The state of Minnesota reached a settlement with 3M in 2018 after alleging that the company’s releases of PFAS chemicals had damaged drinking water and natural resources in the Twin Cities east metropolitan area. After legal and other expenses were paid, about $720 million will be invested in drinking water and natural resource projects. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are co-trustees of these funds.
Priority 1, about $700 million, is dedicated to drinking water projects in the Twin Cities east metropolitan area.
Priority 2, up to $20 million, is for projects that restore and enhance aquatic resources, wildlife, habitat, fishing, and outdoor recreational opportunities in the project area. The project area includes portions of Washington, Ramsey and Dakota counties and downstream areas of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers affected by PFAS released by 3M.
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Eligible projects
Eligible projects must help to achieve one or more of the Priority 2 settlement goals:
- Goal 1 – Restore, protect, and enhance aquatic and terrestrial resources, wildlife, and habitats.
- Goal 2 – Increase understanding of fish tissue contamination, improve communication about PFAS-based fish consumption advisories, and identify and enhance alternative, non-contaminated fishing areas.
- Goal 3 – Improve and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities.
Applicants can apply for no less than $20,000 per project. No match is required.
50% or more of the proposed project activities must take place within the Priority 2 Project Area (see expandable map above) or download a Google Earth .kmz file here.
Application timeline
Projects will be reviewed through a two-phase process. Applicants will first submit a letter of intent — a brief project description and map to determine whether a project qualifies for Priority 2 funding. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application.
Below is the anticipated timeline.
- Request for Proposals opens
- Questions about Letters of Intent due
- Letters of Intent due
- Invitations sent to submit full applications
- Grant workshop
- Questions about full application due
- Full applications due
- Notice of project selection
February 5, 2025
March 28, 2025
April 4, 2025
June 2025 (estimated)
Late June 2025 (estimated)
Early August 2025 (estimated)
August 2025 (estimated)
December 2025 (estimated)
How to apply
The Request for Proposal details the two-phase process:
- Project proposers must submit a Letter of Intent to be considered for funding. Send form to [email protected] by 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 4.
- If a project is deemed eligible for funding based on the letter of intent, applicants will be given an application form and instructions to submit a full grant application.
Who may apply
- Local units of government (e.g., city, township, county)
- Soil and water conservation, watershed and lake improvement districts
- Area-wide agencies, including a county and/or regional planning agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- Public school district and nonprofit schools
- Institutes of higher education (public and nonprofit)
- Port authorities
- Tribal governments
- Federal agencies
- State agencies (excludes direct funding to the DNR and MPCA; however, agencies may participate as collaborators)
Individuals and for-profit organizations may not apply.
Review process
Letter of Intent submissions will be assessed to determine whether the proposed projects are eligible for Priority 2 funding based on eight screening criteria. Projects considered eligible based on the information provided in the Letters of Intent will be given further feedback and invited to submit full grant applications. Applications will be scored based on the Evaluation Criteria in the RFP and ultimately selected by the DNR and MPCA Commissioners.
Contact
- Questions and answers from project sponsors
Summaries of questions received and responses will be summarized and posted weekly until March 28, one week before Letters of Intent are due. Questions may be sent to the email address above.