Local Natural Resources 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.

This funding opportunity supports public agencies, tribes, and nonprofit organizations in California to restore coastal environments, improve public access, and enhance climate resilience, particularly for historically underrepresented communities.

The Lane County Cultural Coalition in Oregon is offering Cultural Opportunity Grants ranging from $1000 to $10,000 for a year, funded by the Oregon Cultural Trust, to support projects that protect and stabilize cultural resources, expand public awareness of arts, humanities, and heritage, and increase access to culture, with a focus on access, awareness, and education in Lane County.

This program provides funding to public, private, and nonprofit entities for replacing high-polluting diesel or CNG vehicles with zero-emission alternatives to improve air quality and public health in Santa Barbara County.

This grant provides funding to community organizations in Sacramento for projects that protect and improve local water quality by preventing stormwater pollution.

This program provides funding to villages and townships in Portage County for community projects that improve public parks and trails while preserving natural resources.

This grant provides funding for programs and projects that address environmental and nature-related issues in McLean, DeWitt, Livingston, and Logan Counties in Illinois.

This program provides financial assistance to businesses and organizations in Santa Barbara County for upgrading or replacing older diesel marine engines with cleaner technologies to reduce air pollution and improve public health.

This program provides funding to community groups in Portland for projects that improve local watersheds and promote environmental education and stewardship.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments in Minnesota for improving roads that enhance access to state parks and recreational areas, ensuring safer travel for visitors.

This program provides funding to public entities, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses in Orange County, North Carolina, to implement innovative projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience for local communities.

This grant provides funding for organizations to install green infrastructure on residential properties in Washington, DC, to reduce stormwater pollution and promote sustainable landscaping practices.

This program provides funding to non-profit organizations for projects that improve water quality and promote community engagement in watershed restoration efforts in Montgomery County, Maryland.

This program provides financial assistance to property owners in DuPage County for projects that improve water quality and reduce flooding in local waterways.

This funding opportunity supports community-led projects in Dane County that aim to reduce organic waste through composting, food recovery, and educational initiatives.

This program provides financial support to small landowners and stewards in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, for projects that enhance wildlife habitats on properties under 25 acres.

This program provides funding for individuals, businesses, and community groups in Pierce County, Washington, to implement small-scale green infrastructure projects that reduce stormwater pollution and improve local water quality.

This program provides funding to residents, schools, and community organizations in Rochester, Minnesota, to create gardens that support pollinators and improve water management.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Chester County, Pennsylvania, to acquire land or conservation easements that promote public benefits like natural area preservation, farmland conservation, and recreational access.

This grant provides funding for environmental projects in Douglas County, Wisconsin, that benefit the community by enhancing natural areas, protecting water resources, and promoting ecological education and restoration.