State Environment Grants

The Community Energy Management (CEM) Program, administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), offers grants to improve energy management, increase energy efficiency, and promote renewable energy adoption for local governments and tribes. This program is part of the EGLE Catalyst Communities Initiative, supporting Governor Whitmer’s climate change priorities. The grant period runs from January 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, with a total of $5,850,000 available, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). Projects must focus on energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy installations, fleet electrification, EV charging infrastructure, and clean energy workforce development. The application deadline is June 30, 2024, or until funds are exhausted.

The County History Partnership Program (CHPP), established in 2015 by the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), aims to decentralize the administration of local re-granting programs across all 21 New Jersey counties. This initiative directly aligns with the mission to support local history organizations that serve the public, fostering a broader engagement with the state's historical heritage. The program is administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, which functions as the donor, extending the NJHC's strategic goal of strengthening local historical infrastructure. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are historical societies, organizations, nonprofits, and municipalities responsible for historic structures or archaeological sites. Eligible applicants must be Somerset County-based. The program's impact goals revolve around increasing public access to New Jersey history, expanding knowledge of the state's past, and improving the management capabilities of local history organizations. This approach is intended to create a more robust and accessible local history ecosystem within Somerset County. The grant prioritizes organizations that provide programs or services that achieve these goals. Specifically, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to enhancing public access to history or expanding historical knowledge. Another key focus is on improving the operational and managerial effectiveness of local history organizations, thereby ensuring their long-term sustainability and impact. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by empowering local organizations with financial support and clear objectives, they can more effectively serve the public and preserve historical assets. Expected outcomes include a more engaged public with New Jersey history, a greater depth of historical knowledge disseminated, and more efficiently run local history organizations. Measurable results would likely include increased participation in historical programs, documented improvements in organizational management, and successful preservation efforts of historic sites. Organizations are also required to have provided public history programs and/or services in Somerset County for the benefit of the general public for at least two years prior to application, and must provide proof of stability and fiscal responsibility, ensuring the grant's investment is directed towards established and accountable entities.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) 2024 Grant aims to support the development and enhancement of public outdoor recreation facilities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This state-administered program seeks applications from cities, counties, state agencies, and federal agencies to improve local park amenities and infrastructure. Eligible projects may include the development of campgrounds, picnic areas, sports fields, swimming facilities, boating facilities, fishing amenities, and various recreational trails. Successful applicants are required to match the LWCF grant funding on a 1:1 basis, with grant requests ranging from $25,000 to $250,000. The deadline for application submission is May 31, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community organizations, individuals, and groups in Massachusetts that work to improve access to clean energy and reduce energy burdens for underserved populations.

This funding program provides financial assistance to Kansas communities, especially those with low- to moderate-income residents, for improving and upgrading essential water and sewer infrastructure.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is offering a grant to evaluate the feasibility of using existing underground gas storage facilities to store clean renewable hydrogen in California. This project aligns with the CEC's mission to advance California's clean energy goals by exploring innovative solutions for energy storage. The overarching goal is to assess the technical and economic viability of converting these facilities for hydrogen storage, contributing to the state's renewable energy infrastructure. The grant specifically targets projects that will benefit California Gas Investor Owned Utility (IOU) ratepayers. The project focuses on developing comprehensive technical and economic assessments of storing and retrieving hydrogen blends and/or pure hydrogen. Key priorities include engaging with local communities and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) around selected sites to assess awareness and support for underground hydrogen storage, and leveraging this feedback to inform experimental design. The project also emphasizes studying the characteristics of at least two existing underground gas storage facilities, conducting experiments to assess the impacts of hydrogen introduction on well integrity and reservoir dynamics, and proposing necessary mitigation measures for safety and reliability. Expected outcomes include quantitative risk assessments and techno-economic analyses for converting selected facilities, comparing costs and risks of various use cases, and estimating levelized costs of hydrogen storage, capital costs, and operations and maintenance costs. The project will also develop recommendations for Gas IOUs, CBOs, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to guide decision-making on the future role of underground hydrogen storage in California. Optional but desired elements include comparing the levelized cost of hydrogen storage and life-cycle emissions with alternative storage options and examining the potential of storing hydrogen in saline aquifers. The CEC's strategic priority in offering this grant is to support the integration of clean renewable hydrogen into California's energy mix. The theory of change is that by thoroughly assessing the feasibility, risks, and economic implications of underground hydrogen storage, the state can make informed decisions about deploying this technology, thereby accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system. The grant, with a funding range of $2.5 million to $3 million and a duration of three years (November 1, 2024 – September 30, 2027), aims to produce actionable insights that can directly influence future policy and infrastructure development in California's hydrogen economy.

