Garden Grants

The Rochester Garden Grants program, launched in 2020, is a refresh of the "Realize Rain Gardens Rochester" cost-share grant program. The goals of the original program remain, with the addition of encouraging pollinator plantings and removing barriers to cost-share programs.

The Realize Rain Gardens Rochester cost-share grant program (2009 - 2019) was co-developed by a task force of interested citizens, landscape professionals, and City Public Works staff. The program was designed to promote the installation of rain gardens that can be used to demonstrate how rain gardens slow, treat, and infiltrate stormwater, while adding beauty to neighborhoods and creating habitat for songbirds and butterflies.

If I am awarded a Rochester Garden Grant, I agree to the following:

1. Read and understand all information provided in the grant documents.
2. Install the garden according to the plans submitted with my application and approved by the City as part of the grant award.
3. Avoid planting within utility and drainage easements unless special permission is granted through this program.
4. Contact Gopher State One Call at 1-800-252-1166 before beginning any digging.
5. Track expenditures during garden construction.
6. Register my garden immediately after construction by submitting the required registration form. 
7. Submit photos of the project before, during, and after installation, preferably digitally to stormwater@rochestermn.gov.
8. Allow City site inspections throughout the life of the project.
9. Place the City-provided Rochester Garden Grant educational sign in my garden as soon as installation is complete.
10. Allow the garden’s location to be included on the Rochester Garden Grants location map and allow the garden to be viewed by the public as requested.
11. Host a garden party or similar educational activity before submitting my reimbursement request.
12. Submit my reimbursement request and all required receipts for materials and services by December 31 of the year the project is completed.
13. Maintain the garden for at least five years. If I move or am otherwise unable to continue maintaining the garden, I will notify the City. 
14. Agree that all materials submitted and methods or techniques developed as part of the grant award become the property of the City of Rochester for use at its discretion, including but print and website publications, tour maps, and other program publicity.

I understand that the City of Rochester will not authorize reimbursement until all required documentation has been received and all project construction tasks are complete.

Except for claims arising from or out of the City of Rochester’s fault or negligence, I agree to indemnify and defend the City of Rochester and its assigns, and hold them harmless from any claims, expenses, or damages, including attorney’s fees, arising from my participation in this agreement.

The City of Rochester is offering grants for residents and land managers to establish pollinator habitat and water stewardship gardens. A limited number of grants of up to $1000 will be available each year. 

A garden that is funded by this grant must be used to: 

• Create pollinator habitat and increase the amount of stormwater soaking into the ground.
• Create awareness of the benefits of native gardens designed for pollinators and clean water.
• Encourage others to create gardens for pollinators and clean water using best practices.

Garden Size Guideline: We highly recommend a garden area of approximately 10 feet by 10 feet or larger to create a meaningful impact on pollinators. This is a guideline, not a minimum size requirement.

Who May Apply

• Residents, including homeowners and renters
• Community Organizations
• Schools

Eligibility Criteria

The following criteria are the minimum eligibility standards and must be met for the application to be considered:

1. The proposed project is within Rochester’s city limits on a parcel owned by an eligible applicant or, for renters, with written consent from their landlord submitted with the application. The proposed project may not be located within the public right-of-way.
2. The proposed budget is both reasonable and provides a minimum match of at least 25% of the requested and/or received funding. 
3. Matches must consist of materials, services, or cash clearly documented for project use. 
4. The garden must be installed in the growing season of the award notification.
5. The applicant commits to maintaining the garden for at least five years in a signed agreement with the City.
6. The applicant commits to using the addition of new native perennial plants.
7. The applicant agrees their garden will be available for public viewing as an education site.
8. The applicant accommodates site visits and posts a grant provided garden sign.
9. The applicant agrees that the garden’s location is available on the city’s website.
10. The applicant submits a completed application postmarked on or before December 31st of the application year.

Note: Projects where pollinator habitat and stormwater best management practices (BMP) are required as a condition of development or to satisfy other regulatory requirements cannot be funded by this grant.

Applications and Project Awards

Applications consist of completed application documents and a signed agreement form. A signed agreement does not guarantee a grant award. Applications are accepted from October 1 through December 31 for gardens to be installed in the following year’s growing season. Applications must be postmarked or delivered to the Public Works office on or before December 31 and will be reviewed and ranked according to the criteria listed in this document. Please be sure to provide all the information requested and write legibly. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. 

Grants will be awarded to the highest-ranked projects. The number of awards given is dependent upon available funding. Recipients of Rochester Garden Grants will be notified by the end of January.  If selected, you’ll receive a grant award letter. It is the responsibility of the applicant to keep copies of all submitted documents. Do not start construction of your project or purchase any materials until receipt of a Grant Award Letter from the City.

Ranking Criteria

The following criteria will be used by the grant committee to evaluate and rank applications:

1. Proximity to protected or impaired waters and pollinator habitat corridors
2. Proximity to existing Rochester Garden Grant gardens and distribution throughout the City
3. Visibility and effectiveness as an educational garden 
4. Creativity of design and application of appropriate garden design principles
5. Diversity of plant species and the percentage of native plants and native cultivars included in the garden
6. Cost per square foot
7. Likelihood that the garden will remain in place and be maintained at the site for the long term
8. Presence of other stormwater best management practices serving the site
9. Amount of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces that can be captured by the garden
10. Other unique features as presented by the applicant

Applicants Must Agree to:

1. Maintain the project for a minimum of five years.
2. Place a City-provided educational sign in the garden.
3. Provide educational outreach about the garden to friends, family, or neighbors.
4. Serve as a community resource to promote gardens for pollinators and clean water.
5. Register the garden to be included on the City of Rochester Environmental Services website.
6. Allow the garden to be viewed as an educational site by appointment or as otherwise requested by the City.
7. Agree to publicity by the City or local media outlets. All publications, publicity, and methods or techniques developed as part of the project shall become the property of the City for use at its discretion.

Eligible Expenses

1. Native perennial plants, seeds, or native cultivars, including trees and shrubs.
2. Shredded wood mulch.
3. Soil amendments that increase infiltration capacity.
4. Materials used to divert stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces to the garden.
5. Equipment rental costs, up to $200.

Reimbursement

FUNDING IS A REIMBURSEMENT for documented costs incurred after notification of the grant award. After all program requirements have been met and approved, including a site visit to verify project completion, a request for reimbursement may be made.  All reimbursement requests must be submitted no later than December 31 of the year in which the project is completed. Reimbursement requests are typically processed within 30 days of receipt. Costs incurred before receipt of the Grant Award Letter will not be reimbursed, with the exception of purchases made through the Olmsted County Soil and Water District Tree Sales program.

The reimbursement request must include:

• Receipts for materials and services purchased
• An itemized list and value of donated materials 
• A completed City of Rochester Garden Grants Expense Reporting Worksheet 

If you have questions, contact Rachel at 507-328-2440 or rstrauss@rochestermn.gov.