Michigan Extends $11 Million Boost Deadline for Climate Justice Challenge Applicants

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

The Michigan Infrastructure Office together with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has announced the extension of the Climate Justice Challenge submission deadline to August 1, 2024. The State of Michigan is allocating up to $11 million in grants and technical support to leverage federal contributions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants (CCG) for proposals submitted before this new deadline.

This funding initiative aims to tackle environmental and climate justice issues throughout Michigan. The EPA’s CCG program provides significant resources to community organizations for projects that address climate change, enhance community resilience, and rectify longstanding environmental injustices.

The initiative is designed to eliminate obstacles in accessing the CCG by aiding eligible groups in navigating the grant application process. The EPA’s CCG, a $2 billion initiative, offers a substantial funding avenue for community-driven projects, with individual grants ranging from $10 million to $20 million. However, many community organizations struggle with fulfilling the demanding application prerequisites.

To help overcome these challenges, the Climate Justice Challenge is offering up to $10 million, with an additional $1 million from the MIO Technical Assistance Center (TAC) to support the recipients of the EPA’s CCG in managing and complying with federal grant requirements. Prospective applicants can apply for Climate Justice Challenge funding by filling out a designated form before their official submission and the August 1, 2024 deadline. More details about the Challenge and the CCG are available on the EGLE website under EPA Community Change Grants.

The resources provided through the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund’s Climate Justice Challenge support the execution of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, enabling community organizations to spearhead impactful projects and ensure communities are equipped to enact substantial change.

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