Grants for County governments - Environment

This funding opportunity provides financial support to communities for assessing and planning the redevelopment of contaminated properties, particularly in underserved areas, to promote environmental health and economic revitalization.

The Community Wildfire Risk Reduction for the Built Environment grant, offered by the Oregon State Fire Marshal, aims to enhance wildfire defensible space across Oregon. This initiative is designed to fund wildfire mitigation projects undertaken by structural fire protection agencies, counties, and cities. The overarching goal is to increase the safety and resilience of communities against wildfire threats within the built environment. The grant prioritizes projects that focus on two main categories: Defensible Space Projects and Community Protection Projects. Defensible Space Projects target wildfire mitigation and protection within 100 feet of buildings, allocating approximately 70% of available funds. Examples include incentive programs for private landowners, direct contracts for fire-resistant landscaping around various buildings, and community cleanup or chipper programs. Community Protection Projects extend beyond the immediate vicinity of critical infrastructure to create community-wide fire breaks and other mitigation efforts, such as fuel mitigation on municipal or county properties and the creation of greenways. The target beneficiaries of this grant are structural fire protection agencies, counties, and cities within Oregon, which will then implement projects benefiting private landowners, residents, and the broader community by increasing their protection from wildfires. The grant seeks to achieve measurable outcomes, including a reduction in wildfire risk, an increase in defensible space around buildings, and the establishment of community-wide fire breaks. Projects are expected to directly contribute to enhanced wildfire safety and community resilience. Eligible costs include plant and tree fuel reduction, equipment like chippers, and contractors or non-profit organizations for wildfire fuel reduction and defensible space work. Education, communication, and outreach directly supporting the projects are also allowable, along with a limited allocation for project coordination and indirect costs. The Oregon State Fire Marshal's grant program will prioritize applications based on fire-risk, social vulnerability index, and the clarity of the proposed project, ensuring that funding is directed to areas where it can have the most significant impact.

The CHEJ Small Grants Program for Tier 1 focuses on empowering small grassroots organizations and all-volunteer groups with annual budgets up to $50,000. These grants, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, support local initiatives aimed at addressing environmental health harms caused by toxic substances in communities. The funding is particularly targeted at enhancing community leadership, building organizational capacity, and providing education and training related to environmental justice. This grant is ideal for grassroots groups that are deeply rooted in low-wealth and communities of color, driving change from within.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is offering grants to promote urban forestry activities in disadvantaged communities within the District of Columbia. This program aligns with the broader mission of enhancing urban environments and improving community well-being through nature-based solutions. The grants are designed to support a wide range of activities authorized by the USFS Urban and Community Forestry Program, ensuring a comprehensive approach to urban forest development and stewardship. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are disadvantaged communities within the District of Columbia. The program specifically targets areas that have been historically overburdened and under-resourced, aiming to address environmental inequities. The impact goals include promoting urban wood utilization, establishing urban food forests, mitigating extreme heat, fostering urban forest stewardship, improving access to green spaces, and developing a skilled workforce in urban forestry. Additionally, the program seeks to deliver nature-based interventions such as forest therapy, urban forest interpretation, and environmental education to these communities. The priorities and focuses of this grant include supporting activities that promote urban forestry through various means. This encompasses physical interventions like creating urban food forests and mitigating heat, as well as educational and engagement initiatives such as environmental education and forest therapy. The program emphasizes workforce development within urban forestry, aiming to build local capacity and create economic opportunities in disadvantaged areas. Eligible applicants include local government, non-governmental, and community-based organizations, highlighting a collaborative approach to achieving the program's objectives. Expected outcomes of this grant program include a noticeable increase in urban forestry activities and green infrastructure within disadvantaged communities. Measurable results will include the number of urban wood utilization projects, the establishment of new urban food forests, the extent of extreme heat mitigation achieved, the level of community engagement in urban forest stewardship, and the number of individuals trained through workforce development programs. Ultimately, the program aims to improve environmental quality, enhance community health and well-being, and foster a greater connection to nature in areas that need it most.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects aimed at advancing electric vehicle technology and battery development, particularly for teams that include diverse stakeholders and focus on safety, cost reduction, and environmental justice.

This grant provides funding to support projects that improve mental health services and treatment for individuals with serious mental illness in Montana, focusing on prevention, crisis intervention, and transitional support.

This program provides financial assistance to municipalities and municipal authorities in Pennsylvania for improving public water supply and sanitary sewer systems through various infrastructure projects.

The 2024 Sustainable Communities Grant Program, a collaborative effort between Delmarva Power and the Delaware Nature Society (DelNature), aims to distribute $35,000 to support open space and resiliency projects within Delmarva Power's service area in Delaware and Maryland. This program continues Delmarva Power's commitment to sustainability, having already provided over $235,000 in grants for similar projects since 2020. The initiative aligns with both organizations' missions to foster environmental well-being and community strength. The program targets municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofits operating within the Delmarva Power service area. The grants, each up to $10,000, are designed to fund projects demonstrating significant impact across several key areas. The overarching impact goals are to strengthen natural systems and provide reliable community resources in emergencies, thereby addressing the realities of climate change and increasing extreme weather events. The grant program prioritizes projects focusing on Open Space Preservation, Conservation & Habitat Improvements, Environmental Conservation, and Community Resiliency. Community Resiliency is a broad focus, encompassing community engagement and education regarding resiliency, the purchase of energy storage solutions, and solar installations, including mobile solar units. This holistic approach ensures that projects can address various facets of environmental and community preparedness. Expected outcomes include enhanced natural systems, increased community preparedness for severe weather, and innovative solutions for emergency resource provision. The program encourages initiatives that not only mitigate the effects of climate change but also build resilience within communities. By funding projects that strengthen natural systems and offer reliable resources during emergencies, the program aims to achieve measurable improvements in local sustainability and safety.

