June Newsletter: Funding Opportunities are Heating Up This Summer! 💰🔥

Happy June, Midwest BDC!

Money, money, money! This summer there are tons of funding opportunities open that we want to encourage our coalition members to apply to if you can. Below is an overview of some of the granting programs we know are currently accepting applications. Know of others? Email them to the listserv so that we can share the love (and hopefully, the funds!)

Buildings UP Prize – last few weeks to apply!

Phase 1 Concept Prize submission deadline – July 18, 2023

Check out the upcoming office hours and informational webinars for applicants here.

The competition is open to community-based organizations, local governments, tribes, building owners, utilities, nonprofit organizations, energy efficiency program implementers, and other organizations. Teams will submit innovative concepts to leverage the billions of dollars available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), utility rebate programs, and many other funding sources. As teams progress through the prize, they will receive cash prizes and technical assistance to help bring their ideas to life. Full details can be found here.

Renew America’s Nonprofits

Applications are due August 3, 2023

The Department of Energy opened a funding opportunity for the brand-new Renew America’s Nonprofits program, with $45 million in funds allocated through the Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act. The program offers grants to nonprofits to implement energy efficiency upgrades, such as better insulation, windows, and heat pumps.

Eligible entities include 501(c)3 non-profits. Priority will be given to applicants based on

The energy savings achieved
The cost-effectiveness of the use of energy-efficiency materials
An effective plan for evaluation, measurement, and verification of energy savings
The financial need of the applicant.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)

The deadline to apply is July 31, 2023

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in planning and implementing programs and policies to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directed $550 million to the EECBG program. Learn more about eligible uses for EECBG funds, state-local partnership opportunities and project ideas.

This article from the National League of Cities offers lots of helpful information on the grant!

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

The first application period closes on June 30, 2023

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that they are accepting applications starting on April 1 for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. USDA is making the $1 billion in grants available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), with funding from President Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis. Learn more and submit an application here.

Best of luck to all those applying for funding this summer. Keep reading for some resources that could help you in your funding application process, as well as news and updates about all things decarb in the Midwest!

In solidarity,

– Marnese, Jacob, and Maggie

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

This month, we are highlighting two of our awesome MWBDC members who we were grateful to spend time with last month in Minneapolis – thanks for all you do!

Montrè Moore

Montrè J. Moore is an esteemed resident of Milwaukee, WI, and a devoted father to two wonderful children. From a young age, Mr. Moore has been an unwavering advocate for urban environmentalism and a catalyst for positive change within his community. Presently, he holds influential positions that allow him to champion environmental and climate justice as the Chairman of the Wisconsin NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee and the 1st Vice President of the Waukesha NAACP. Additionally, Mr. Moore is an esteemed member of the Wisconsin Climate Table, a dedicated Board member of the Fondy Food Center, and a respected Steering Committee Member and Spokesperson of The Environmental Justice and Infrastructure Initiative. He is also an active participant in the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition.

In his professional capacity, Mr. Moore contributes to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission as a valued member of their Public Involvement and Outreach department. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he is fervently focused on creating green job opportunities specifically designed to empower black and brown communities. Through his multifaceted roles and tireless dedication, Montrè J. Moore epitomizes the embodiment of environmental advocacy, community engagement, and equitable development.

Michelle Jackson

Michelle is the Executive Director of Sustainable Community Farms. Their mission is to bring change to the community, by improving and striving to improve the eating habits of Detroiters’. Their programs help to build and foster peaceful relationships within our communities and allow families to create their own choices while adopting healthier eating habits for a lifetime.

Michele has a demonstrated history of working in the farming industry, she is skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Government, Program Evaluation, Event Management, and Editing. She graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy.

COALITION CALENDAR

To view upcoming working group meetings and other Coalition events online, visit midwestdecarb.org/calendar.

We will be starting a new practice where we send out the schedule and meeting links for the week each Monday. Keep an eye out for it in your inbox!

June 8: Federal Policy Working Group
The Federal Policy Working Group meets every other Thursday for 90 minutes at 11 AM CST / 12 PM EST. To participate, please email Marnese.

June 8: Jemez and Environmental Justice Principles Training (Part 2)

12:30 PM CST / 1:30 PM EST Register here!

