FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Registration Is Open ↗

Belgard permeable pavers qualify projects for EPA grants

Words: David Benincasa/Public/News/20120111130500-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Belgard® Hardscapes' permeable pavers qualify projects for EPA grants totaling up to $3.8 million." />
Belgard® Hardscapes' permeable pavers qualify projects for EPA grants totaling up to $3.8 million.
Belgard® Hardscapes' permeable pavers may help qualify projects for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) new Urban Waters Small Grants program.

The Urban Waters Small Grants program will award between $1.8 million - $3.8 million in funding during 2012 for research, studies, training, and demonstration projects with the intent to improve water quality and revitalize communities. The deadline for grant applications is January 23.

"This grant offers a tremendous opportunity for those in the building and design community to create sustainable projects, something we strongly value at Belgard," said Chuck Taylor, commercial & permeable pavers expert for Belgard Hardscapes, whose sustainability education and support tools include an online technical resource center www.belgarddesignpro.com as well as regular webinars such as the December 16th "Sustainable Sites & Permeable Paving Systems."

"We are always working to help builders and landscape architects find solutions that incorporate sustainability into their projects, and we're excited that our permeable pavers qualify for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) new Urban Waters Small Grants program," Taylor said.

The goal of the new EPA grant program is to improve water quality, which also helps support community revitalization and other local priorities such as public health, social and economic opportunities, general livability and environmental justice for residents.

As more land is developed, the natural water filtration provided by the soil is continually being diminished. In turn, stormwater runoff - mixed with motor oil, fertilizers, and other contaminants - can pollute lakes, rivers, coastlines, and groundwater. As part of a bio-aquifer stormwater system, Belgard environmental permeable pavers can virtually eliminate runoff, potentially removing the need for retention ponds or underground sewer pipes.

Belgard permeable paver benefits:
  • Reduces pollution from rainwater runoff
  • Reduces runoff from the common rainstorm by as much as 100%
  • 50 year life-cycle for surface
  • Outperforms similar systems in harsh climates or freeze thaw cycles
  • Replaces detention/retention ponds
The deadline for submitting proposals to EPA is January 23, 2012. For more informationon the EPA Urban Waters Small Grant, visit www.epa.gov/urbanwaters.
 0
From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Matt Dibara
Business Management
Read More
Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Read More
Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More