RESOURCES AND GRANTS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

The purpose of the Clean Water Fund Program is to administer affordable financial assistance to communities within Wisconsin for wastewater infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations.

County Forest Sustainable Grants are used for special, short term or unanticipated projects that promote sustainable forestry.

To provide more electronics recycling opportunities in underserved areas of the state, grants under this program must be used for hosting an electronics collection site or event or series of collection sites or events.

Enviro-Check helps ensure your business is in good standing with environmental requirements. By voluntarily auditing your practices, you can reduce risks and limit liability. Whether you’re looking for efficiencies or want to verify your environmental performance, DNR’s Enviro-Check program enables you to proactively evaluate compliance.

Forest Fire Protection (FFP) 50% cost-share grants are available to Wisconsin fire departments and county/area fire associations.

Green Tier recognizes businesses that go above and beyond environmental regulations and works with you to acknowledge your commitment to continual environmental improvement. We look forward to working together to enhance your productivity, cut your costs and strengthen the health of your community. Dynamic, forward-thinking businesses, communities and associations are encouraged to apply.

Green Tier Legacy Communities Charter focuses on building sustainable and resilient communities. Those that participate benefit from the knowledge and experiences of fellow members. This shared, relevant information allows members to leap-frog technology or implement tried and true practices that stretch local resources.

The eight Stewardship grant subprograms to help fund the acquisition of land and conservation easements. Four grant subprograms are open only to NCO applicants.

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds support several DNR-administered grant programs. Available to local governments and nonprofits, Stewardship grants fund nature-based recreational development and conservation land purchases statewide.

The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant program was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1965 to develop high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities for the public. LWCF grants provide 50% cost-share to state, tribal, and local governments. Since its inception, more than 1800 projects have been completed in Wisconsin with more than $81M in federal LWCF funds.

The purpose of the Private Lead Service Line Replacement Program is to provide principal forgiveness (i.e., grant) funding to communities in Wisconsin to replace lead service lines on private property to protect public health for current and future generations.

Ready for Reuse loans and grants are used for environmental cleanup of hazardous substances or petroleum at brownfields throughout Wisconsin.

The Recreational Boating Facility grant program may award funding for up to 50%* of the total eligible costs for a recreational boating facility project. Past projects have included ramps and service docks to gain access to the water, purchase of aquatic weed harvesting equipment, navigational aids and dredging waterway channels associated with launch facilities.

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds through the transfer of federal gas excise taxes paid for fuel used on off-highway vehicles. These funds are used to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail uses.

The purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program is to administer affordable financial assistance to communities within Wisconsin for drinking water infrastructure projects that protect public health for current and future generations.

Wisconsin’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) provides free and confidential assistance to help small businesses proactively understand and comply with environmental requirements.

The Council on Forestry held listening sessions in May 2021 to help inform the development of actionable initiatives as part of an effort to pursue a Regional Economic Diversification Summit. This report highlights the key findings from the discussions.

The grant program provides funding to protect natural resources, the environment, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Grants are monetary awards that do not have to be paid back.

The grant program provides funding to protect natural resources, the environment, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Grants are monetary awards that do not have to be paid back.

Information and resources for cleaning up and redeveloping community blight into valuable property.

This website details the science, impacts, and solutions related to climate change in Wisconsin.

The County Conservation Aids Program provides financial assistance to counties and tribal governing bodies to enhance county fish and wildlife programs.

This page lists resources and products related to climate change and environmental justice/equity.

A list of topics related to environmental protection.

This DNR webpage contains information and resources related to environmental contamination and cleanup.

Wisconsin's Forest Sustainability Framework (Framework) lays out a blueprint for gathering data to assess the sustainability of forests in Wisconsin.

This program was developed to focus hunter training, development and education programs on adults, females and families.

The Invasive Species Best Management Practices (BMPs) website includes Forestry BMPs, Recreation BMPs, Urban Forestry BMPs, and Rights of Way BMPs.

The goal of the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) is to help private landowners create and manage habitat for species that are rare or declining.

The lender liability exemption provides conditional environmental liability protections to lenders and representatives.

The Shooting Range Grant Program funds the construction of outdoor shooting ranges. Indoor ranges may be eligible as well, including classroom, storage and restroom facilities.

This toolkit is provided as a "one-stop shop" for site investigation-related resources and guidance for environmental professionals and others working with the DNR.

Matching funds are available to Wisconsin tribes for the development of a summer program that provides tribal youth (ages 13-19) with an opportunity to work on projects related to natural resource conservation.

This program assists farmers when wildlife damages their agricultural crops.

This program uses stamp funds to fund habitat management, habitat restoration, education, outreach and research projects that directly benefit wild turkeys, pheasants and waterfowl.

Wisconsin's Forestland Woody Biomass Harvesting Guidelines focus on the sustainable harvest of woody biomass from forested areas within the context of generally accepted forestry practices.

The Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) program provides funding to address specific brownfields sites where potential or known contamination is acting as an impediment to economic redevelopment.

Describes the 2021 Collaborative Action for Lake Michigan (CALM) Coastal Resilience project; the 2018 Southeastern Wisconsin Coastal Resilience Project; the 2015 Wisconsin Sea Grant Integrated Assessment; the Wisconsin Great Lakes Marina Resilience Assessment; various guides for property owners; and collaborative networks.

The DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program oversees the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination and the redevelopment of contaminated properties.

WRRD is an interlinked system providing information on different contaminated land activities in Wisconsin, to assist with the investigation, cleanup and eventual reuse of those lands.

The overall goal of the WWCT is to offset lost wetland functions on a watershed scale. The program strives to fund high quality, successful wetland restoration projects.