The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the national nonprofit association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities, announced that applications are now open for its Damage Prevention Technology & Innovation Grant Program.
CGA's new grant initiative is designed to accelerate the adoption of technologies and processes that can meaningfully advance the prevention of damage to underground facilities.
The program is intended for innovative solutions with demonstrated damage prevention capability that are ready to be implemented, scaled or piloted in a fully operational, real-world environment. CGA will prioritize projects that advance one or more of three Next Practice areas: Mapping & Recordkeeping, Technology & Process Enhancements and Compliance Tracking & Data Gathering.
"The damage prevention industry must prioritize moving promising ideas into the field, measuring their impact and sharing what works," said CGA President and CEO Sarah K. Magruder Lyle. "With damages to buried utilities increasing, it is critical that we leverage and translate innovative technologies to create safe, resilient, connected communities. This grant program will help nonprofit CGA members test scalable solutions and deploy proven approaches across the industry."
Program details:
• Funding: CGA may award a total of up to $25,000 per year across one or more eligible recipients for one-year pilots. Funds may be used only for the approved pilot and not for commercial or profit-making purposes.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be CGA members in good standing, have qualifying 501(c) nonprofit status and appropriate state nonprofit or non-stock corporate status, and have a technology or process ready for a real-world pilot.
• Priority areas: Projects should advance mapping and recordkeeping; technology and process enhancements; or compliance tracking and data gathering.
• Evaluation: A CGA-appointed stakeholder panel will consider alignment, need, readiness, expected damage prevention impact, metrics, scalability, budget, innovation, risk mitigation and sustainability.
• Industry benefit: Recipients will share the funded solution and pilot results, participate in CGA outreach, contribute to a case study and support broader adoption. Ownership, licensing and royalty-free use requirements are detailed in the application materials.
Applications are available beginning Oct. 1, 2026 and are due by Nov. 30, 2026. Full program requirements and application materials are available at https://commongroundalliance.com/Tools-Resources/Damage-Prevention-Technology-Innovation-Grant-Program.
