Logos of Alliance for the Great Lakes, Calumet Collaborative, Faith in Place, Friends of the Chicago River, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Council, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Community Partnerships Grant Program –
Southern Lake Michigan

A butterfly rests on a flower at the water's edge, with skyscrapers in the background.

Alliance for the Great Lakes (Alliance) entered into a cooperative agreement with EPA to develop a new funding program, under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The newly formed Community Partnerships Grant Program will support implementation of GLRI projects in eligible communities where these projects are needed most. In 2027, Alliance plans to award a total of $1,125,000, for final design and permitting projects, that can be awarded up to $300,000, with a total of 3-6 awards anticipated.

Projects supported through this grant program will fund eligible GLRI projects within the eligible project area, in communities where GLRI projects are needed most, in partnership with local organizations and agencies, with the long-term goal of securing healthier Great Lakes communities for generations to come.

A map showing an area along southern Lake Michigan networked by rivers.
A map of the eligible project area. For more detail, see the interactive project area map.

Types of Projects, Types of Sites, Eligibility

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We invite applicants to think creatively about the spaces in their community where projects are needed most to capture rainwater, to reduce flooding, clean and filter water before it enters rivers and lakes, create habitat for birds, pollinators like butterflies, and other wildlife. Applicants can potentially pair these projects with opportunities for local workforce development, stakeholder engagement, financial and project management capacity building, and long-term maintenance. Lots of types of projects could occur on many different types of sites. Review the Request for Applications (RFA) for further details about eligibility requirements and application process.

How to Request Support

Please use the RFA to get detailed eligibility information and instructions on how to apply on-line.

To support applicants, there will be two in-person workshops held:

A recorded webinar is available.

Virtual office hours will be provided upon request July 28-August 28, 2026. We encourage both applicants and identified sub-applicants to join us to discuss their project during office hours. Office hours are helpful for:

  • Exploring Programmatic and Geographic Eligibility. We can help ensure your project is the right fit.
  • Project Development. We can help as you frame your project and narrative for GLRI terminology, and ensure local leadership and impact.
  • Budget Guidance. We can support you in capturing ALL expenses, and understand approved vs. restricted expenses.
  • Matchmaking Assistance. We can aid community-based organizations with identifying technical and capacity project team partners.

These office hours are intended to create a supportive environment where questions can be explored, ideas can be refined, and partnerships can be strengthened.

To request virtual office hours, please use our office hours calendar. We have partnered with Calumet Collaborative, Faith In Place, Friends of the Chicago River, and Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission to support applicants with their submissions and throughout the grant process. Please reach out to CommunityPartnershipsGrant@greatlakes.org to learn more about the support available. For those invited to submit full applications, office hours and 1:1 meetings will be available October 5, 2026-November 2, 2026.

Steps to Apply

Letters of interest and if invited full applications will be accepted online, through Good Grants our applicant portal Log in | Alliance for the Great Lakes for additional details please see the RFA. LOIs and full applications will be evaluated by an independent panel composed of individuals with expertise in the priorities for this grant program. Submit your Letter of Interest (LOI) Form by September 4, 2026. Following consultation with the review panel regarding submitted LOIs, Alliance for the Great Lakes (Alliance) will invite a subset of applicants to submit full proposals. In some cases, Alliance may suggest changes or clarifications for inclusion in full proposals. Alliance will notify applicants of the status of their LOIs on October 2, 2026. Full proposals, if invited, must be received by November 13, 2026. Questions or requests to learn more about the support provided should be emailed to CommunityPartnershipsGrant@greatlakes.org.