DCR 2027 Salt Reduction Grant Application October Template.docx

DCR Watershed System Salt Use Reduction Grant Program FY27 Grant Application

This application template is provided for reference purposes only. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the program’s online application portal or by sent via email to joel.zimmerman@mass.gov.

An asterisk indicates a required field.

Section 1: Applicant Information

1.1: *Organization:

1.2: *Contact Name:

1.3: *Contact Phone:

1.4: *Contact Email:

1.5: *Mailing Address:

Section 2: Project Information

2.1: *Project Title:

2.2: *Municipality where the project will take place (only available to Barre, Boylston, Holden, Hubbardston, New Salem, Oakham, Orange, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, Shutesbury, Sterling, Templeton, Wendell, West Boylston, and Westminster. It may also be a combination of these towns):

2.3: *Brief Project Description:

Please provide a brief description of the proposed project in 2-3 sentences. This description will be used to describe the project in abbreviated form for various purposes including approvals, press and announcements going forward.

2.4: *Total Project Value:

2.5: *Grant Amount Requested: (Up to 50% of Total Project Value but no more than $20,000)

2.6: *Matching Amount Committed: (Minimum of 50% of Total Project Value)

2.7: *Amount of salt applied (tons) to roads during the 2025-2026 winter season:

2.8: *Annual salt application amount (tons) for each of the previous three winter seasons:

2.9: *Total road miles treated within the municipality:

2.10: *Number of town or contract employees involved in winter snow and ice removal:

2.11: *Number of employees who have completed Baystate Roads snow and ice training programs or equivalent:

Section 3: Narrative

Salt Reduction Grant Criteria

The Salt Reduction grant program seeks projects that:

Upgrade winter snow and ice removal technology and equipment to utilize the latest and most efficient salt use reduction strategies. Examples of eligible projects include the purchase of pavement temperature sensors for vehicles, equipment that allows calibrated/automated applications of salt, materials needed to construct a brine production facility, materials to retrofit vehicles to apply brine, flexible plow blades to allow more effective removal of snow and ice from roadways, and materials to construct cover and containment for salt piles. Communities are allowed to submit a joint application (combined funding) for a shared concept. Note that purchase of new vehicles, road salt or alternative anti-icing materials, or the cost of employee training are not considered eligible projects.

Provide clear documentation of municipal salt use reduction over time (for at least the next three years).

Are proposed by the 18 towns or Departments of Public Works with at least ten miles of town roads located within the DCR Watershed system (Barre, Boylston, Holden, Hubbardston, New Salem, Oakham, Orange, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, Shutesbury, Sterling, Templeton, Wendell, West Boylston, and Westminster).

Illustrate a willingness to work cooperatively with DCR Division of Water Supply Protection (DCR/DWSP) towards the common goal of salt use reduction. Receiving FY27 grant funding indicates that the town is willing to work collaboratively with DCR to raise public awareness of the environmental impacts of road salt, including installing educational signage (signs provided by DCR) near publicly available salt piles.

3.1: *Describe specifically what equipment or technology is proposed for purchase.

Describe in detail how it works and the benefits that will be provided. Please included supporting materials including product information or research studies.

3.2: *Describe how annual salt use will be documented and shared with DCR/DWSP.

Although an estimate is acceptable, clear documentation of amounts used during each storm would be preferred. This should include basic information such as the actual total amount of salt used (in tons or pounds), actual number of gallons of liquid brine used (if applicable), number of storms where road treatment was needed, and the best estimate of the total number of town-wide treatment trips Agree to provide total salt application amounts for the 2026-2027 season and for at least the three following winters is strongly suggested.

3.3 * Provide a listing of currently owned equipment and technology, including the following:

· Number of trucks with ability to dispense salt:

· Number of salt-dispensing trucks with calibrated spreaders:

· Number of trucks with ability to dispense liquids (brine):

· Number of trucks with pavement temperature sensors:

· Do you use pre-storm pre-treatment applications of salt or brine?

· Do you use flexible plow blades?

3.4 * Provide an overview of town and/or Department of Public Work goals regarding salt reduction, including ways that DCR can help achieve these goals.

Section 4: Equipment Worksheet (Required for Equipment Purchases Only)

Equipment purchases are permitted under the Salt Reduction grant program. This can include any equipment necessary for efficient snow and ice removal, such as pavement temperature sensors for vehicles, equipment that allows calibrated/automated applications of salt, and flexible plow blades, but does not include vehicles. Equipment is defined as tangible personal property having a useful life of at least five years and a per-unit acquisition cost of $1,000 or greater. Equipment must be purchased in full, with the title held by the grantee and must be used for the proper authorized use as stated in the project proposal.

All purchases must be completed by June 30, 2027.

Please answer each question listed below for all proposals to purchase equipment with a value of $1,000 or more. This is required in order to be considered for a grant award.

4.1: What need will the purchase of this equipment fulfill? For multiple pieces of equipment, describe the individual benefit for each.

4.2: Where and how will the equipment be stored (during both the winter and summer months, if different)?

4.3: Is this equipment replacing an older piece of equipment that was purchased using previous grant funds? If so, what is the plan for that piece of equipment’s disposal/re-allocation?

Section 5: Required Documents and Supporting Materials

Uploaded Documents will not be saved until your final submission. Do not upload documents until you are ready to submit your application.

Please remember that:

Salt Reduction grants are reimbursable, meaning grantees must first pay for expenditures themselves and then submit for reimbursement using the required documentation.

Salt Reduction grants are matching grants and require that proponents provide at least 50% of the total project cost.

In this section, when you are ready to submit your application, you will upload:

· Specifications and cost of desired equipment

· Supporting research or testimonials

· Any other useful information that helps explain or support your proposal.

5.1: Specifications and cost of desired equipment. Submit a file with necessary information.

5.2: Supporting research or testimonials. Submit a file with supporting documentation.

5.3: Additional Project Information. Submit a file with any additional project information that may be useful.

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