Financial Assistance & Cost Share Programs
SWCD Cost Share
SWCD Invasive Species Removal Cost Share
The SWCD is now offering a cost share program to Hamilton County residents to aid in removal of invasive species and restoration with native plants.
See program details here.
The SWCD is now offering a cost share program to Hamilton County residents to aid in removal of invasive species and restoration with native plants.
See program details here.
Well Capping Cost Share
The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District provides funding to cap wells. The SWCD will pay half the cost not to exceed $500. The application should be submitted and approved before the capping is started. Visit the Well Capping page for more info.
The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District provides funding to cap wells. The SWCD will pay half the cost not to exceed $500. The application should be submitted and approved before the capping is started. Visit the Well Capping page for more info.
Outdoor Lab/Classroom Grants
The Hamilton County SWCD realizes the importance and need for hands-on learning in the outdoors. Small grants are occasionally available to assist in the creation or expansion of outdoor classrooms as schools, churches, and other locations are available. Contact the SWCD for more info.
The Hamilton County SWCD realizes the importance and need for hands-on learning in the outdoors. Small grants are occasionally available to assist in the creation or expansion of outdoor classrooms as schools, churches, and other locations are available. Contact the SWCD for more info.
Local Community Programs (Hamilton County)
Fishers
- The City of Fishers provides Neighborhood Vibrancy grants (native plantings, invasive removal, trail projects, and more) as well as Stormwater grants. Learn more here. We can help with project design.
- The city also offers a free rain barrel program.
- City of Carmel rain barrel cost share program.
- The Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant program offers a 2-to-1 matching grant, providing up to $10,000 per project. Funding will be awarded two times per calendar year, with applications accepted on a rolling basis. Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and neighborhood groups within Westfield city limits are encouraged to apply. The SWCD can help with project design.
Other grant programs
Indiana Native Plant Society
- State Chapter Grants
- INPS supports well-conceived grant projects that are in line with their mission: To promote the appreciation, preservation, scientific study, and use of plants native to Indiana. To teach people about their beauty, diversity, and importance to our environment.
- INPS Biodiversity Grants are awarded in three categories: Research, Demonstration Garden Land Management and Conservation
- Awards range from $400 to $1,500. Additional funding may be considered on larger projects. Learn more on the INPS website.
- INPS Central Chapter Small Grants Program
- INPS Central Chapter is offering grant awards of up to $300 for well-conceived projects that promote the conservation, study and use of plants native to Indiana. Applicants must be part of a not-for-profit group or organization such as community gardens, schools, churches, scout groups or neighborhood associations. INPS aims to support diversity, equity and inclusion of all Central Indiana communities.
- To be considered for a grant, fill out an application by following this link: https://fs27.formsite.com/JinkhW/dipkvdsaz2/index.html. Press “submit” when completed. If you have any questions, email: [email protected].
- INPS Central Chapter is offering grant awards of up to $300 for well-conceived projects that promote the conservation, study and use of plants native to Indiana. Applicants must be part of a not-for-profit group or organization such as community gardens, schools, churches, scout groups or neighborhood associations. INPS aims to support diversity, equity and inclusion of all Central Indiana communities.
Native Plants Unlimited
NPU offers small grants in the form of gift cards for use in their annual sale. Learn more here.
Seed a Legacy Program
They identify private, public and corporate projects with the highest potential to create pollinator habitat, then design a NextGen seed mixture to maximize pollinator support. Each project receives FREE* seed and one-on-one technical guidance to maintain the project over the next 5 years. *Up to 25 acres. Projects larger than 25 acres receive seed mixture at heavily discounted rates. More info here.
The Pollination Project
Learn more here.
NPU offers small grants in the form of gift cards for use in their annual sale. Learn more here.
Seed a Legacy Program
They identify private, public and corporate projects with the highest potential to create pollinator habitat, then design a NextGen seed mixture to maximize pollinator support. Each project receives FREE* seed and one-on-one technical guidance to maintain the project over the next 5 years. *Up to 25 acres. Projects larger than 25 acres receive seed mixture at heavily discounted rates. More info here.
