Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund 2025-2026 Request for Proposals

The Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund supports projects in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan, including St. Clair, Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston, and Monroe counties.

By investing in nature-based infrastructure solutions (NbS), the Fund seeks to reduce flooding and other threats associated with major storm events, while also creating safe, dynamic, and enjoyable public natural areas that improve habitat values for wildlife and quality of life for residents. By restoring the region's unique natural areas, the Fund seeks to enhance the quality and connectivity of habitat for wildlife, improve the ability of these habitats to withstand and absorb the impact of environmental stressors, and make nature more accessible for people.

Grants are awarded in three categories:

1. Expanding Nature-based Solutions and Access to Nature: The Fund supports nature-based infrastructure projects that improve stormwater capture and storage to reduce runoff, combined sewer overflows, basement backups and flooding. NbS projects must be designed with a dual purpose; to increase stormwater storage capacity while also enhancing the quality of, access to, and/or use of community natural areas.
2. Improving Habitat Quality and Connectivity: The Fund supports habitat restoration projects that improve the quality and connectivity of in-stream, riparian, upland, and wetland habitats throughout Southeast Michigan. Habitat projects must be designed with a dual purpose, to restore habitat while also improving public access to and/or use-opportunities of natural areas throughout the region.
3. Activating Restored Habitats and Natural Areas: The Fund supports projects that activate spaces that have been restored through habitat enhancements and improvements to natural areas, including those previously funded by GLRI or NFWF, by increasing community engagement, public access, community participation and ownership and long-term stewardship of those sites.

Since 2018, The Fund has awarded 39 grants totaling $9.2 million. Together, these projects are:

• Adding 21 million gallons of stormwater storage
• Restoring and enhancing more than 940 acres of wildlife habitat
• Developing or improving 93 public access points to natural areas and parks