Green Spot


Welcome to Community Beyond Backyards! APPLY HERE BY FEBRUARY 28 @ 11:59PM

Thank you for your interest in the Community Beyond Backyards Grant program - formerly known as the business rebate program. Created by Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, Sustainable Columbus, and Columbus Department of Public Utilities, we are working together to promote more conservation practices on lands owned by businesses. Businesses and organizations make a significant amount of land use and management decisions in Central Ohio. We want to demonstrate that urban conservation projects can be done by businesses and local organizations cost effectively while making a positive environmental impact. Why green infrastructure? Learn about the economic benefits here.

Businesses and non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate and apply for up to a $2,500 reimbursement grant through Community Backyards! The rebate is available to legitimate businesses or non-profit organizations. The organization or business must be a registered entity with the Ohio Secretary of State. Project location must be located within a participating community per the Franklin County Auditor. Special consideration will be given to projects benefitting underserved populations, and projects located within Columbus Opportunity ZonesCelebrateOne neighborhoods, and areas with less than 20% tree canopy cover. Funds are limited and issued on a reimbursement basis. 


Information Sessions


We held 2 hybrid information sessions on January 29 at 6pm and February 12 at 6pm combined with Franklin Soil and Water's other grant programs for 2025: Conservation Mini Grants, Columbus Tree Assistance Program, and Community Beyond Backyards Grants. Watch the recording, and review the slide deck

Who is eligible?

  • Project location must be within a participating community per the Franklin County Auditor. Special consideration will be given to projects with public access and/or visibility. Participating communities for 2025 include: 
    • Columbus (multiple spots are available)
    • Bexley (1 available)
    • Dublin (1 available)
    • Grove City (1 available)
    • Westerville (2 available)
    • Worthington (1 available)
    • Franklin County (only 1 is available for anywhere in Franklin County!)
  • Recipient must be a legitimate business or organization (i.e. a 501c) that is registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Individuals are not able to receive the grant funds under any circumstances. Fiscal sponsors are acceptable though. 
  • Project has NOT already received a grant from Franklin Soil and Water this year including Urban Agriculture Critical Infrastructure Grant, Mini Grant, or Tree Assistance Program Grant. Additionally, extra consideration will be given to organizations or projects that have not received a grant in recent years from Franklin Soil and Water. 

Eligible Projects 

  • Rainwater collection systems (cisterns, rain barrels, and more)
  • Native plantings (tree planting, pollinator garden, etc.)
  • Rain gardens/bioswales
  • Permeable pavement (only when replacing existing impervious surfaces) 
  • Other green infrastructure or stormwater retrofits or improvements
Projects are NOT limited to one category. Meaning, you could do a rain barrel and a rain garden with one grant project! Up to $2,500 per project. 


What is eligible for reimbursement? 

  • Native perennial plants, shrubs, and trees (live, bareroot or seeds)
  • Mulch, compost, soil amendments
  • Rain barrel or cistern and diverter systems
  • Landscaping supplies (fabric, staples, edging, stones) 
  • Drainage hardware 
  • Permeable pavers
  • Educational signage (cost must be 20% or less of the total grant) 
  • Contractor, design, or consulting fees (cost must be 20% or less of the total grant)

What is NOT eligible for reimbursement?

  • Invasive species, non-native plants, annuals, herbs, or vegetable plants
  • Sales tax
  • Administrative or salary costs 
  • Gifts or food 
  • Educational signage totaling more than 20% of the total grant
  • Contractor, design, or consulting fees more than 20% of the total grant 
  • Anything else deemed inappropriate by Franklin Soil and Water staff 


Interested? How It Works

  1. Submit a brief application detailing what the general project idea is and how it would benefit the community with an estimated budget. Applications will be accepted February 1 - February 28, 2025. Apply here.
  2. Awards will be selected and notified by March 15, 2025. Franklin Soil and Water staff will set up a site visit and walk the location with you and provide technical assistance and recommendations. An award agreement will be signed. Then, your project may proceed. 
  3. Project and documentation must be completed by December 1, 2025. A final site visit, all receipts, itemized budget, and a short 1-2 page final report must be submitted to Franklin Soil and Water by December 1, 2025. 
If not all spots are filled during the initial application pool, we will leave the application open on a rolling basis, first-come, first-served. 




Ranking and Scoring Criteria

  • Environmental Impact: Water quality and environmental improvement via green infrastructure. 
  • Connection to SWCD Mission: Demonstrates clear promotion of responsible land use decisions for the conservation, protection, and improvement of soil and water resources. 
  • Visibility: Potential number of people reached or impacted by the project and future educational opportunities. 
  • Cost Efficiency: The impact of the project relative to the funds requested. 
  • Underserved Community: Whether the project will be located in a historically underserved community. 
Each project application will be evaluated by the FSWCD Outreach and Conservation Implementation Teams and municipal stormwater staff. Each project will be individually scored on how well it meets the above criteria. The score for each project will then be totaled, with the underserved community criteria being weighted 20% more than the other criteria. The FSWCD team will then choose the awardees based on these scores and discretion. 


Important Things to Know


Funds are limited and subject to availability. There are two options for funding dispersement - direct invoicing through FSWCD preferred vendors, or traditional reimbursement. 
 
If your project receives another grant from Franklin Soil and Water (Conservation Mini Grant, Urban Ag Critical Infrastructure Grant, or the Columbus Tree Assistance Program Grant), your project will NOT be eligible for consideration for a business rebate within the same calendar year. For more information about Franklin Soil and Water's other grants, click here. However, you can apply for multiple grants for different projects. 

All businesses who participate will be signed up as a City of Columbus GreenSpot member. By implementing a conservation project, you're already working to go green! Plus, the business rebate pilot program would not be possible without the help and funding from City of Columbus. Visit GreenSpot to learn more about sustainability and how you can be more green. P.S., they recognize and give out awards to businesses and organizations who do exceptional work in sustainability! Win, win. 

Questions? Please contact the Franklin Soil & Water team at communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org or call the office at 614-486-9613. Our office is open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. 

Related Documents

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Economical Benefits of Green Infrastructure
Fact sheet from Earth Economics on green infrastructure and the economical benefits.

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Community Beyond Backyards Grant Flyer 2025
This is an 8.5x11 flyer about the Community Beyond Backyards Grants for 2025. Feel free to share!