Urban Development | Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Loan Program

Program Summary

The Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Loan Program is a partnership between the Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Department of Development. It provides below-market-rate loans for the construction of water development projects (including privately- or publicly-owned infrastructure) as part of economic development projects. The alternative stormwater infrastructure must utilize or incorporate sustainable practices such as bioswales, green roofs, constructed wetlands, and rain gardens. For more information on these techniques, see What is Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure? below.


Eligible Areas

The property must be located in currently or previously developed areas.

The property must have a plan for redevelopment or improvement that will result in economic benefit and revitalization of the community, such as created or retained jobs, new or rehabilitated housing, leveraged investment, or expansion of community services.

Eligible Applicants

Governmental Agencies are eligible to apply. Private entities partnering with a public entity can utilize the program for development projects. Borrowers must own or have access to the property and have the ability to repay.

Eligible Costs

Loan funds can be used for demolition in the project area, construction of infrastructure (including materials and site preparation), consultant costs, and fees required for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification.

Loan Details

Loans can be made up to $5 million, with a maximum repayment period of 10 years. Loans will be offered at below-market interest rates. The Ohio Department of Development and the applicant will work together to establish the specific terms of the loan agreement.

Applicants are encouraged to provide matching funds but are not required.

Application Period

Applications are accepted on an open cycle. All materials can be found under Program Materials on the right.

What is Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure?

Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure (also called green infrastructure or stormwater best management practices in this context) is a term used to describe a non-conventional stormwater facility that captures, cleanses, recycles, and infiltrates water on-site. 

Conventional stormwater management systems are designed to direct water away from where it falls. These approaches typically include gutters and storm sewers that collect water after it has flowed across driveways, streets, sidewalks, lawn, and parking lots, picking up pollutants and carrying them into the waterway in which they are ultimately discharged. This runoff results in increased sedimentation, erosion, flooding, water quality degradation, aquifer depletion, and habitat loss.

To better control the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff, alternative approaches such as bioswales, constructed wetlands, porous pavement, rain gardens, and green roofs may be used. These approaches treat water as a resource and cleanse, diffuse, and absorb water where it falls. Elements can be incorporated into roofs, parking lots, streets, driveways, alleys, lawns and landscaped areas, and parks to meet water quality and quantity standards while also achieving planning, urban design, and landscaping objectives.

For more information on alternative stormwater infrastructure, see the links on the right under General Information.

Contact Us

For questions or comments regarding the Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Program, please contact the Urban Development Division at (614) 995-2292, or by clicking e-mail us.