Funding and assistance for natural resources projects

About the grants

Grants are available to help local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, public companies and institutions and private, for-profit companies implement projects that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Eligible projects

Eligible project activities include:

• Early detection
• Pathway analysis
• Education
• Decontamination
• Water access re-design
• Research
• Management
• Other ideas that prevent the introduction or limit the spread of AIS

Learn more and apply

Applications are accepted once per year, typically in January. Learn more about aquatic invasive species prevention grants.

About the grants

Grants are available to cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and non-profit organizations to enhance the county’s tree canopy.

The goals of the program are to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and disease by funding tree planting, educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees, and increase the diversity and resiliency of the tree canopy.

Eligible project activities

Eligible project activities include:

• Collecting data with tree inventories and developing tree management plans
• Holding tree planting events and maintaining newly planted trees
• Removing and replacing ash trees
• Conducting tree-related education
• Hosting Arbor Day celebrations

Learn more and apply

Applications are accepted once per year. Learn more about the healthy tree canopy grants.

About the funding

Hennepin County supports the redevelopment of contaminated properties known as brownfields. A variety of funding is available to support the investigation and environmental assessment phase as well as managing known contamination.

Eligible recipients

Eligible recipients include for-profit businesses, developers, governmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations.

Learn more and apply

Learn more about funding available to clean up brownfields.

Property owners can recover a portion of the cost they pay to seal wells that are no longer in use through the well sealing cost share program.

How it works

Property owners can receive reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the well sealing cost, not to exceed $2,000 per well. See the Well Sealing Grants flyer (PDF) to learn more about the cost-sharing program.

Funding for this program is limited, so the county awards grants to the highest priority wells. The selection process factors in characteristics such as well depth, well diameter, proximity to municipal wellhead protection areas, and other environmental factors that may increase the potential for contamination of municipal groundwater resources.

After receiving and reviewing a completed application, the county will notify the applicant regarding their eligibility for a grant. To be eligible for reimbursement, you must receive grant approval before any well sealing work is done. The county will develop a contract with the property owner outlining the details for reimbursement.

If your well sealing project is eligible for grant funding, you must have a state-licensed well sealing contractor perform all required work. Work must be done in accordance with the Minnesota Well Code, including the filing of a sealed well record with the Minnesota Department of Health.

To receive reimbursement, grantees must submit the documentation specified in the grant contract after the well sealing work has been completed.

Apply

Fill out and submit the Well Sealing Grants Application (DOCX) to apply. 

Contact Mary Karius with any questions at mary.karius@hennepin.us.

Habitat conservation

Hennepin County has funding to acquire conservation easements on the best remaining natural areas in the county and conduct habitat restoration on protected properties. Funding is also available to agricultural landowners to permanently remove certain environmentally sensitive lands from production in order to protect surface water and groundwater.

Learn more about funding available for habitat conservation.

Hennepin County cost-share grants

As part of our role as the Soil and Water Conservation District for Hennepin County, natural resources staff work directly with residents to improve water quality and prevent soil erosion.

Funding available to residents throughout the county

A small amount of funding is available each year to residents throughout the county for projects that improve water quality or reduce soil erosion.

Financial assistance of up to 75% of the cost of a project is available. All practices must be approved prior to construction. Landowners are reimbursed upon completion. Participating landowners receive technical assistance in planning and completing their project.

Funding available in priority areas

In some areas, the county and partners have secured grant funding to make financial assistance more widely available for residents completing projects to improve water quality. These priority areas are defined by subwatershed boundaries. In these areas, studies have identified projects that would be cost-effective and have significant impact on reducing pollution to downstream water bodies.

Learn more about subwatershed assessments and priority areas for management and restoration.

Current priorities for cost-share funding

Hennepin County is encouraging the use of practices that improve soil health, including planting cover crops and reducing tillage. Agricultural landowners or operators can receive funding and support to try effective practices that stabilize soil and make yields more consistent and sustainable over time.

Agricultural best management practices loans

Farmers, rural landowners and agricultural supply businesses can apply for low-interest loans through Hennepin County to make improvements or implement practices that will reduce or prevent nonpoint source pollution. The county works with local banks to provide these loans.

Eligible projects include:

• Animal waste control systems, such as runoff control structures and agricultural waste systems or pits
• Practices that reduce erosion from runoff, such as grass waterways, erosion and sediment control basins, and terraces
• Purchase of conservation tillage equipment, such as chisel plows, no-till drills, and no-till planters
• Upgrades and improvements to existing individual sewage treatment systems in rural areas

Participants are required to complete the Agricultural BMP (Best Management Practice) Loan Program application as well as complete a loan application with a bank of their choice.

Learn more about the agricultural best management practices loan.