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Funding Opportunities

Filter and sort active funding sources to find programs that meet your community's needs. This page focuses on opportunities available to local governments, with occasional listings for related programs when a local government is a required partner or when participation may support local recovery efforts.

All information is provided as a starting point; users should verify eligibility, deadlines, and requirements directly with the administering agency.

Water Resources Development Grant Program (State & Local Projects)

Opportunuty Url:
https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisi...
Federal / State / Local / Private:
State
Disaster specific?:
Yes
Disaster declaration required?:
Yes
Current Status:
Open
One time or recurring opportunity?:
Recurring
Responsible Organization:
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality – Division of Water Resources
Contact info:
Amin Davis – amin.davis@deq.nc.gov | (919) 707-9132
Assistance Type:
Grant
Application Link:
https://www.deq.nc.gov/guidelines-s...
Application Criteria:
  • Must be a unit of local government (primary applicant)
  • Project must fall within eligible water resource project types (e.g., stream restoration, water management, navigation, recreation)
  • Must submit complete application package including budget, maps, and governing board resolution
  • Must demonstrate economic, environmental, and regional benefits
  • Must show financial capacity and project readiness
Partnership required?:
Yes
Type of Partnership:
Optional (e.g., NGOs as co-applicants)
Rolling/ Fixed Deadline:
Fixed
Single or Multiple Deadlines?:
Single
Application Deadlines:
  • June 30, 2026
Period of Performance :
24 months from contract execution
Who's Eligible?:
  • Regional partnership
  • Units of local government
Who is not eligible?:
Private individuals, for-profit entities, nonprofits as sole applicants
Eligible Uses:
  • Infrastructure - Generally
  • Parks, Recreation & Open Space
  • Planning, Resilience & Mitigation
  • Stormwater & Flood Control
  • Stream & Watershed Restoration
  • Water Systems
Additional detail on uses:
The department may provide state funds in amounts not to exceed the percentages stated in G.S. 143-215.71 of either the nonfederal costs (in the case of a project with federal agency funds) or the total costs (in the case of a project not receiving federal funds). The General Assembly placed a 50% cost-share maximum on Water Resources Development Grant awards during their 2020 session. This limit will remain in place until rescinded by the General Assembly. Based on limited annual funding received for grant awards statewide, applicants are encouraged to not exceed a $200,000 funding request ($50,000 for engineering/feasibility studies); however larger awards may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, it is recommended that administrative costs do not exceed 10% of the total project budget. DWR can issue grants for the nonfederal share of water resources development projects for the following purposes:
  • Stream Restoration: Restoration, stabilization or enhancement of degraded streams & shorelines, aquatic barrier removals, etc. Refer to the Restoration Types section in the latest version of the NC Land & Water Fund’s Applicant Funding Manual Restoration Program to select the appropriate restoration type to select as a ‘Treatment’ in our application spreadsheet.
  • Water Management: Stormwater control measures, drainage, flood reduction/resiliency, hydrologic restoration, etc.
  • Water-based Recreation Sites: Greenways, Trails, Boardwalks; Paddle Access, Fishing Docks/Piers; land acquisition for water-based recreation sites operated by local governments.
  • Preliminary Feasibility or Engineering Study: towards implementation of one of the three eligible categories listed above.
Prohibited Uses:
  • Costs outside approved project scope
  • Work initiated prior to contract execution
  • Unapproved scope or budget changes
  • Expenses not aligned with eligible project categories
Award Mechanism:
Competitive
Match/Cost Share:
Yes
Match/Cost Share Details:
Up to 50% non-state match required (varies by project type; statutory cap applies)
Payment Mechanism:
Reimbursement
Award Selection Criteria:
  • Economic, social, and environmental benefits
  • Regional impact beyond local jurisdiction
  • Financial capacity of applicant
  • Environmental impact and compliance
  • Benefit to state-owned lands and resources
Specific Compliance Requirements:
  • Must execute formal grant contract before incurring costs
  • Must obtain all required environmental permits
  • Must comply with state procurement and contracting laws
  • Must maintain documentation for all expenditures
Procurement:
Subject to state procurement requirements
Resources, Pro Tips, Trainings
Pro Tip:
A project team member representing a potential applicant is required to contact the Administrator at least one month prior to the end of the application cycle (by June  1 if possible) to schedule a virtual pre-application consultation. The purpose of this informal consultation is for the project team member to provide the Administrator with information regarding the proposed project to assist with determining project eligibility prior to the submission of an application. Additionally, any questions the applicant has regarding the application submission and review process can addressed during this consultation. A brief project narrative, site photos, conceptual project plan map, if available, and project coordinates shall be provided to the Administrator to assist with eligibility determination. For greenway and trail projects, applicants are encouraged to flag proposed alignments if not in obvious rights-of-ways prior to taking geotagged photos so that the proposed alignment can be generally identified in the photos. A link to geotagged photos of the entire project area shall be included as part of the application submittal.
Trainings
Funding Resources