Grants for City or township governments - State

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund demonstrations of community-based virtual power plant (VPP) approaches and demonstrations of innovative energy management systems (EMS) in commercial buildings with the goal of increasing demand flexibility. Demand flexibility refers to comprehensive programs and strategies that align electricity consumption with dynamic grid conditions. These can include both event-based demand response (DR) and load shifting strategies. Accelerating demand flexibility is a key strategy for California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state’s climate and clean energy goals reliably and affordably.    VPPs are portfolios of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, rooftop solar photovoltaics, electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and smart water heaters that are actively controlled by software to benefit the power system, consumers, and the environment. While these resources have the potential to meet grid needs as reliably as conventional alternatives such as gas-fired generators, their advantages extend further, offering greater affordability and substantial decarbonization benefits.[3] However, research and development of both technologies and business models is needed to fully capitalize on and understand VPPs’ potential, especially the systems that feature predictive controls and require minimal consumer engagement. The examples of predictive controls relevant to this research include, but are not limited to, the use of artificial intelligence or model predictive controls for EV load shifting or building pre-cooling applications.   Projects will be funded in two groups. Group 1: Virtual Power Plants: Demonstrations that showcase community-based demand flexibility programs as a long-term (10 or more years) grid resource. Project teams must partner with local governments or non-profits to facilitate customer participation and smart device installations. Projects must evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of community-based VPP approaches that use state-of-the-art DER management software (DERMS).   ·       Group 2: Commercial Building Energy Management in Low-Income or Disadvantaged Communities: Demonstrations of innovative EMS in commercial buildings focused on specific characteristics such as interoperability and adherence to open-source standards. Demonstrations require participation in electric investor-owned utility (IOU) or third-party DR programs and partnerships with device and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These projects must showcase the latest advancements in energy management in the commercial sector and ensure technology adaptability, efficiency, and collaboration within the broader energy landscape.       

This program provides financial support to businesses, nonprofits, and public entities in Ohio for energy efficiency projects that reduce energy costs and emissions while creating or retaining jobs.

This program provides funding to local public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Indiana to support emergency shelter operations for survivors of domestic violence and their dependents.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local public agencies and nonprofit organizations dedicated to preventing family violence and assisting victims with shelter and essential services, particularly focusing on underserved populations.

This program provides financial support for specialized training to law enforcement agencies in Maryland, enhancing their skills in crime prevention, investigation, and victim services.

This funding opportunity is designed to assist local governments and organizations in California with urgent tasks related to the conservation and management of natural habitats for wildlife and plant species.

This program provides funding to government agencies, non-profits, tribes, and educational institutions for collaborative forest restoration projects on private lands in Idaho, focusing on wildfire risk reduction and ecosystem improvement.

This program provides funding for community organizations and local governments to acquire technology devices to help bridge the digital divide for those facing affordability challenges.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Montana cities, towns, nonprofits, and tribal governments for innovative urban forestry projects that enhance community forests and promote ecological resilience.

This program provides financial support to public institutions in Colorado for upgrading their buildings to energy-efficient electric systems, particularly in communities that are disproportionately impacted or low-income.

CAL FIRE's Wood Products and Bioenergy team seeks to maintain and enhance the wood products infrastructure of California to promote healthy resilient forests throughout the state by supporting a diverse set of business development and workforce development projects.  ; Eligible business development projects include facilities, operations, and professional services that support the restoration of healthy, resilient forests.   Eligible workforce development projects include universities, colleges, government and community organizations, and businesses that aim to increase workforce capacity in the fields of logging, fuels treatment, transportation, manufacturing, or other support services that bolster the development of a resilient forest sector workforce.   Research and development projects related to both business and workforce development will also be considered. Check out the Wood Products website and subscribe for updates.     

The Virginia Emergency Shelter Upgrade Assistance Fund was established by Senate Bill 350, introduced by Senator Lucas, effective from July 1, 2020. This fund is dedicated to providing matching funds to local governments for installing, maintaining, or repairing emergency shelter infrastructure to enhance resilience against natural disasters. This includes infrastructure for backup energy generation, such as solar energy generators, and wind retrofitting to improve structural integrity. The fund prioritizes projects that protect vulnerable populations, offer long-term risk solutions, and support primary shelter enhancements as verified by Local Capabilities Assessment Reports (LCAR). Eligible applicants are local governments with a current and locally-adopted emergency operations plan compliant with Virginia’s Emergency Services and Disaster Laws. Local governments are restricted to one application per year and must have completed any prior funded projects before applying.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to government agencies and nonprofit organizations for urban forestry projects that benefit disadvantaged communities in Ohio by enhancing tree canopies and improving environmental quality.

