Research and Development Grant Program

Pursuant to its power to engage in research and development with respect to wastewater, water management facilities, solid waste facilities, and energy resource development facilities, OWDA has established a grant program for qualifying research and development programs. The eligible participants are Local Government Agencies (Cities, Villages, and Counties), Water/Sewer Districts, Conservancy Districts, State agencies, or Institutions of higher learning that perform research and/or development.

Projects for which grants are awarded must be of such a nature that the benefits to be derived fulfill a general need in the State of Ohio that is within the scope of the powers of the Authority. Grants are subject to available funds. Priority will be given to projects that have statewide environmental and/or natural resource applications, and grantees must submit a final report. For more details, see the Research and Development Program Guidelines.

Applicants are encouraged to review the sample Participation Agreement linked HERE, and should be comfortable with the terms and language prior to submitting an R&D application.

Since the development of the Research and Development Grant Program, OWDA has awarded grants in the areas of surface water, wastewater, drinking water, solid waste, agriculture, and public health.

OWDA’s new interactive Research and Development Project map is a tool that allows users to explore our grants geographically.  With over 125 projects, the map provides a visual representation of the Authority’s investment in water, wastewater, solid waste, and energy resource development research across the State of Ohio and highlights key project details.