New York American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At New York American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision.

Our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Improve, protect or restore the watershed or source water
• Be located within the New York American Water service area
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

For more information about the program, contact Rose Simpson at rose.simpson@amwater.com.

Back to top

Pennsylvania

2013 Pennsylvania American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At Pennsylvania American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision.

Established in 2005, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must:

• Improve, protect or restore the watershed or source water
• Be located within the Pennsylvania American Water service area
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

Contact Terry Maenza at 610-670-7789, ext. 1009 or terry.maenza@amwater.com.

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

Pennsylvania American Water issued eight grants totaling approximately $35,600 to the following organizations:

• Pennsylvania Environmental Council utilized its grant to undertake an invasive species removal, riparian buffer planting and educational program involving Pennsylvania American Water's property along the Huntsville Creek. The project will improve the creek's water quality and educate volunteers about healthy riparian buffers.
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Resource Conservation and Development Council's grant supported volunteers working on environmental restoration and beautification projects throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. The grant will help provide tools, power equipment, safety gear and related supplies for the council's mobile shed known as the Conservation Planting Trailer.
• Derry Township Environmental Action Committee used its funding to host a Water Protection Workshop to educate residents and businesses on storm water runoff and source water protection.  The funding also provided rain barrels to participants of the workshop, which will also serve as a model for future community partnerships on watershed protection.
• Carnegie Borough Shade Tree Commission received a grant to support the commissions' plans to plant a sunflower rain garden, which will educate residents on the use of rain gardens to alleviate runoff during rain events. A community mural and video documentary will commemorate the project and provide additional educational material on the project.
• Timmy's Town Center's grant was used to develop an educational program entitled "Wet Paint" to educate children about watershed protection and resources. Additionally, the program will include decorating four benches to be placed along the Lackawanna River to encourage children to visit the river and foster environmental stewardship.
• Butler County Department of Community Corrections utilized its grant to provide materials necessary for watershed cleanups along lakes, streams and reservoirs in the county. The project will collect, transport and dispose of litter from the waterways, as well as recycle the collected waste materials, whenever possible.
• East Pennsboro Township's planned to improve the quality of the waterways impacted by the community's storm sewer system and resulting storm water runoff, will use its grant to fund the purchase storm sewer curb markers for raising public awareness that storm water content drains into local water sources. The project will engage volunteers from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other community organizations.
• Paddle Without Pollution's grant allowed the group to engage volunteers in a watershed cleanup project throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.  Kayakers and canoeists will take to the waterways to rid the shorelines of debris during their journey.

Back to top

Tennessee

2013 Tennessee American Water Environmental Grant Program 

Tennessee American Water launched its Environmental Grant Program in 2012. The program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment. To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within the Tennessee American Water service area.
• Address a source water or watershed protection need
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program

 Take a look at our 2012 winners!

Tennessee American Water issued six grants totaling $8,500 to the following organizations:

• Howard School of Academics & Technology received $2,500 for water quality monitoring and clean-up activities of Chattanooga Creek. The project will include all science teachers at the high school and 300 students in chemistry and environmental science classes, as well as students from Calvin Donaldson Elementary School.
• Lookout Mountain Conservancy was awarded $2,500 to work with local volunteers and students from Howard School of Academics & Technology and Calvin Donaldson Elementary School to plant trees and remove trash along Chattanooga Creek watershed.
• Tennessee Student Environmental Alliance's grant of $1,500 was used to collaborate with Red Bank Elementary School to construct and install a rain garden on the school's campus with monitoring of water quality.
• Urban Century Institute received $500 for educational outreach for promotion to restore an area along South Chickamauga Creek in the Brainerd area.
• Tennessee Aquarium was used its $1,000 towards Conservation "Leadership in Action" Week, a week-long summer camp for local high school students that will feature educational sessions with a local habitat restoration project.
• Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences received $500 to enhance awareness among local students through monitoring of streams on Walden's Ridge.
  

Entries for Tennessee should be mailed to:

Tennessee American Water
1101 Broad Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Attn: Laura Vinson

For more information about the program, contact Laura Vinson at laura.vinson@amwater.com or call 423-771-4747.

Back to top

Virginia

2013 Virginia American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At Virginia American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision.

Our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.

To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must:

• Improve, protect or restore the watershed or source water
• Be located within Virginia American Water service area
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program.

Entries for Virginia should be mailed to:

Virginia American Water
900 Industrial Street
Hopewell, Virginia 23860
Attn: Christian Volk, Ph.D.

For more information about the program, contact Christian Volk at christian.volk@amwater.com.

Take a look at the 2012 winners!

Virginia American Water gave grants totaling $6,000 to the following organizations:

• Petersburg-based Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR), which works to protect the Appomattox River and promote its natural beauty and history, will use its grant to install informational and interpretive signage at significant points along the river. The signage increased awareness of the river's amenities and encourage protection of its resources.
• The Friends of the Occoquan, which is based in Woodbridge and works to preserve and maintain the Occoquan Watershed, used its grant to organize biannual river cleanups and for educational materials for civic organizations, youth groups and schools. 

Back to top

West Virginia

2013 West Virginia American Water Environmental Grant Program 

At West Virginia American Water, we are committed to protecting the environment in the communities we serve and are proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision.

Launched in 2012 in West Virginia, our Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities. We are pleased to offer this assistance to our community partners, while leveraging local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment. To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:

• Located within the West Virginia American Water service area
• Address a source water or watershed protection need
• Completed between May and November of the grant funding year
• Be a new or innovative community initiative, or serve as significant expansion to an existing program

While the grant application denotes the maximum grant amount as $10,000, West Virginia American Water is encouraging applications for grants between $1,000 and $2,500, which will allow for a greater number of grants to be awarded.

For more information about the program, contact Laura Jordan at 304-340-2089 or laura.jordan@amwater.com.

Laura Jordan
West Virginia American Water
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Charleston, WV 25302
Fax: 304-340-2076
Email: laura.jordan@amwater.com

 Take a look at our 2012 winners!

West Virginia American Water issued four grants totaling $5,000 to the following organizations:

• Coal River Paddle to Tire project removed approximately 4,000 tires from the Big Coal and Little Coal rivers in four river cleanups. These cleanups, in partnership with the West Virginia DEP, will introduce youth to stream ecology and sustainability.
• Morris Creek Watershed Water Monitoring Enhancement Project utilized their grant to address the need for a sustainable water monitoring and data collection program as well as educational outreach.
• Paint Creek Tributary Stream Improvement Project's grant improved the water quality of Tenmile Fork – a tributary of Paint Creek. The stream, which is high in aluminum and magnesium, will be treated with limestone to achieve significant reductions in heavy metals.
• Wolf Creek Stream Restoration Project, led by The Plateau Action Network, used their grant to restore the headwater tributary of Wolf Creek, which flows into the New River. The project will involve restoring 600 feet of stream and will reduce the frequency of flooding, improve drainage and restore stream habitat.

Back to top