A Cuyahoga rain-garden proposal may fit the Conservation Action Grants program, but the application needs more than a planting idea. The current round lists a September 16, 2026 deadline and an October 31, 2027 project-completion date. Check those dates against the current application, not an older agreement downloaded from the same site. 2026 grant page
The program lists awards up to $1,000 and allows several applicant types, including individuals and community organizations. A rain garden is an example of eligible conservation work, not an automatic award.
Match each document to its round
| Document | Date or function | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Current program page | September 16, 2026 application deadline | Confirm this round’s public offer |
| Linked current application | October 31, 2027 activity and expenditure completion | Build the proposal and budget |
| Linked 2025 project agreement | September 30, 2026 completion | Historical terms; do not apply its deadline to the new round |
The current application asks for the location, conservation benefit, timeline and itemized budget. It also places responsibility for permits on the applicant and includes a W-9 timing requirement after an award. Application questions
The 2025 agreement has different completion and food-expense language. Its presence among grant resources is not evidence that every older term governs a 2026 application. Older agreement
Build the rain-garden evidence before submitting
Use four short project notes:
- Place: identify the proposed site and who can authorize changes there.
- Purpose: describe the runoff or conservation task the project is intended to address without promising a measured reduction.
- Work: name the proposed activities and the people responsible for carrying them out.
- Budget: separate eligible materials and other requested costs from expenses the program will not reimburse.
The current program page excludes staff and consultant costs and limits food expenses. Do not assume a grant will pay for a professional design just because design would help the project. Current expense rules
A maintenance plan is useful to the project’s owner even when it is not a separate application question: note who will care for the planting after the funded work ends and how the site can be accessed.
Keep application and award decisions separate
Save the submitted answers, attachments and confirmation. If funded, compare the actual award agreement with your proposed scope before purchasing materials or relying on a particular reimbursement.
This guide compares the current page, application and older agreement. It does not assess a property’s drainage design, secure permits or establish a sewer-fee credit. Those decisions have different evidence and approval routes.