This program provides funding for innovative partnerships that help reduce poverty through economic growth in developing countries, focusing on initiatives like infrastructure resilience and women's entrepreneurship.

This grant provides funding to educational institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies for projects that enhance agriculture and food systems in Hawaiʻi Island communities, focusing on sustainability and local food access.

This program provides financial assistance to nonprofits, local governments, and public-private partnerships in North Carolina for environmental assessments and redevelopment planning of properties impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is offering a $10 million grant to tribal nations and local governmental units in Minnesota for projects aimed at preparing local wastewater infrastructure for climate change impacts, with a focus on protecting water quality, increasing resilience, and promoting energy and water efficiency.

The California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) leads California's efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The principal goal of the Conservancy's Science and Lake Improvement Account program (SB 630, 2013) is to support near-shore environmental improvement program activities and projects, particularly projects that manage aquatic invasive species or improve public access to sovereign land in Lake Tahoe.More specifically, such projects manage aquatic invasive species, or improve public access to sovereign land in Lake Tahoe, including planning and site improvement or reconstruction projects on public land, and land acquisitions from willing sellers. SB 630 (2013) allocates the Conservancy approximately $350,000 annually. Please contact staff at robert.larsen@resources.ca.gov and 916.402.7508 for more information.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, veteran service organizations, and county directors of veteran affairs in Pennsylvania to enhance programs and services for veterans, focusing on outreach, health, transportation, and employment initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments and political subdivisions to improve and enhance recycling and waste management infrastructure.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities and counties for energy audits and upgrades to improve energy efficiency in government buildings.

Applications may be considered under one or both of the following project priorities. Project Type - Transition from Provisional License to Annual License: To transition to an annual license, provisional licensees must meet all regulatory requirements in Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations, sections 8102, 8105, and 8106. Eligible activities under this project type include, but are not limited to: cleanup, remediation, and restoration, professional services, consulting, and infrastructure related to cleanup, remediation, and restoration. Eligible costs include but are not limited to: compliance costs (except the ineligible costs described above); meeting the avoidance, minimization, or mitigation requirements approved in the project’s CEQA document; or county permitting requirements. If the applicant is representing a provisional license cultivator, actions outlined must lead to the issuance of an annual license or lead to on-the-ground implementation that will result in the issuance of an annual license from the licensing authority. Project Type - Sustainable Cannabis Cultivation Practices: Sustainable cannabis cultivation practices should alleviate direct and indirect environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation and enhance environmental stewardship. Activities that may be eligible include but are not limited to: sustainable water consumption, sustainable waste management, integrated pest and disease management, erosion control, and/or riparian protection. Qualified Cultivator - The following qualified cultivator may be represented by an eligible applicant. The qualified cultivator being represented by the eligible applicant must at a minimum have a valid and active provisional license or annual license issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA; now the Department of Cannabis Control). Bus. & Prof. Code, § 26050.2 et seq.). Priority will be given to qualified cultivators with ownership and/or financial interest in no more than 10,000 square feet of total canopy. However, cultivators with ownership and/or financial interest accumulating between 10,000-20,000 square feet of total canopy may still qualify. All proposed projects must benefit qualified cultivators as defined below. Qualified cultivation license types are: Specialty cottage:-“Specialty Cottage Outdoor” is an outdoor cultivation site with up to 25 mature plants.-“Specialty Cottage Mixed-Light Tier 1” only, is a mixed-light cultivation site with 2,500 square feet or less of total canopy Specialty:-“Specialty Outdoor” is an outdoor cultivation site with less than or equal to 5,000 square feet of total canopy, or up to 50 mature plants.-“Specialty Mixed-Light Tier 1” only, is a mixed-light cultivation site between 2,501 and 5,000 square feet of total canopy. Small:- “Small Outdoor” is an outdoor cultivation site between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet of total canopy.- “Small Mixed-Light Tier 1” only, is a mixed-light cultivation site between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet of total canopy. “Mixed-light Tier 1” is without the use of artificial light or the use of artificial light at a rate above zero, but no more than six watts per square foot.

This grant provides funding for programs that educate and engage youth in Hampton Roads about local waterways and the effects of sea level rise, promoting environmental stewardship and hands-on outdoor experiences.

This funding opportunity supports research projects aimed at improving health outcomes for Native American populations by developing and testing culturally appropriate health interventions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for research aimed at improving the spread and implementation of effective health interventions, particularly in underserved communities, with a focus on promoting health equity and addressing health disparities.