North Star Group, Inc.

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Montgomery Rain Garden Network:

Evidence-Based USDA RFSP Grant

Application

Problem Documentation (Montgomery, Alabama)

Flood Challenges (Veriﬁed Sources)

● Montgomery averages 51.8 inches of annual rainfall, projected to increase to 54.3

inches by 2050 (Climate Check)

● 42% of precipitation falls during major downpours (2+ day rainfall totals over 1.2 inches),

increasing to 45% by 2050

● 23% of buildings in Montgomery are at risk of ﬂooding with high risk levels (Climate

Check)

● Historic ﬂooding patterns: Major ﬂoods on Alabama River in 1929, 1979, 1990, and 1994

caused millions in damage

● Recent issues: 2024 reports of chronic ﬂooding from clogged storm drains in residential

areas (WSFA News)

● Catoma Creek ﬂooding: Major tributary causes "widespread street, residential and

commercial ﬂooding" in Montgomery's southern suburbs

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

● Climate projections: Increasing frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events

due to climate change

Food Insecurity Crisis (Veriﬁed Sources)

● Central Alabama (including Montgomery): 1 in 4 children and 1 in 5 adults face food

insecurity (Community Food Bank of Central Alabama)

● 229,000 adults and 66,000 children in central Alabama live in food insecure households

● 35,000 children fall within the "meal gap" - don't qualify for federal aid but still face food

insecurity

● Heart of Alabama Food Bank serves 12 counties including Montgomery through 200+

partner agencies

● Rising food insecurity among seniors: "Startling rise" documented with increased need

for assistance

● Montgomery Area Food Bank programs: Active programs for child nutrition, senior

supplements, and mobile pantries

Infrastructure Costs (Veriﬁed Sources)

Traditional Stormwater Solutions

● National context: EPA estimates $67.2 billion needed for stormwater infrastructure over

20 years

● Annual funding gap: $8 billion just for municipalities with permits

● Urban ﬂooding damages: $9 billion annually nationwide (ASCE Infrastructure Report

Card)

● Stormwater challenges: Managing runoﬀ from increased impervious surfaces in growing

urban areas

Rain Garden Alternative Cost-Eﬀectiveness

● Green infrastructure beneﬁts: Cost-eﬀective solutions reduce runoﬀ while improving

water quality

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

● Property value impacts: Neighborhoods near green stormwater infrastructure show

increased home values

● Multiple beneﬁts: Flood control, water quality improvement, habitat creation, air quality

enhancement

● Treatment trains: Multiple green infrastructure elements working together increase

eﬀectiveness

Regional Food System Integration

Addressing Dual Crisis: Flooding and Food Insecurity

Montgomery's rain garden network directly addresses both documented problems:

● Stormwater management in ﬂood-prone neighborhoods, particularly areas near Catoma

Creek

● Food production in areas with limited grocery access (food desert criteria)

● Cost savings for families facing both housing vulnerability from ﬂooding and food

insecurity

● Community resilience through local food production and improved stormwater

management

Montgomery-Speciﬁc Integration Opportunities

● Heart of Alabama Food Bank partnerships: Network already serves Montgomery with

established distribution system

● University connections: Alabama State University and Auburn Montgomery as

research/education partners

● Historic neighborhoods: Many areas with existing infrastructure that can be enhanced

with rain gardens

● Alabama River corridor: Opportunities for watershed-level impact through strategic rain

garden placement

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

Competitive Grant Application Elements

1. Partnership Structure (Based on Research)

Lead Applicant: Montgomery Community Development Corporation or similar eligible entity

Required Partners:

● City of Montgomery (Local Government - eligible partner)

○ Has Engineering & Environmental Services dept. managing ﬂood mitigation

○ Participates in National Flood Insurance Program since 1982

○ Can provide regulatory support and streamlined permitting

● Montgomery County (State/Regional Authority - eligible partner)

○ Watershed management coordination

○ Regional stormwater planning support

○ Infrastructure connections beyond city limits

● Alabama State University (Institution of Higher Education - eligible partner)

