Ada Community Conservation Grant Program

Ada Community Conservation Grant Program is sponsored by Ada Soil & Water Conservation District. This program funds small, local conservation projects to improve soil, water, and natural resources within Ada County.

### Funding is available for Fiscal Year 2027 ### Ada Community Conservation Grant Program The Ada Soil & Water Conservation District's community grant program funds small, local conservation projects to improve soil, water & natural resources within our boundaries (primarily Ada County). This program provides funding to support conservation projects and conservation.

We specifically fund projects that show a clear public benefit in one or more of the following: habitat restoration, watershed health, soil erosion prevention/control, soil health, water quality, water conservation, environmental education, or agricultural education.

The goals of these grants reflect our commitment to cooperation and support that will produce lasting, deeply rooted efforts to protect our natural resources, preserve agriculture in the Treasure Valley, and sustain our communities. * Minimum grant award: $500 * Maximum grant award: $5,000 * A total of $15,000 will be available for FY2027 * Submission of applications will be accepted at any point throughout the year.

Applications will be reviewed monthly by the Board at regularly scheduled business meetings * Applications must be submitted online via the link below * Approved proposals will be required to submit quarterly updates, as well as a final summary of the project * Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations * Non-profit entities without 501(c)3 status that retain a qualified fiscal agent * Educational institutions * Community Organizations, such as neighborhood associations or HOAs **Projects must meet these criteria to receive Ada SWCD funding:** * Must advance the mission of the Ada SWCD to promote the conservation and wise use of all natural resources, and to provide conservation education for Ada County residents.

* Must address one or more of the following: environmental education, soil erosion prevention/control, soil health, water quality, water conservation, watershed health, habitat restoration, agricultural land preservation. * Must be located within Ada SWCD’s service area or demonstrate direct benefit to Ada County residents.

* Must provide a clear public benefit **Examples of projects we will fund:** * On-the-ground habitat restoration, integration, and preservation, such as: tree planting, invasive weed control, stream bank re-vegetation, native plantings, habitat restoration/enhancement, beneficial insect plantings, wetland restoration, forest rehabilitation, bat boxes, bee boxes, owl boxes, riparian habitat restoration * Agriculture learning centers or gardening projects, such as: establishing new school and community gardens/orchards, garden education, composting systems, learning farms, farmer training programs, demonstration plots and farms * Innovative Agriculture Projects that provide conservation outcomes and benefit farmers * Sustainable storm water management project such as: parking lot bioswale, rain garden, tree planting, pavement removal * Engineering of a conservation project, such as: engineering of a soil erosion control project, water quality project, soil health projects, trail rehabilitation * Monitoring projects and scientific monitoring and data collection that can benefit future projects * Environmental education of youth and/or adults, including community art installations that educate about agriculture and conservation, such as: implementation of classroom or outdoor education program, workshops, training, conferences, signage, videos and art installations * Promoting Farmland and Agricultural Land Preservation * Promoting and implementing on-farm conservation, such as: cover crops, no-till, soil health, water quantity and water quality conservation * Promoting conservation & land stewardship in parks, open spaces, neglected areas, parking lots, and waterways Applicant and project eligibility, approval or denial of applications, and dollar amounts awarded (for individual projects or organizations, as well as for the funding cycle/fiscal year) will be determined at the discretion of the Ada SWCD Board of Supervisors.

Payments totaling $600 or more in a calendar year may be considered by the IRS to be reportable income. Applicants who receive Ada SWCD funding will be required to complete an Application and W-9 form. If applicable, Ada SWCD will report the income to the IRS and to the Applicant on a 1099-MISC form.

The Applicant should consult a tax advisor regarding income reporting requirements and whether project-related expenses may be included as deductions on the Applicant’s tax returns to offset this income.