Policy Guidelines and Eligibility

Purpose:

The Town of Jupiter offers the Private Stormwater Improvement Grant Program as a mechanism to encourage Homeowners Associations and other private entities located within the Town of Jupiter municipal boundaries to improve water quality discharges from private stormwater management systems, provide erosion control of private lake banks and stormwater detention areas, and minimize the occurrence of flooding in residential neighborhoods. Ultimately, the Program is intended to enhance, protect and preserve the receiving water bodies of the Loxahatchee River, Sims Creek, Jones Creek, and the Intracoastal Waterway. 

Financial Assistance:

The matching grant reimbursement program may provide financial assistance for up to a maximum of 50% of the actual construction cost of eligible improvements. However, no minimum or maximum grant award is guaranteed. Matching grant awards are subject to the discretion and approval of the Jupiter Town Council, budget availability, and grant application compliance with program criteria. Under this Program, private entities are required to pay for the improvements in full and submit requests for reimbursement to the Town for completed projects. Reimbursement is contingent upon approval of field inspections by the Town of Jupiter Stormwater Utility.  

Eligibility:

To be eligible for a grant, the proposed project must meet the following criteria:

1. Located within the Town of Jupiter municipal boundaries.
2. Proposed improvements are new. Maintenance of existing infrastructure, such as repairs to stormwater pipe and structures, is ineligible for this program.
3. Proposed improvement will have a significant beneficial impact in at least one of the following areas:
   1. Water Quality – reduction in nutrients (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus), bacteria, or other unfavorable constituents within the private stormwater management system prior to discharging to the Town’s drainage system or receiving water body. Examples of improvements that promote improved water quality include but are not limited to exfiltration trench, grassed swales, constructed wetlands, water quality inlets, separation devices, and aerators, fountains, or other mechanism to induce water circulation and increase dissolved oxygen in lakes and ponds.
   2. Flood Mitigation – resolves a nuisance flooding issue. Examples include installation of new stormwater pipe, structures, grassed swales, and or detention area designed by a licensed professional engineer.
   3. Erosion Control – minimize bank erosion in detention ponds and lakes to maintain storage capacity, prevent sediment and nutrients from negatively impacting water quality, and stabilize lake and pond banks. Improvement examples include but are not limited to installation of geo-tubes, geotextile fabric, erosion control mats, and rock rip rap. 

Grant Application Process:

Grant applications are due by March 31 and September 30 each year. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility then ranked based on alignment with Program objectives and cost effectiveness by a Committee consisting of 3 Town of Jupiter Utility staff, including the Director of Utilities. For an application to be deemed ready for review it must include the following items.

1. Completed Private Stormwater Improvement Grant Application Form
2. Contractor quote(s) to verify quantities and costs of the proposed improvements
3. Photos of existing conditions annotated with notes for the proposed improvements
4. Engineering drawings, if required for design and permitting of infrastructure, such as stormwater pipe and structures.

Applications can be mailed to the attention of Utilities Field Administration, Town of Jupiter Utilities, 17403 Central Boulevard, Jupiter, FL 33458, submitted via e-mail to stormwater@jupiter.fl.us or submitted online at:

Private Stormwater Improvement Grant Application

Received applications will be reviewed within 30 days of receipt by the Town. If the proposed project is deemed eligible for grant funding the applicant will be required to complete the Town’s vendor package. In addition, applicant will be required to sign a grant agreement which will be presented to Town Council for consideration of approval. The grant agreement between Town of Jupiter and the private entity will contain specific information on how the grant will be managed and how reimbursement will be disbursed. Paid invoices are required to certify actual costs.

Scoring:

Grant applications which are complete and eligible for grant funding will be scored by the Committee using the two scoring criteria, Project Impact and Cost Effectiveness, each section receiving a score from 0-5, 0 being not applicable, 3 is acceptable, while 5 is excellent for a total up to 10 points. A minimum score of 6 by a majority of the Committee is necessary for consideration of a grant award. 

1. Project impact on one or more of the following objectives: reduction in nutrients (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus), bacteria, or other unfavorable constituents within the private stormwater management system prior to discharging to the Town’s drainage system or receiving water body, resolving a nuisance flooding issue, and/or minimizing bank erosion.
2. Cost effectiveness of the proposed improvements, where the cost is reasonable and verifiable for the effort required to complete the work, and the results are worth the cost.

Should you have any questions please contact Utility Field Administration, at 561-741-2705.