Friends of the Verde River Expands River Friendly Living Grants with Support from Salt River Project

Friends of the Verde River announced today the expansion of its River Friendly Living grants for Fall 2024, thanks to a generous investment from Salt River Project (SRP). This year, the program will offer up to $52,000 in small grants to support homeowners, businesses and organizations in the Verde Valley and Phoenix Metro area (located in the SRP power and/or water service territory) dedicated to protecting the Verde River system.

The River Friendly Living grant program provides financial support to those voluntarily working to safeguard the Verde River. Projects funded by the program in 2023 are estimated to save roughly 79 million gallons this year. With the new funding from SRP, the program is poised to make an even greater impact in the Verde Watershed and SRP service areas.

Homeowners are eligible to apply for grants up to $1,000; businesses and organizations are eligible for up to $5,000. SRP’s contribution is focused specifically on supporting water efficiency projects as part of their goal to conserve 5 billion gallons of water through partnership by 2035. Priority projects for SRP funding include irrigation efficiency, lawn removal, and commercial water conservation upgrades; however, other diverse water stewardship projects are eligible for the River Friendly Living Grants Program.

For more details on eligibility and to apply, please visit VerdeRiver.org/grants. Applications close on October 31.

“By expanding the River Friendly Living grants, we are empowering our community to take direct action in protecting our water resources,” said David Gressly, Executive Director for Friends of the Verde River. “This program, now bolstered by SRP’s support, offers a unique opportunity for homeowners, businesses, and organizations to protect the river system.”

“SRP is proud to partner with Friends of the Verde River to encourage residents and business owners to protect this precious resource by using water efficiently,” said Elvy Barton, SRP Senior Manager of Water and Forest Sustainability.  “We know that every drop of water conserved in the Phoenix metro area and Verde Valley results in less impact on the watershed, including the Verde River system.”