The Pollination Project
Learn more here.
Indiana DNR
A variety of funding opportunities are available through Indiana DNR. These include cost share opportunities as well as programs to protect areas in exchange for property tax reductions. Learn more on their website.
Urban Pollinator Habitat Cost Share
Financial assistance may be available for your urban pollinator habitat project. Contact the SWCD for more info and contact information.
Upland Game Bird and Wildlife Habitat Cost Share
Your land may qualify for financial assistance to establish important habitat for game birds and other wildlife. Habitat buffers for upland birds are strips of vegetation established around the edges of crop fields to provide habitat for bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and other upland birds. Many of these birds have suffered population declines due to loss of habitat. These buffers can provide important nesting, brood rearing and escape cover while also serving as travel corridors between areas of suitable habitat. In addition to habitat for upland birds, these buffers may provide habitat for other animals and may limit sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from entering streams and other water bodies.
Details regarding the variety of options available can be found on the Indiana DNR website.
Urban Pollinator Habitat Cost Share
Financial assistance may be available for your urban pollinator habitat project. Contact the SWCD for more info and contact information.
Upland Game Bird and Wildlife Habitat Cost Share
Your land may qualify for financial assistance to establish important habitat for game birds and other wildlife. Habitat buffers for upland birds are strips of vegetation established around the edges of crop fields to provide habitat for bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and other upland birds. Many of these birds have suffered population declines due to loss of habitat. These buffers can provide important nesting, brood rearing and escape cover while also serving as travel corridors between areas of suitable habitat. In addition to habitat for upland birds, these buffers may provide habitat for other animals and may limit sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from entering streams and other water bodies.
Details regarding the variety of options available can be found on the Indiana DNR website.
Federal Programs
Take a look at this guide for help from federal programs to foster sustainable and innovative initiatives associated with agriculture and forestry in this country and territories. Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities - A Guide to Federal Programs.
CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program)
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a federal-state natural resources conservation program that addresses state and nationally significant agricultural related environmental concerns. Through CREP, program participants receive financial incentives to voluntarily enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in contracts of 14 to 15 years. Participants remove cropland from agricultural production and convert the land to native grasses, trees and other vegetation.
Hamilton County is within a qualifying watershed - the Upper White River.
More information on CREP can be found here:
USDA Farm Service Agency
Natural Resources Conservation Service
EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program)
The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) is for owners of land in agricultural or forest production or persons who are engaged in livestock, agricultural or forest production on eligible land and that have a natural resource concern on the land. It is a ranked program which has both local and state ranking criteria.
You can learn more about EQIP, enrollment, eligible practices, and application cut off dates at the Indiana NRCS EQIP website.
See this helpful article concerning invasive removal and forest stand improvement through EQIP.
If you are interested, please contact Angela Garrison, District Conservationist, 317-773-2181 ext 105. or e-mail [email protected].
CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program)
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a federal-state natural resources conservation program that addresses state and nationally significant agricultural related environmental concerns. Through CREP, program participants receive financial incentives to voluntarily enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in contracts of 14 to 15 years. Participants remove cropland from agricultural production and convert the land to native grasses, trees and other vegetation.
Hamilton County is within a qualifying watershed - the Upper White River.
More information on CREP can be found here:
USDA Farm Service Agency
Natural Resources Conservation Service
EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program)
The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) is for owners of land in agricultural or forest production or persons who are engaged in livestock, agricultural or forest production on eligible land and that have a natural resource concern on the land. It is a ranked program which has both local and state ranking criteria.
You can learn more about EQIP, enrollment, eligible practices, and application cut off dates at the Indiana NRCS EQIP website.
See this helpful article concerning invasive removal and forest stand improvement through EQIP.
If you are interested, please contact Angela Garrison, District Conservationist, 317-773-2181 ext 105. or e-mail [email protected].