Small Project Assistance Funds

The MARC Solid Waste Management District offers funding assistance of up to $3,500 for waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting projects. Projects must be located within Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri.

District staff review all project applications and present applications to the MARC SWMD board for final approval during the next regularly scheduled board meeting. There is no specific application deadline; the program closes each year when all available funds have been awarded.

Once a project is approved, district staff will meet with the applicant to review the contract and discuss reporting and reimbursement procedures. Grantees will be given six months to complete the submitted project. Funds are released on a reimbursement basis.

Potential projects ideas include:

• Recycling/compost containers (no trash containers).
• Education (e.g., signage, printed materials, website development). 
• Costs associated with a holding a “green” event. (No food or giveaways.)
• Neighborhood lending library.
• Repair event(s).
• Illegal dumping deterrents such as improving vacant lots using project ideas presented above.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and other project ideas will be considered for funding.
 
Costs must relate directly to waste diversion or illegal dumping.

Ineligible costs include (but are not limited to):

• Salaries.
• Trash management or ongoing expenses related to litter collection.
• Deskside recycling containers.
• Partial funding toward a larger project.
• Projects outside Missouri.
• Sales tax

The following criteria will be considered when evaluating project proposals:

• Proposed project addresses waste reduction, reuse, recycling or illegal dumping. 
• Education is used to promote the project and/or increase participation in waste reduction, reuse and recycling practices.
• Level of collaboration with other organizations and partners.
• Likelihood of the project being implemented in a timely manner (project period is six months.)

If you have already received funds through this program, please consider applying through our annual grant program so that others may benefit from these funds.