In this two-part training series, attendees will get a better understanding of the Environmental Justice Principles and Jemez Principles. Our trainers will give an overview, and then start to explore how we can incorporate them into our daily lives and organizational practices. De’Angelus Garcia Bey, Creative Strategist and MWBDC Board Member, and Marnese Jackson, MWBDC Co-Director will take us through these training sessions.

June 9: MWBDC Office Hours

This time is for people to meet with MWBDC staff about any questions they might have. Feel free to email us before the meeting time so that we can be prepared with the information you need! 12 PM CST / 1 PM EST. Register here.

June 14: Health Working Group

This group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 12 PM CST / 1 PM EST. To participate, please email Marnese.

June 14: MWBDC Monthly Meeting
The monthly meeting usually takes place the second Wednesday of each month for 90 minutes at 2 PM CST / 3 PM EST. Register here.

June 15: Governance Working Group
The Governance Working Group meets every other Thursday at 9 AM CST / 10 AM EST. To participate, please email Marnese.

June 15: Advocacy 101

Thursday, June 15, 12:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM CST. Register now!

Our elected officials are regularly introducing new legislation and moving bills forward that affect us all. Figuring out where and how to get involved with these legislative processes can be confusing! Who do you contact? How can you make your voice heard?

Join Marnese Jackson, MWBDC Co-Director of Community Engagement and Equity for this training.

June 20: Affordable Housing / QAP Working Group

This group meets every third Tuesday of the month at 3:30 PM CST/ 4:30 PM EST. To participate please email Marnese. 

June 21: Equity Working Group

The Equity Working Group meets every third Wednesday of the month for 90 minutes at 1 PM EST / 12 PM CST. To participate please email Marnese. 

June 22: Healing Justice Working Group

This group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 10 AM CST / 11 AM EST for 60 minutes. To participate, please contact Marnese.

June 22: Federal Policy Working Group
The Federal Policy Working Group meets every other Thursday for 90 minutes at 11 AM CST / 12 PM EST. To participate, please email Marnese.

June 22: Energy Justice 101

Thursday, June 22, 3:00 PM EST / 2:00 PM CST. Register now!

Join Kamau Jawara from We the People of Detroit for this training on Energy Justice! Attendees will get a basic understanding of where your Energy comes from, and advocacy efforts that can be taken on a local and state level.

June 23: MWBDC Office Hours

June 26: Local Codes and Standards Working Group
This group meets every month on the fourth Wednesday at 10 AM CST / 11 AM EST. To participate, contact Jacob.

June 26: New Member Orientation
New member orientation is every fourth Tuesday of the month at 12 PM CST / 1 PM EST. Click here to register.

June 27: New Member Orientation (evening)
New member evening orientation is every fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM CST / 6:30 PM EST. Click here to register.

June 28: Faith Working Group

This group meets the third Wednesday of every month at 12 PM EST / 11AM CST. To participate please email Marnese. 

June 29: Governance Working Group
The Governance Working Group meets every other Thursday at 9 AM CST / 10 AM EST. To participate, please email Marnese.

For full details about all Coalition working groups, keep reading.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MWBDC Health Working Group Submits Comments to CPSC on Gas Stoves

Check out this new blog post about the MWBDC Health Working Group’s recently submitted comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on gas stoves. The blog post details the process the Health WG took when drafting and submitting comments, a summary of their recommendations to the CPSC, and shares the 30+ organizations and 10+ individuals from the Midwest who signed on in support of these comments.

If you want to help spread the word of the great work our Health Working Group is doing, please check out this social media toolkit to promote the blog post! Hopefully, we can educate folks on the advocacy being done and bring more people into this movement 🔥

Upcoming Trainings

Jemez and Environmental Justice Principles
Part 2 – Thursday, June 8, 1:30 PM EST / 12:30 PM CST. Register here!

Advocacy 101
Thursday, June 15, 12:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM CST. Register now!

Join Marnese Jackson, MWBDC Co-Director of Community Engagement and Equity for this training.

Energy Justice 101
Thursday, June 22, 3:00 PM EST / 2:00 PM CST. Register now!

Design the Future Podcast featuring Marnese!

Listen to this episode of Design the Future, a podcast that elevates women driving sustainability, featuring our own Marnese Jackson!

“I am part of a movement,” she says, “but I am also just an ordinary person. I can relate to anyone,” which she says is important in her role. “I am a connector,” she adds. “Being a missionary is not the thing. We are trying to empower self-confidence.” Marnese is especially proud of the Coalition’s Equity Summits; last year’s was focused on Self Determination.

