Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program administered by the Mississippi Development Authority through its Energy and Natural Resources Division is a state-managed initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The program is designed to support local governments in reducing energy consumption and lowering long-term operating and maintenance costs in public facilities. By distributing federal funds through a competitive sub-award process, the Mississippi Development Authority seeks to promote sustainable infrastructure improvements and energy efficiency practices across eligible jurisdictions within the state. This funding opportunity specifically targets Mississippi cities, counties, and non-entitlement units that were not eligible to receive direct formula funding under the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant allocation. The program emphasizes equitable access to funding by prioritizing jurisdictions that may not have otherwise received federal support. Eligible applicants must demonstrate their capacity to implement energy-saving projects in public facilities and comply with the administrative and financial requirements outlined in the forthcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement and Request for Application materials. The scope of funding includes a wide range of retrofit and system upgrade activities aimed at improving energy efficiency. Eligible project categories include lighting and daylighting improvements such as LED upgrades, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system replacements or enhancements, building envelope improvements like insulation and weather sealing, energy-efficient water heating systems, industrial system upgrades for equipment such as boilers and chillers, and implementation of energy management systems including programmable controls. New construction projects are explicitly excluded, reinforcing the program’s focus on improving existing infrastructure. Award amounts for this program range from a minimum of 30000 dollars to a maximum of 125000 dollars per project. The total program funding allocated to Mississippi is 2000650 dollars. Funds will be distributed competitively, and applicants must provide documentation to support their proposals, including an ASHRAE Level I or II energy audit, utility bills, audited financial statements or equivalent reports, organizational policies and procedures, and detailed project site information. These requirements indicate a rigorous application process intended to ensure project feasibility and measurable energy savings. The application process will be conducted through an official online portal hosted by the Mississippi Development Authority. Applicants must submit all required materials during the Request for Application period, which is expected to open on July 13, 2026 and close on August 14, 2026 at 5 PM Central Time. Additional pre-application activities include an informational webinar scheduled for June 2, 2026 and a question submission deadline of June 12, 2026, with responses to be posted by July 3, 2026. All submissions must be completed through the designated portal, and incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Following the submission deadline, applications will undergo an evaluation process that includes review by the Mississippi Development Authority and approval by the U.S. Department of Energy. This review period is expected to occur from mid-August through early September 2026, after which award notifications and contracting processes will take place in Fall 2026. The program timeline is provisional and subject to change based on administrative considerations and federal review timelines. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact the program team via the official email address provided by the Mississippi Development Authority.