Local Energy Grants

The Doral Façade Improvement Grant Program offers financial assistance to businesses, homeowner associations, and commercial property owners within Doral. Its primary mission is to stimulate private sector investment, enhance beautification, foster economic growth, and create jobs by improving the appearance of buildings across the city. This program aligns with the broader goal of community development and economic vitality by directly investing in the physical infrastructure of Doral. The program targets a broad range of beneficiaries including local businesses, commercial property owners, and homeowner associations. The impact goals are multi-faceted: enhancing the visual appeal of the city, supporting local businesses, and indirectly contributing to a more vibrant and attractive environment for residents and visitors. By improving building aesthetics, the program aims to increase property values and encourage further private investment, creating a positive feedback loop for economic development. Initially established in 2012, the program's initial focus was on businesses and commercial owners within the Doral Decor District, offering 25% reimbursement up to $5,000 per project. In 2018, its geographical scope expanded to encompass the entire City of Doral and included publicly visible entry features of homeowners' associations. This expansion demonstrates a strategic priority to broaden its impact and inclusivity, reaching more areas and types of property owners within the city. The program's priorities are evident in its eligible improvements, which include siding/stucco, walls/fencing/railings, ADA improvements, pedestrian amenities, windows/doors, awnings/canopies, lighting, painting, signage, detached monument signs, sidewalks/surface parking, and landscape/xeriscape. These focus areas are designed to address a comprehensive range of external "facelift" improvements. The maximum grant amount has also increased to a 50% reimbursement of eligible renovation costs, up to $10,000 per project, indicating a strategic shift towards providing more substantial financial support to incentivize significant improvements. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in the number of beautified properties, enhanced economic activity through job creation in renovation and related sectors, and a general uplift in civic pride and aesthetic quality across Doral. The program's theory of change posits that by providing direct financial incentives for façade improvements, the city can catalyze private investment, leading to widespread beautification and fostering a more attractive environment that, in turn, draws further economic activity and improves the quality of life for its residents.

The Vision Partnership Program (VPP) – Cash Grant is offered by Chester County to its municipalities and multi-municipal groups. Established in 1996, and revised in 2010 and 2019 to align with Landscapes and then Landscapes2 and Landscapes3, the program aims to improve planning efforts at the local level. This grant program is deeply aligned with Chester County's comprehensive plan, Landscapes3, by promoting consistency and implementation of its goals, objectives, recommendations, and map. The core mission of the VPP is to foster cooperation between local governments and the County to achieve impactful, lasting, and positive benefits through innovative municipal and multi-municipal planning. The VPP targets all Chester County municipalities that have endorsed or acknowledged Landscapes3, including single municipalities or multi-municipal groups. The program aims to achieve a variety of impact goals, such as advancing consistency with the county comprehensive plan, accomplishing positive benefits for municipalities through innovative planning, and addressing community concerns through new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies. The program prioritizes projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, and also includes "Planning Studies" for projects not adopted under the MPC. The VPP focuses on a broad range of eligible projects. These include comprehensive plans, open space, park, and recreation plans, zoning and subdivision ordinances and amendments (covering topics like agriculture, historic resources, natural resources, housing, and traditional neighborhood development), official maps and ordinances, urban center revitalization plans, resource protection/stewardship plans, environmental and community sustainability/resilience plans, community design guides, village master plans, heritage interpretation plans, historic resource surveys, housing plans/studies, economic development studies, transportation corridor plans/studies, streetscape master plans, multimodal plans/studies, trail feasibility studies, and plans/ordinances that support the transition to renewable or alternative energy, as well as agricultural economic development plans. Expected outcomes of the VPP include the successful adoption of plans or ordinances, for which grants of $50,000 are provided, with an additional $10,000 for each additional municipality involved. For planning studies, the expected outcome is acceptance, with grants of $30,000 plus $5,000 for each additional municipality. The strategic priorities of Chester County, as evidenced by the VPP, are to support local governments in developing robust planning programs that align with the county's comprehensive vision, ultimately leading to well-planned, sustainable communities. The theory of change is that by providing financial incentives and guidance, municipalities will be empowered to implement the principles of Landscapes3, resulting in tangible community improvements and a coordinated approach to regional development.

