Grants for New Sites

The Tucson C2E Program awards grants annually to local organizations working to improve our urban waterways and riparian habitats throughout Tucson.  These projects include riparian or wash habitat enhancement and watershed restoration projects that directly benefit our community’s natural and riparian areas. New green infrastructure in right-of-ways along streets, parking lots, parks, or public spaces like churches and schools that connect to an urban wash or waterway are also eligible.

Projects eligible for C2E grants:

• Are located within the Tucson Water and/ or Pima County Wastewater Reclamation Department Service Areas
• Are within close proximity to water courses to improve vegetation and wildlife
• Are located primarily on public property and provide an educational demonstration
• Create improved access to green space and other community benefits such as flood alleviation, heat reduction, tree canopy cover improvements, and placemaking
• Are volunteer-scale sites and demonstrate strong partnerships
• Have high levels of C2E participation
• Feature strong long-term stewardship commitments
• Include a 50% match (volunteer hours count!)

Grant applications are broken into a two-step process to aid neighborhoods with the development of eligible project scopes. Urban Enhancement Projects are generally funded in the range of $2,500 to $7,500. All projects must have a one-year timeline for completion. For assistance with project costs, design resources, plant lists, and specific grant requirements please see this linked sheet and further highlights below.

C2E Project Assistance Resources (pdf)

The funding cycle for new sites will be announced later in the year.

APPLICATION MATERIALS for new sites

• C2E 2017 Project Application (fillable word doc)
• C2E 2017 Grant Information Sheet (pdf)
• C2E Letter of Support Template (word doc)
• 2017 C2E Grant Workshop Presentation

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE MATERIALS

• PAG Green Infrastructure GIS Map
• Feldman's Neighborhood Rain Garden Rock Stabilization Guide
• Basin Plant Guide by Iylea Olson
• Western Pima County Approved Plant List

EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS

Applications have changed slightly for 2017, but these applications provide good examples of successfully funded projects. 

• Henry Elementary - 2013
• Mitchell Park - 2013
• Palo Verde Neighborhood - 2014
• Silverlake Park/Audubon - 2014
• Sky Islands High School - 2015
• Feldmans Neighborhood - 2015

MAINTENANCE RESOURCES

• Checklist for long-term stewardship and leading volunteer events at C2E sites.
• The WMG Monsoon Squad can be hired to develop specialized training for your neighborhood and bring in and organize volunteers: https://watershedmg.org/advocacy/monsoon-squad
• Sign-up your project site with Tucson Clean & Beautiful’s Adopt-a-Park and Public Areas program: https://tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org/adopt-a-park-public-areas/adopting-a-site/
• Field guide for rain garden care: https://watershedmg.org/sites/default/files/documents/resource-guide-rain-garden_0.pdf