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Green Infrastructure Cost Share Solutions

Developing a cost share and training program between local municipalities to support green infrastructure

  • 4

    Municipalities

  • Chicago, Blue Island, and Midlothian, Illinois; Gary, Indiana

    Chicago, Blue Island, and Midlothian, Illinois; Gary, Indiana

Creating solutions to help underserved and minority communities maintain green infrastructure projects

One of the biggest challenges for maintaining green infrastructure across municipalities is budget. Often, an experienced contractor is required to help maintain these areas annually, pricing these projects out of some communities’ budgets. We wanted to change that.

Partnering with Opportunity Advancement Innovation, a nonprofit workforce development organization in Illinois, we developed a cost share program for four communities in Illinois and Indiana. This program would pool their resources and fund a contractor to perform needed maintenance services across the participating municipalities at a fraction of the cost each would pay independently.

Along with providing planning services, we are collaborating with the Calumet Stormwater Collaborative to provide green infrastructure training for job seekers and current municipal workers in these underserved communities. To date, we have provided training on maintenance visit activities, safety, green infrastructure across different sectors, and plant identification. We have also sponsored hands-on training days and have developed specific training videos for virtual use.

We’re better together

  • Become a client

    Partner with us today to change how tomorrow looks. You’re exactly what’s needed to help us make it happen in your community.

  • Design your career

    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

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