○ Environmental research capabilities

○ Student involvement in monitoring and education

○ Technical expertise and validation

● Heart of Alabama Food Bank (Nonproﬁt Corporation - eligible entity)

○ Established food distribution network in Montgomery region

○ 200+ partner agencies for community outreach

○ Experience with mobile pantry programs

● Auburn Montgomery (Institution of Higher Education - eligible partner)

○ Technical support and research partnerships

○ Student education and workforce development

○ Community engagement resources

2. Technical Documentation

Engineering Speciﬁcations:

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

● 51.8 inches annual rainfall with projected increase to 54.3 inches

● Focus on areas with chronic ﬂooding (southern suburbs near Catoma Creek)

● Integration with existing storm drain infrastructure

● Overﬂow management to Alabama River system

Validated Approach:

● Site-speciﬁc designs based on Montgomery soil types and topography

● Calculations for 100-year ﬂood events and increased precipitation

● Integration with existing infrastructure to enhance rather than replace

● Economic analysis comparing green vs. gray infrastructure options

3. Regional Scalability

Phase 1: Pilot Demonstration Sites (8-10 strategic locations)

● Southern suburbs chronically aﬀected by Catoma Creek ﬂooding

● Historic neighborhoods with existing infrastructure enhancement opportunities

● Food desert areas identiﬁed through USDA Food Access Research Atlas

● Low-income housing developments vulnerable to both ﬂooding and food insecurity

Phase 2: Neighborhood Network Integration

● Connect individual rain gardens into treatment trains

● Link with community gardens and food distribution points

● Establish maintenance protocols through community partnerships

● Document replicable design standards for other Alabama cities

Phase 3: Regional Model Development

● Watershed-level impact demonstration

● Technical assistance toolkit for other communities

● Policy recommendations for municipal adoption

● Regional food system enhancement

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

4. Economic Justiﬁcation

Cost Avoidance:

● Traditional stormwater upgrades require millions in infrastructure investment

● Rain gardens: $15,000-50,000 per installation vs. major pipe/drainage projects

● 60-80% cost reduction compared to traditional infrastructure solutions

Food Security Beneﬁts:

● Local food production reduces grocery transportation costs

● Community gardens bridge the "meal gap" for families not qualifying for federal aid

● Reduced healthcare costs from improved nutrition and reduced ﬂood damage stress

● Job creation in garden maintenance and food distribution

Community Beneﬁts:

● Enhanced property values in served neighborhoods

● Reduced ﬂood insurance costs for residents

● Improved community health from better food access and reduced ﬂooding stress

● Educational opportunities through university partnerships

5. Compliance with RFSP Criteria

Addresses RFSP Priorities:

● ✓ Uses signiﬁcant non-Federal resources (City/County infrastructure commitments)

● ✓ Covers distressed low-income communities (ﬂood-prone areas with food insecurity)

● ✓ Serves food insecure populations (1 in 4 children, 1 in 5 adults in central Alabama)

● ✓ Involves multiple entities (municipal, academic, nonproﬁt food system partners)

● ✓ Addresses regional food system gaps (35,000 children in meal gap need community

solutions)

Project Type: Implementation & Expansion

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

● Builds on existing stormwater management knowledge and food assistance programs

● Expands proven rain garden concepts to address dual challenges

● Creates replicable model for other Alabama River corridor cities

● Integrates with established community food networks

Montgomery-Speciﬁc Technical Approach

Site Selection Criteria

1. Flood vulnerability: Areas with documented ﬂooding from Catoma Creek or other

sources

2. Food access gaps: Locations >1 mile from grocery stores (USDA food desert deﬁnition)

3. Community need intersection: Neighborhoods facing both ﬂooding and food insecurity

4. Infrastructure compatibility: Sites where rain gardens can enhance existing drainage

5. Community ownership: Areas with strong neighborhood organizations for maintenance

Design Adaptations for Montgomery

● Clay soils consideration: Modiﬁed designs for typical Montgomery soil conditions

● Alabama River watershed integration: Overﬂow connections to natural waterways

● Heat resilience: Plant selections adapted to extreme heat (53 days >97°F projected by

2050)

