Below is a non-exhaustive list of funding opportunities supporting flood resilience projects in the Metro Detroit. This page also highlights organizations and community meetings that advance this work across Detroit communities.
Use this resource to explore potential funding sources, as well as organizations and task forces at the local, state, and federal levels with the capacity to fund or help implement flood resilience projects.
Funding Resources
Local Level
- Stormwater Drainage Credits are processed through the Detroit Water and Sewage Department and provide credits back to households or residents who have installed and/or maintained stormwater management practices such as green infrastructure or the removal of impervious surfaces.
- The Community Development Block Grant is administered by the City of Detroit with funding from HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) and seeks to provide residents who have faced natural disasters/hazards with the financial assistance needed to rebuild through projects such as housing rehabilitation and infrastructure improvements.
- The Michigan Central Street Fund focuses on the Corktown, North Corktown, and Hubbard Richard neighborhoods in Detroit, providing funds of $2,500 to $10,000 for projects that involve community and economic development, environmental and public space initiatives, and improvements to public health and social/human services.
- The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program is provided by the EPA but administered by the Great Lakes TCGM Partnership to civic and grassroots organizations, local and tribal governments, and higher education institutions that focus on environmental justice and public health initiatives that strengthen underserved communities. There are tiered award levels that focus on Assessment and Engagement, Community Education and Planning, and Project Development and Implementation.
- The Midwest Frontline Fund focuses on general operating costs to grassroots and frontline environmental justice organizations throughout the Midwest. The Advisory Council is reconvening in 2026 to decide to open up another round of grants. Detroit-based organizations have had much success with this resource.
- The Erb Family Foundation Great Lakes Grant prioritizes the health of communities around and within the Great Lakes systems, as well as the health and quality of the Great Lakes through sustainable, resilient land-use practices.
- The Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) is a grant from the Kresge Foundation that helps cities implement climate-resilient approaches to urban water systems management, prioritizing the needs, health, and knowledge of low-income communities and communities of color.
State Level
- The Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund provides grants for projects that reduce the effects of stormwater, improve water quality, enhance habitats, and enhance the usability of public space through nature-based approaches that reduce the frequency and severity of flooding.
Federal Level
- The Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant focuses on improving the quality of life for communities and households living in and around distressed public and HUD-assisted housing. There is a critical focus on creating strong, safe, and sustainable neighborhoods.
- The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program awards grants to local and individual flood mitigation projects that reduce the risk and severity of damage to communities during floods, thereby lowering National Flood Insurance Program claim payments.
- The Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) 2.0 Program is available to non-profits and local economic development organizations, brownfield authorities, local governments, and developers. This grant prioritizes the redevelopment of vacant lots and/or “blighted” buildings with a private and public space option.
- The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program Grant Program is available to state, local, and tribal governments to implement sustainable, cost-effective mitigation measures that reduce the risk to communities from future natural hazards and lower reliance on Federal funding in the aftermath of a natural hazard.
- The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is available to state, local, and tribal governments following a presidentially declared natural disaster. It focuses on projects to rebuild communities to be more resilient, with reduced and mitigated future losses during disasters.