The Green Transportation Capital Grant Program, administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation, aims to fund cost-effective capital projects for transit authorities. Its core mission is to reduce the carbon intensity of Washington's transportation system, aligning with broader climate action efforts supported by the state's Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA's strategic priority is to decrease climate pollution, create jobs, and enhance public health, making this grant a direct mechanism to achieve these goals by investing in sustainable transportation solutions. The primary beneficiaries of this program are transit agencies within Washington state, including various city, county, metropolitan, public, unincorporated, regional, and special purpose district transit systems. The impact goals are centered on transforming public transportation infrastructure to be more environmentally friendly. This includes the electrification of transit vehicle fleets and the development of necessary supporting infrastructure, such as charging and fueling stations, and associated electrical system upgrades. The program prioritizes capital projects that directly contribute to fleet electrification and the transition to zero-emission transportation. Eligible projects encompass the acquisition of battery and fuel cell-operated electric vehicles, modification of facilities for electrification or hydrogen refueling, and the construction of new facilities that primarily support electrified fleets. Additionally, it covers essential upgrades to electrical transmission and distribution systems, in-house staff managing capital construction, and property rights acquisition for these projects. The expected outcomes and measurable results include a significant reduction in carbon emissions from the Washington transportation sector, directly contributing to the state's climate goals. Historically, the program has awarded between $12 million and $50 million per biennium, indicating a substantial investment in achieving these outcomes. The project period for most applications is two years (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027), with construction projects potentially extending to four years, allowing for tangible progress in transitioning to green transportation.

Draft program proposals are available on the program website.  This will be updated once final criteria are adopted.

This grant provides funding for research institutions, energy organizations, and technology developers to create open-source tools that improve climate resilience and wildfire risk management in California's electricity sector.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to county and municipal law enforcement agencies in Illinois to purchase laptops for transitioning from paper to electronic crash report submissions.

The LOCAL program provides Washington municipalities with a cost-effective way to finance equipment and/or real estate projects. Participants will benefit from the current program rating of Moody’s Aa1, low fees and expenses, technical assistance, and access to the tax-exempt bond market. The LOCAL Program allows participants access to the national tax-exempt market through a competitive bid process, regardless of the size of their financing contract • By pooling with the State’s Aa1 rated COP issuances, LOCAL participants are able to take advantage of the State’s very low tax-exempt interest rates

This initiative provides funding to organizations that deliver essential health screenings and services to underserved communities of color in Illinois, aiming to reduce health disparities and improve access to care.

The Multipurpose Drainage Management grant program, offered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), aims to provide financial assistance for projects and practices that control water volume and rates. This program aligns with the broader mission of protecting infrastructure, improving water quality, and delivering related public benefits, while also mitigating climate change impacts. It serves as a competitive grant opportunity, with $900,000 available in FY24, to support multipurpose drainage management activities. The program's core objective is to reduce critical pollution in source areas, thereby decreasing erosion and sedimentation, lessening peak flows and flooding, and enhancing water quality. Simultaneously, it seeks to preserve drainage system efficiency and lower maintenance requirements for priority Chapter 103E drainage systems. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are Chapter 103E drainage authorities, including County, Joint County Boards, or Watershed Districts, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The program strongly encourages partnerships between these entities to apply for and utilize the grant funds effectively. Local governments, such as counties, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and SWCDs, are also eligible if they are operating under current State-approved and locally adopted water management plans. Municipalities can qualify if they have an approved water plan or adopted a comprehensive watershed management plan. Counties in the seven-county metropolitan area are eligible if they have adopted a county groundwater plan or a county comprehensive plan approved by the Metropolitan Council. The impact goals are centered on comprehensive water resource management, aiming for widespread environmental and infrastructural improvements across Minnesota. The grant program prioritizes a range of activities, including structural and non-structural practices and projects, project support, and grant management and reporting. Technical and engineering assistance is considered an essential component of eligible activities, to be factored into the total project or practice cost. The focus is explicitly on multipurpose drainage management practices that target specific pollution sources. By doing so, the program aims to address multiple environmental challenges simultaneously, such as reducing the physical degradation of land through erosion, preventing widespread water damage from flooding, and improving the overall ecological health of water bodies. This integrated approach ensures that interventions are holistic and yield compounded benefits. Expected outcomes from the funded projects include a measurable reduction in erosion and sedimentation, which will contribute to clearer waterways and healthier aquatic ecosystems. A decrease in peak flows and flooding is anticipated, leading to enhanced protection for infrastructure and agricultural lands, thereby reducing economic losses associated with water damage. Critically, the program expects a tangible improvement in water quality, which has direct public health and environmental benefits. Furthermore, by improving drainage system efficiency and reducing maintenance needs for Chapter 103E drainage systems, the program aims to create more sustainable and cost-effective water management solutions for the long term. These measurable results collectively support the strategic priorities of BWSR in fostering responsible water stewardship and resilience against climate change impacts.