Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)
The Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) is an urban cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs). The program is managed through participating regional Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). Northern Virginia’s SWCD is linked here - we can also install projects located within Loudon SWCD and Prince William SWCD.
Reach out to us to get started - you’ll need to submit a plant list and a design as part of your application for funding, and we can help you navigate the process at each step.
Project Specs and Funding for Residential properties:
Conservation landscaping: 80% reimbursement, up to $7,000 maximum
Rain gardens: 80% reimbursement, up to $7,000 maximum
Bioretention: 80% reimbursement, up to $30,000 maximum
Stormwater Conveyances: 80% reimbursement, up to $20,000 maximum
Rainwater harvesting: $4/gallon, up to $20,000 maximum
Permeable pavement*: $14/sq ft, up to $20,000 maximum
*To be eligible for funds, these projects must replace an existing impervious surface
How Love & Carrots can help:
To begin, set up an on-site initial consultation with one of our amazing landscape designers. Our consultation fee is $250 within the 495 beltway.
At the Consultation we conduct a thorough site assessment of what practices you may qualify for, and can discuss and advise on any other landscaping or gardening projects you are interested in.
The next step is typically to create a landscape design for your approval and then submit it as part of your VCAP application. Design costs, including the consultation fee, are reimbursable through the grant program at the same rate as materials and installation labor. Half of your design fee can be applied towards the cost of your installation. Landscape designs start at $450 ($225 with a 50% refund), and can be expanded from there to incorporate other landscaping and hardscaping projects you’d like to pursue, either now or in the future.
We can provide as much or as little assistance with navigating the VCAP application process as you need, billed at our standard design rate.
