The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District is accepting cost-share grant applications from residents, schools, townhouse and condominium associations, and other eligible organizations for projects that protect and improve water and natural resources within the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District.

Projects must be in the boundaries of the district and result in improved water quality or preserve, protect or restore native plant and wildlife habitat. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to: rain gardens, pervious pavers, native habitat restoration and shoreline buffers. Many of these types of projects are also beneficial to pollinators, birds and wildlife since they incorporate a variety of Minnesota native plants.

The maximum grant amount is $5,000 for residential projects, $20,000 for townhome, condominium or lake associations, and $50,000 for nonprofit, commercial and government projects. Grants will be awarded for up to 75% of the project’s cost, on a reimbursement basis, for materials, labor, and engineering/ consulting fees. The funds must be used within one year of receiving grant approval. Cost share dollars are reimbursed upon submittal of a project progress report and paid receipts. The final 10% of the grant will be reimbursed upon successful completion of the project and submission and approval of a final report.

The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District is a special purpose unit of local government focused on water quality and water resources management that includes parts of Edina, Bloomington, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and Richfield.

An information session will be held on February 20 at 5:30 pm. It will be located at the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Office in the Interpretive Room: Nine Mile Creek Discovery Point, 12800 Gerard Drive, Eden Prairie, MN, 55346