The City of Lafayette, through its Historic Preservation Board (HPB), offers competitive grants aimed at the direct support and preservation of older buildings within Lafayette city limits. These grants are designed to maintain and enhance the historic character of the community, aligning with the broader mission of preserving local heritage and extending the lifespan of significant structures. The program underscores a commitment to fostering a sense of place and historical continuity for current and future residents. Target beneficiaries for this grant program are owners of commercial buildings, houses, churches, outbuildings, and barns that are 50 years old or older and located within Lafayette city limits. The impact goals are to encourage the restoration, repair, and overall improvement of these historic structures. Expected outcomes include the physical preservation of architectural heritage, improved structural integrity of older buildings, and the continued use of historic materials or the use of identical/similar materials when original ones are not feasible. The program prioritizes projects that extend the life of the building, enhance its historic character, and, where possible, involve Lafayette-based businesses or DIY efforts. Projects that remove non-historic features to expose original ones are also encouraged. Urgency of need is a significant factor in assessment, alongside the longevity impact of the project and the appearance achieved through the use of historic materials. Research on the property's history is also encouraged, drawing on local historical resources. Eligible improvements include structural repairs (like foundation work), restoration of original windows and doors, roof repair/replacement, gutter installation, masonry cleaning and restoration, and the reconstruction of original architectural details. Painting is also eligible, with an emphasis on determining original colors. Measurable results include the number of buildings preserved, the extent of historic materials retained or accurately replicated, and the overall improvement in the condition and historic authenticity of funded projects. The underlying theory of change is that by providing financial incentives and clear guidelines, the City of Lafayette can empower property owners to take an active role in preserving the city's unique historical fabric, contributing to community pride and economic vitality.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and collaborations that address community needs in Andover, Lawrence, and North Andover, focusing on areas such as basic needs, economic development, education, and environmental stewardship.

This grant provides funding to organizations and event planners for innovative projects that attract visitors to Snohomish, particularly those that encourage overnight stays and boost the local economy during the off-season.

This grant provides financial assistance to businesses and building owners in downtown Ames for improving their building façades, with a focus on historically significant features.

The City of Evanston's "Sustain Evanston" Incentive Program is a funding tool designed to empower small business owners to implement sustainability measures. This initiative directly aligns with the City’s Climate Action & Resilience Plan, serving the foundational mission of fostering a more sustainable community. By offering financial assistance, the program aims to reduce operating costs for businesses while simultaneously enhancing their service to customers through environmentally friendly practices. This strategic alignment underscores the city's commitment to both economic vitality and ecological responsibility. The primary beneficiaries of this program include commercial property owners, tenants of commercial buildings, business districts, and coalitions of businesses within the City of Evanston. The impact goals are centered on improving the environmental footprint of local businesses, promoting sustainable infrastructure, and encouraging eco-conscious operations. Through these efforts, the program seeks to create a more resilient and environmentally sound local economy, benefiting both businesses and residents. The program prioritizes a broad range of sustainability measures, categorized into capital projects, equipment, services, and education materials. Key focuses include the adoption of heat pumps, EV charging infrastructure, solar PV, waste collection enclosures, green infrastructure like green roofs, and energy-efficient upgrades such as insulation and windows. Equipment priorities involve reusable containers, energy-efficient lighting, and appliances. Services like composting, recycling, energy/water benchmarking, and consulting are also emphasized, alongside educational signage and labels. These priorities reflect a holistic approach to sustainability, addressing various facets of business operations. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in the operational costs for participating businesses due to increased energy efficiency and waste reduction. Measurable results will likely involve the number of businesses implementing sustainable upgrades, the amount of energy saved, the volume of waste diverted from landfills, and the expansion of green infrastructure within the city. The program's strategic approach is to incentivize tangible changes that collectively contribute to the City’s broader Climate Action & Resilience Plan, acting as a catalyst for widespread sustainable practices within the business community. This aligns with a theory of change where financial incentives drive behavioral and infrastructure changes, leading to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit organizations and municipalities in Salem County, New Jersey, for special arts projects, general operating expenses, or technical assistance to enhance local arts initiatives.

This grant provides financial assistance to private homeowners of historic properties in Phoenix for exterior rehabilitation and restoration work to preserve their architectural integrity and enhance neighborhood aesthetics.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical support for installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in multifamily buildings across Washington, D.C., with a focus on underserved communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to eligible nonprofit organizations in Cheyenne to assist low- and moderate-income residents through projects focused on housing, infrastructure, and essential services.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, and local businesses in Bloomington to support projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility and promote active transportation in the community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to develop training programs that prepare workers for energy efficiency jobs in small buildings, helping to meet upcoming energy performance standards in Washington, D.C.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to private nonprofits and governmental agencies in Tulsa for projects that benefit low and moderate-income individuals, improve public facilities, or address urgent community development needs.

This initiative provides financial assistance to local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and businesses in South Bend for solar panel installations and energy efficiency upgrades to reduce energy costs and promote sustainability.

This program provides funding to support projects that improve the lives of low- to moderate-income residents in Brookline through affordable housing, public services, and community development initiatives.

This program provides financial support to businesses and nonprofit organizations in San Juan County, Utah, to promote economic development through expansion, workforce training, and infrastructure improvements.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Suburban Cook County to promote digital equity by improving access to technology, enhancing digital skills, and fostering community collaboration.

This program provides financial support to small businesses in Los Angeles County's Second District that have faced significant disruptions to their operations due to external events over the past year.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to commercial property owners and tenants in downtown Yankton for improving the visible exterior of their buildings, with a focus on historic preservation and enhancing the area's architectural appeal.