This grant provides financial assistance to local agencies and organizations in California for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities that help recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage waste, promoting cleaner waterways and safer boating experiences.

This program provides financial assistance to low-income families to improve their homes' energy efficiency, helping them save on energy costs while ensuring their health and safety.

This funding opportunity supports public agencies in California to create regional conservation plans that protect and restore habitats for vulnerable species through collaborative efforts and the use of scientific data.

This program provides financial assistance to non-profit housing developers to help homeowners in select New York counties recover from storm damage through reimbursements and repairs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support and resources to help immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency in California start or grow small businesses that address social challenges in their communities.

This grant opportunity, offered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands, is aimed at the acquisition, development, and maintenance of new trailered boat launches. The program supports state and local governments, among other eligible entities, to enhance public access to waterways for recreational boating. Eligible projects must serve as the primary recreational boating access for the general public. A pre-approval site inspection is required for project eligibility. The funding cap for new trailered launch projects is $100,000.

Eligible Applicants: Local public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations qualified to do business in California, Public Utilities, Federally and non-federally recognized Native American tribes on the Native American Heritage Commission’s list, and Mutual water companies. Eligible Uses: Eligible projects include recycled water treatment; recycled water storage, distribution, and pumping; groundwater recharge; and indirect potable reuse. Ineligible Uses: Operation and maintenance costs.  Eligible Costs: All costs necessary to determine the feasibility of using recycled water and to select an alternative to offset or augment the use of fresh/potable water from state or local supplies may be eligible for the planning grant. Eligible Communities: All community types are eligible for funding.  This includes small and large communities, non-disadvantaged, disadvantaged, and severely disadvantaged communities. For more information, please review the Water Recycling Funding Program (WRFP) Guidelines: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/docs/wrfp_guidelines.pdf  

This funding opportunity supports a variety of organizations in Pennsylvania to develop environmental education projects that promote stewardship and awareness of natural resources, particularly focusing on climate change, water quality, and environmental justice.

The Tier 2 Regional Projects under the 2023 Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant aim to support larger, regional conservation-oriented, shovel-ready projects that provide recreational value and economic benefits to broader areas and multiple communities. These projects must be publicly accessible and demonstrate proven regional value. Eligible applicants include Tribes, Pueblos, Nations, municipalities, counties, nonprofits, public schools, colleges, soil and water conservation districts, and land grant associations. Projects must be completed within 24 months, with grants awarded up front and applications accepted on a rolling basis starting July 1, 2023 until funds are expended or June 30th 2024 (for FY24)

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Massachusetts to develop training programs and improve equipment for residents pursuing careers in essential climate-related jobs.

This program provides funding to Michigan cities and public transit agencies for projects that enhance public spaces, making them safer and more accessible for walking, biking, and transit use.

Eligible applicants include: • Manufacturers that produce (or will produce) an eligible product.• Waste tire processors that also manufacture an eligible product.• Manufacturers of devulcanized rubber.• Rubber compounders.• Manufacturers of calendered rubber sheeting products.• Manufacturers that produce products on a contract basis for other companies provided they have that other company’s written permission to produce an eligible product and receive the incentive. Eligible products include: • A new or existing product that has not benefited from the Tire-Derived Product Grant Program.• An existing or new/improved product currently manufactured with virgin rubber, plastic or other material which will be produced with a minimum of five percent crumb rubber and may be co-extruded, injected, compounded, calendered or otherwise combined (also known as “feedstock conversion”). This includes compounded rubber and calendered sheet rubber as intermediate products.• An existing or new/improved product currently manufactured with virgin rubber, plastic or other material which will be produced with a minimum of five percent devulcanized crumb rubber and may be co-extruded, injected, calendered or otherwise combined. This includes devulcanized crumb rubber as an intermediate product.• An existing or new/improved product that will use fine (≤50) mesh crumb rubber. Particle size and particle size distribution are determined in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D5644 and D5603 and will be verified by CalRecycle or a CalRecycle contractor.

This program provides financial support to local governments, conservation groups, and nonprofits in Colorado to improve fishing access and enhance aquatic habitats for public angling.