Federal Funding Fridays

9/13/24 – More on CPRG and more grants for trees!

By •

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • The MCC released this piece on CPRG and federal funding for small and under resourced communities, “Charting, Navigating, and Building Funding Pathways for Midwest Communities” – please read and share. This is our pitch to create a funding map for the Midwest to invite the private sector to support projects not selected by EPA or others.

GRANTS & FUNDING SOURCES

AWARDED

  • Next round of CPRG announced: $300 million for Tribes and a territory
    • The Decarbonize Lac Vieux Desert project will support the coalition led by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in partnership with the Midwest Tribal Energy Resource Association to implement energy efficiency assessments and upgrades, including weatherization and heat pumps for low-income Tribal housing units and community Tribal businesses. The proposed project will also install solar arrays on residential and commercial buildings to meet most of their energy needs with renewable energy.
  • HUD announced $69.1 million in new awards – These Leading Edge grants and loans will increase energy and water efficiency, reduce climate pollution, generate renewable energy, reduce housing operating costs, promote the use of green building materials, and improve the quality of life for residents by making their homes more resilient to climate hazards. 2 out of 10 in the Midwest:
    • Pontiac, MI: $10,000,000 to American Community Developers
    • Kansas city, MO: $3,600,000 in Surplus Cash Loan to POAH 
  • USDA grants to rural communities – ERA (empowering rural America) – $7.3 billion to rural co-ops to build clean energy
    • Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota
    • Buckeye Power, Inc., Ohio
    • Dairyland Power Cooperative, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota
    • Great River Energy, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin
    • Hoosier Energy, Indiana and Michigan
    • Minnkota Power Cooperative, North Dakota and Minnesota
    • Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Wyoming
    • Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Michigan
    • More information about these selections can be found here.

Open Grants

  • Zero-Energy Building Codes Technical Assistance
  • EECBG funds – deadline is Oct. 31
    • DOE team hosts regular Office Hours in which local governments can drop in and ask questions about their applications or the program overall. The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) also provides no-cost, 1:1 application assistance.   
    • DOE-hosted Application Assistance webinar on Wednesday, October 2 at 2:30pm ET. This webinar will occur before the upcoming local government deadline and cover: streamlined project examples, the grant vs. voucher application options (including their respective application processes), key reporting requirements, and available technical assistance. We will also include ample time for Q&A. Please do share this link to eligible entities to register!  
    • Many EECBG funds are being doled out by states, so check out their pages for more specific info about how your community can access these funds (please note that many of the application periods have already closed but you can often sign up to get on their list for future notices):
    • The EPA announced the availability of $232 million through its Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) program. Applications are due by November 14, 2024. Learn more here.
    • Rooting Resilience for Tribes and CBOs (Community-Based Organizations) – grant opportunity from River Network (pass through from USDA UCF)
      • Tribes apply here
      • CBOs apply here
      • Grants are for $75,000 – $200,000 over a 1 – 3 year period
      • Planning and implementation grants
      • Deadline is October 23, 2024
    • Weatherization Assistance Program Enhancement and Innovation
      • Faith in Place
      • Link for more info
      • This FOA provides an estimated $36 million in competitive funding for WAP Grantees and Subgrantees (state, local, or Tribal governments) and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, with a $2 million maximum per award.

Resources