The Metropolitan Council approved guidelines and delegated authority to the regional administrator to award and execute grants under a $15 million state appropriation to reduce inflow and infiltration in publicly owned wastewater systems.

Councilmember Cederberg said the 2025 state legislative session allocated $15,000,000 to the Met Council for municipal I&I grants, of which $9,000,000 will fund the 2025 municipal I&I program and $6,000,000 will fund a pilot river I&I grant program targeted to river-adjacent cities that see increased wastewater flows during flooding. Cederberg noted 81 metro cities are eligible for the municipal program, and six river-adjacent cities are eligible for the pilot.

Per the guidelines, awards may cover up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, or up to 100 percent in service areas that meet state affordability criteria. The program will comply with Minnesota Statute 473.5491 and include reimbursement-based disbursements after project completion and verification. The 2025 I&I grant cycle will run from January 2026 through 2028; grantees will have two years after the application period closes to complete projects.

Council members raised clarifying questions about eligible cities and confirmed the funding is in addition to existing regional I&I funding. The council approved the guidelines and authorization to award grants by voice vote.

What’s next: the regional administrator will implement the grant cycle per approved guidelines and manage reimbursement and verification processes.