Net Zero Buildings Week

Net Zero Buildings week is June 12 – 16. Join us on social media the week of June 12-16, 2023 to promote the benefits of net zero and low-carbon buildings. Showcase your resources, thought-leadership, art, memes, and more to help us collectively imagine how the built environment can be a solution to climate change in all communities.

Join us and use the hashtag #Decarb4Good on social media to share! Learn more on their website.

Demystifying Decarbonization Panel featuring Jacob

June 12th, 1 PM EST / 12 PM CST

“In line with this year’s theme #Decarb4Good, our experts will provide invaluable 101-level resources that break down the core elements of building decarbonization. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey toward sustainability, this event promises to be an eye-opening experience for all attendees.

Discover the key components that drive building decarbonization and learn how it can reshape our communities for a brighter, cleaner future. From renewable energy integration to energy-efficient design principles, our panelists will equip you with the knowledge needed to make a meaningful difference in your projects and initiatives.” Learn more and register!

MWBDC Members page on our website!

The MWBDC website has a new page showcasing everyone who has submitted their offical membership documents. Check it out here!

Want your organization’s logo featured on the website page? Email it to Maggie ([email protected]) and she will add it.
Not seeing you or your organization’s name? Make sure you have completed your membership forms. The names on the website are pulled directly from the form responses! If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Maggie.

Job Openings

Senior Project Manager | National Housing Trust
Director of the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office | Department of Energy
Director of the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office | Department of Energy
Strategic Campaigns Manager | Michigan Environmental Council

Highland Park Coordinator | Soulardarity
Regional Energy Democracy Coordinator | Soulardarity

Do you have announcements for the next Newsletter? Share them with Maggie at [email protected].

RESOURCES

Heather Navarro from Midwest Climate Collaborative recently shared this spreadsheet of who’s interested in applying for what in the Midwest regarding federal funding.

“This is a tool to share info on the opportunities that are out there and leverage our collective knowledge. It can also be helpful in finding partners. There’s a tab for resources on tracking grants and a tab on consultants and contractors who are available to help in writing and implementing grants. Please feel free to add any information you’d like. For the contractors and consultants, I’ve heard that people are interested in knowing who’s out there that can be helpful, and especially who others have found to be helpful. This is in no way meant to be an endorsement, just an information-sharing tool.”

Thanks so much for sharing, Heather!

Needmor Fund invites applications from grassroots community organization groups in the Midwest

“The fund invites applications for its Core Grants program, which provides general operating support to groups engaged in community organizing. Grants will be awarded to support community organizing groups that organize primarily low- and moderate-income people, as evidenced by demographic/statistical data indicating social and economic distress; have a multi-issue agenda that reflects an intersectional approach to addressing issues associated with race, economic justice, and equality; demonstrate a commitment to long-term base building and effectively link issue work to building organizational power; are democratically run and consist of a dues-paying membership base, with deep member engagement and a process for both developing and regenerating a strong cadre of leaders over time; have developed a power analysis and a clearly defined plan for challenging/altering the dynamics of power within their communities; engage in direct action and have demonstrated the ability to win concrete victories of increasingly larger scale; have a vision to continually build and aggregate power, enabling them to take on bigger policy issues and expand its base of allies to increase its impact over time; and are well managed, engage in strategic planning, and have a sound budget and diversified fundraising plan.”

The deadline to apply is June 30. Learn more here.

Breaking Down the Inflation Reduction Act. Program by Program. Incentive by Incentive.

“The Inflation Reduction Act is the biggest investment in clean energy and climate solutions in American history, so it can be hard to keep track of everything in it. This spreadsheet breaks down the funding opportunities in the bill in a way that allows a variety of users to easily find out which IRA programs and tax incentives can benefit them.” Check out the spreadsheet from RMI.

Justice40 Accelerator Cohort Application Now Open

“Communities at the frontlines of climate, environmental, and social injustices have the wisdom and the solutions to create transformational change. Historic structural racism and bureaucratic inadequacies have often led to a lack of access to the capacity and resources needed to implement their community-driven solutions. With the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 commitment and the unprecedented public funding flowing from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and other federal initiatives, the Justice40 Accelerator aims for organizations from under invested communities to be informed, inspired, and equipped to navigate the public funding space so that public money can flow to communities who need it.”

Read more about the Justice40 Accelerator Cohort and Apply to join it here. Applications close July 31^st.