Clean Water Indiana (CWI) Grant Program

Clean Water Indiana (CWI) is a state fund administered by ISDA's Division of Soil Conservation under the direction of the State Soil Conservation Board. It provides competitive grants and local matching funds to Indiana Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) for sediment- and nutrient-reduction projects and conservation-practice implementation - supporting education, technical assistance, training, and cost-share programs that reach landowners. CWI also provides state matching funds for Indiana's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Indiana Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) apply for CWI grants; the State Soil Conservation Board accepts competitive proposals for targeted projects up to three years in length. Landowners and conservation groups benefit through SWCD-delivered technical assistance and cost-share rather than applying to CWI directly.

No award ceiling or floor: "Proposals can be for any amount that would accomplish the project described." The SSCB does not intend to partially fund applications — "partial awards will be only in special circumstances."

Match: "A 50 percent cash and/or in-kind match is required." Proposals that request funds for staffing require a 25% cash or in-kind match on the staffing component (the guidance's example: a $10,000 staff-only proposal needs $2,500 match; a $10,000 proposal split $5,000 staff / $5,000 cost share needs $3,750). Match may come from federal, state, or local sources including landowner costs, staff and supervisor time, and equipment use, purchase, or rental. Match must be new, distinct, and directly tied to the proposed project, and cannot double-count match used in another grant. Published match rates: $35/hour for ICP staff, SWCD supervisors, landowner time, and professional services; $15/hour for students, interns, and volunteers; $0.49 per mile for mileage.

Administrative cap: "The grant may ask for no more than 10% of the total grant funds for administrative support of the grant." CWI competitive dollars may not pay employee benefits.

Term: competitive proposals for targeted projects up to three years in length.

What reaches landowners through a funded district: "The maximum cost share or all conservation practices is 75% of the total final cost of the practice, with 25% of the cost being the responsibility of the landowner." Cover crop cost share must be for new acres (none in the past 3 years) and is eligible up to $30/ac for a single-to-double species mix and up to $40/ac for a multi-species (3+) mix. Separately, SWCDs are eligible for a $10,000 CWI statutory match.

Source: 2027 Clean Water Indiana Grant Guidance (IC 14-32-8-5).

SWCDs submit competitive proposals through the Indiana Grants Management Portal following the CWI Grant Guidance, CWI Application Template, and CWI Scoring Rubric. Grant information for the 2027 cycle is posted on the program page.