● Historic district compatibility: Designs respecting Montgomery's historic neighborhoods

● University integration: Student research plots within community rain gardens

References and Supporting Documentation

Montgomery-Speciﬁc Sources

1. Montgomery City Engineering & Environmental Services ﬂood studies

2. Climate Check Montgomery climate risk assessment

3. WSFA News reports on Montgomery neighborhood ﬂooding issues

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

4. Montgomery County ﬂood studies and stormwater management plans

Alabama Food Insecurity Sources

1. Heart of Alabama Food Bank service area reports

2. Community Food Bank of Central Alabama hunger studies

3. Feeding Alabama state-wide food insecurity statistics

4. USDA Food Access Research Atlas for Montgomery County

Technical Sources

1. EPA Stormwater Program guidance and cost estimates

2. ASCE Infrastructure Report Card stormwater section

3. National Governors Association stormwater funding analysis

4. Green Values Stormwater Calculator for cost-beneﬁt analysis

Climate and Precipitation Sources

1. Climate Check future precipitation projections for Montgomery

2. National Weather Service historic ﬂood records

3. USGS Alabama River ﬂow monitoring data

4. Climate change adaptation strategies for southeast cities

Grant Application Strategy

1. Lead with Local Evidence

● Document Montgomery's speciﬁc 51.8 inches annual rainfall and projected increases

● Reference recent 2024 ﬂooding reports from local news sources

● Connect to Catoma Creek's documented impact on southern suburbs

● Show food insecurity aﬀecting 1 in 4 children in central Alabama

2. Present Integrated Solution

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

● Demonstrate how rain gardens address both ﬂooding and food insecurity simultaneously

● Use Montgomery's existing food bank network as implementation partner

● Show connections to university research for validation and education

● Present cost comparison with traditional drainage infrastructure

3. Leverage Existing Assets

● Partner with established Heart of Alabama Food Bank network

● Connect with city's ﬂood mitigation program already managing Alabama River issues

● Engage universities for technical expertise and community outreach

● Build on existing neighborhood organizations for maintenance

4. Emphasize Regional Impact

● Position as model for other Alabama River corridor cities

● Create replicable design toolkit for southern climate conditions

● Address both urban ﬂooding and rural food access through connected systems

● Demonstrate watershed-level beneﬁts beyond immediate project area

5. Quantify Multiple Beneﬁts

● Document stormwater management capacity with speciﬁc volume calculations

● Estimate food production potential based on successful rain garden programs

● Show property value impacts and insurance cost reductions

● Include job creation through garden maintenance and food system work

Implementation Timeline

Year 1: Foundation and Pilot

● Site selection and community engagement in 3-5 demonstration areas

● Design and permitting for initial installations

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

● Partnership development with food bank and university researchers

● Baseline monitoring system establishment

Year 2: Network Development

● Installation of 8-10 rain gardens across identiﬁed sites

● Community training programs for maintenance and food production

● Integration with existing food distribution networks

● Data collection and performance monitoring

Year 3: Evaluation and Replication

● Comprehensive evaluation of ﬂood mitigation and food production outcomes

● Development of replication toolkit for other communities

● Regional workshop series for Alabama municipalities

● Policy recommendations for state and local adoption

Competitive Advantages

1. Local Relevance: Speciﬁc data on Montgomery's ﬂooding patterns and food insecurity

2. Dual Impact: Addresses two major community challenges with single solution

3. Strong Partnerships: Established food bank network and active universities

4. Replicability: Model applicable to other Alabama River corridor cities

5. Innovation: First comprehensive rain garden network addressing food security in

Southeast

6. Technical Merit: University partnerships provide rigorous monitoring and evaluation

7. Community Support: Building on existing neighborhood organizations and food

assistance programs

This application demonstrates how Montgomery can lead Alabama in innovative stormwater

management while simultaneously addressing food insecurity through a strategic rain garden

network that leverages existing community assets and creates lasting regional impact.

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com

Combined Life Settlement Notes - no external credit warrantor

________________________________________________

19901 Quail Circle

Fairhope AL 36532

701-770-9118

michaelh@nsgia.com