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Northwest Arkansas Pays Up to 50% for a Rain Garden or Green Infrastructure Project

by Stephen
A Northwest Arkansas front yard rain garden freshly planted with native grasses and perennials in a shallow basin, Ozark foothills homes in the background.

The short version

  • The Illinois River Watershed Partnership funds up to 50 percent of project cost, with no published dollar cap, for rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable surfaces (irwp.org).
  • The program serves Northwest Arkansas properties in the Illinois River watershed, including Rogers, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, Bentonville, and Springdale.
  • The remaining project cost is covered by matching funds: in-kind labor, equipment, cash, or another grant.
  • This is Arkansas's first entry in Pollinator Patch's rebate directory.

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership funds up to 50 percent of project cost, with no published dollar cap, for a rain garden, bioswale, or permeable surface on a residential property in Northwest Arkansas.

Key takeaways

  • The IRWP Green Infrastructure Program funds up to 50 percent of project cost, no published dollar cap, for residential stormwater practices (irwp.org).
  • Eligible practices are rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable surfaces that reduce runoff.
  • The program serves the Illinois River watershed, including Rogers, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, Bentonville, and Springdale.
  • The remaining project cost is covered by matching funds: in-kind labor, equipment, cash, or another grant.

How the IRWP rebate works

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership, a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit, runs a Green Infrastructure Program that funds up to 50 percent of project costs for homeowners installing a rain garden, bioswale, or permeable surface. The program does not publish a fixed dollar cap. Instead of a straight cash rebate, the remaining cost is covered by matching funds: in-kind labor, equipment, cash, or funding from another grant.

Who this program is for

The program prioritizes properties in the Illinois River watershed, which runs through several Northwest Arkansas cities: Rogers, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, Bentonville, and Springdale. It is a regional, watershed-based program rather than a statewide one, so eligibility depends on whether a property drains into the watershed, not just its city limits.

See the Arkansas rebates page for the current application link and program details.