Local Workforce Development Grants

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.

The Somerville Health Foundation (SHF) invites proposals for projects and activities in Massachusetts that align with its mission to promote and support accessible primary care and preventive health services for Somerville residents. This also includes supporting educational, research, and outreach programs to enhance the delivery and accessibility of these services. The foundation's overarching goal is to provide financial resources that enable it to fulfill these core purposes, ultimately improving the health and well-being of the community. The target beneficiaries are primarily residents of the City of Somerville, Massachusetts, with a particular focus on addressing the disproportionate health impacts on low-income communities and communities of color. The impact goals revolve around creating a healthier, more equitable Somerville by addressing social determinants of health. The foundation’s strategic priorities are rooted in principles of language justice, inclusion of underrepresented voices in leadership and decision-making, and system improvements that foster collective care. SHF prioritizes proposals that also address specific preventative health areas. These include Housing (affordability, stability, anti-displacement, safety, accessibility, homelessness), Equitable Economies (sustainable food systems, living wages, healthy working conditions, caregiving systems), Equity in Access to Healthcare, Services and Information (costs, cultural/linguistic barriers, navigation, referrals, staffing, transportation, digital access, quality, disability accessibility), and Climate Health and Justice (air/water quality, climate change preparedness). The expected outcomes are projects or activities that directly contribute to the SHF's mission and priority areas. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the general grant overview, the emphasis on addressing specific concerns within each priority area suggests that successful proposals would demonstrate measurable progress in these areas. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by strategically funding initiatives that address these core principles and preventative health priorities, it can improve access to care, reduce health disparities, and ultimately enhance the overall health of the Somerville community. The SHF plans to distribute approximately $30,000 this year, funding two projects at $15,000 each.

This program provides funding to support community events that promote cultural and economic development in Lawrence, Kansas, enhancing the city's unique identity.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community projects in Pajaro, California, aimed at enhancing emergency preparedness, social services, economic development, healthcare access, language services, and community beautification for local residents.

This program provides funding to nonprofit housing developers for the acquisition and demolition of deteriorated properties to facilitate the construction of new residential developments in aging neighborhoods.

This funding opportunity supports educational institutions, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations in Hawaiʻi to implement projects that enhance community well-being through sustainable and measurable impacts.

This program provides financial assistance to local businesses and property owners in North Sacramento to improve storefronts, purchase equipment, and restore vacant buildings, particularly those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in New Mexico that empower socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, particularly in underserved and rural areas, through capacity-building services and resources.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and partnerships operating farms or ranches in Kauai, aimed at expanding agricultural production and enhancing sustainability within the local food system.

This program provides funding to small businesses and eligible nonprofits in Portsmouth, Virginia, to support their growth and infrastructure improvements through a matching reimbursement model.

This program provides financial assistance to small business and commercial property owners in Decatur, Georgia, to improve the exteriors of their buildings and enhance the community's aesthetic appeal.

This grant provides financial support to local businesses in Lake County, Ohio, for infrastructure improvements, innovative projects, and employee training, fostering economic growth in the community.

This program provides funding to Austin-based nonprofit organizations to improve digital access, skills, and technology adoption for local residents, helping to bridge the digital divide.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and local entities in Sonoma County to create housing solutions and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, with a focus on transitional housing and supportive services.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Prince George’s County, Maryland, to create impactful arts and cultural projects that promote community engagement, inclusivity, and diversity.

This grant provides financial support for educational and worker training programs that benefit residents of Hobart, aiming to enhance their skills for a competitive global economy.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Portsmouth, Virginia, that are newly established or have been operating for up to three years, helping them with essential development expenses to promote growth and entrepreneurship.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits, municipalities, and community organizations in Rockland County to develop programs that promote positive youth development and address the needs of young people under 21, particularly in underserved communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations and individuals in Rockford to develop programs that address economic development, violence prevention, and community reinvestment in areas disproportionately affected by past cannabis laws.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Middlesex County, Connecticut, helping them sustain and grow their operations while addressing financial challenges.