CHICAGO (AP) — Grants totaling up to $4.5 million to improve Great Lakes water quality are available to cities on the lakes' shorelines.
<br /> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says Great Lakes shoreline cities with populations greater than 25,000 and less than 50,000 will be eligible to apply this year for the green infrastructure grants of up to $250,000. The EPA last year awarded Shoreline Cities Grants totaling just under $7 million to 16 cities with populations greater than 50,000.

EPA officials say the grants will be used for projects to reduce urban runoff and sewer overflows that foul beaches and impair water quality of the lakes. Cities can use the grants to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of projects such as rain gardens, greenways and constructed wetlands on public property.