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Human Behavior is at the root of environmental problems…and their solutions. Increase the ROI of your environmental campaigns by employing strategies from the most cutting-edge research in cognitive science and behavioral change.

In this hour-long webinar, you will:

• • Learn why it's better to focus on barriers than motivation & the 20 major barriers that stop everyone from achieving the behaviors they seek
  • Learn behavior-based solutions from the 10 principles outlined in our BEHAVIORAL BUILDING BLOCKS™
  • Learn why many campaigns and initiatives fail to perform to their highest potential
  • See how other organizations have shifted people toward sustainable behaviors by applying these principles

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We Are Water MN will be hosting a FREE Smart Salting for Local Leaders workshop with Dakota County on May 25th from 12:00-2:00 pm. This workshop is an opportunity for local decision makers such as city council/committee members and board members to learn about impacts of chloride and specific action steps for policy changes that reduce chloride pollution in Dakota County and statewide.

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For questions, please contact Megan Reich at megan.reich@state.mn.us.

Diesel equipment owners from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors were encouraged to apply for this Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant opportunity. DERA grant funds reduce emissions from older, diesel-powered off-road equipment by helping owners to replace or improve eligible diesel equipment—improving air quality and public health at the same time.

See the request for proposals (RFP) for full details on eligibility: who may apply, grant match amounts, and other information that will help applicants submit a proposal.

• Application deadline: August 4, 2022 (4:30 p.m. CDT)
• Total funds: Approximately $1 million
• Awards: Maximum $400,000
• Match requirement: Yes; refer to the RFP for project-specific match requirements.

Application details

The RFP and application materials can only be viewed through the online SWIFT portal. The RFP is termed an “Event” within the SWIFT system.

1. Go to the online SWIFT portal.
2. Click on "Bidding opportunities"
3. Find the event name (MPCA-Grant-Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA)) or ID (2000013016).
4. Click "View Bid Package" to see the RFP and forms. (There’s no need to log in to see the documents.)

You must register in the SWIFT portal to submit an application. Grant applications are only accepted through the SWIFT portal. Applicants interested in applying will need to register as a bidder in the system by clicking on the SWIFT Supplier Portal, then "Register for an Account and Register as a Bidder".

Note: If an applicant is already registered in the SWIFT system as a Supplier (previously known as a vendor), they do not need to register as a bidder. They will need their Supplier ID.

More information can be found in the SWIFT Supplier Portal under "Informational Tips" and "Supplier Portal Help." For questions about applying through SWIFT, please contact the Vendor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, option 1.

Informational webinar

An overview of this grant and the RFP process will take place on Wednesday, June 8. Please check back for exact timing and meeting access information closer to the meeting date.

Ask a question

MPCA personnel are not authorized to discuss the posted RFP with applicants, and contact regarding this RFP with any MPCA personnel may result in disqualification.

All questions regarding the RFP must be emailed: grants.pca@state.mn.us, subject line “DERA Grant 2022 Question”. Staff will gather questions and post answers in the SWIFT Supplier Portal on an at-least weekly basis. All questions must be received by 4:30 p.m. CDT on Monday, August 1, 2022.

Background

Funding for this RFP comes from the U.S. EPA National Clean Diesel Campaign and Minnesota’s portion of the national Volkswagen settlement.

Eligible equipment may include marine engines, locomotives, trailer refrigeration units, terminal tractors, drayage trucks, and off-road engines, and equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo, agriculture, mining, or energy production.

Minnesota GreenCorps, an AmeriCorps program coordinated by the MPCA, is looking for motivated, service-minded individuals to improve the environment and build community resilience throughout the state. The MPCA is recruiting 48 full-time members to serve for 11 months, from September 2022 to August 2023. Members are placed at local governments, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions statewide.

Members serve on projects:

• Reducing air pollutants by encouraging green transportation, electric vehicles, and building retrofits.
• Conducting community outreach and education on environmental stewardship practices.
• Implementing green infrastructure improvements to reduce stormwater runoff and improve habitat.
• Reducing waste by implementing recycling and organics programs and encouraging material reuse.

MN GreenCorps members receive a living allowance, health insurance, student loan forbearance, and an education award for future education expenses or qualified student loans. As a professional development program, members receive training and the opportunity to develop green job skills, gain professional experience, and network with environmental professionals.

Visit www.pca.state.mn.us/mngreencorps to learn more about the program, review position summaries, and apply online. Applications are due Thursday, June 16. Contact mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us with questions.

Conservation Crew is a student leadership program for Minnesota middle schoolers designed to empower youth through conservation projects in their school and community. As a youth-led after school program, the Crew will research, select, and perform a conservation project that benefits its school and the surrounding community.

Each Conservation Crew—made up of five to 25 student and supported by a teacher or school staff—selects their focus and service project. Each Crew is supported by Conservation Minnesota staff and will be provided a program guide, a project budget, and a $3,000 teacher stipend.

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The National League of Cities (NLC) program will provide federal grant application assistance for up to 20 small and medium-sized Minnesota cities.

With billions of dollars in new and existing federal discretionary grants authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the National League of Cities (NLC) has launched a new program to help cities develop and submit federal grant applications.

The NLC’s Federal Grant Navigation Program seeks to help cities collect necessary data, match community needs with funding streams, and apply for federal grants. The program is free for up to 20 cities in Minnesota with populations of no less than or near 9,000. It is open to both NLC members and non-members.

Participating cities will receive specialized one-on-one assistance. They will also participate in a cohort with other municipalities across the country, based on size and need, to share strategies and best practices for successfully securing federal grant awards. Interested cities can sign up for NLC’s Grant Navigation Program by completing a form on the program’s website.

Learn More and Sign Up 

This May, Rethos is hosting a three-part webinar deconstruction series focused on economic, environmental, and cultural values. The series is open to all. Building owners, contractors, city staff, heritage preservation commissioners, tradespeople, and policy makers are especially encouraged to attend. 

Registration now open! Click on the webinar title below to register for one or more of the webinars:

1. Deconstruction Masterclass: The Essentials May 4, 2022, 10am-12pm 
2. Deconstruction Masterclass: Climate & Environmental Impacts May 11, 2022, 10am-12pm
3. Deconstruction Masterclass: Giving New Life to Old Buildings May 18, 2022, 10am-12pm

The series is funded in part by a National Trust for Historic Preservation grant. To learn more, check out Rethos' deconstruction email.

Apply to be a host site for a Climate Impact Corps - Community Forest Corps member for the 2022-2023 service year. 

Preserving and Increasing Tree Canopy

AmeriCorps members add to the capacity of your team by supporting tree inventorying, tree planting events, gravel bed nursery projects, Emerald Ash Borer management plan development, and more.

Educating and Connecting with Residents

AmeriCorps members help advance your mission by leading outreach activities and supporting with volunteer recruitment, training, and utilization.

Reaching Communities Across the State

Climate Impact Corps thrives in a wide variety of contexts. We work with governmental agencies and non-profit organizations across Minnesota in rural, urban, and suburban settings.

Apply Today

Guide to Partnering with the Community Forest Initiative

Site applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The first round of award notifications was announced in late February.

Contact:  

Lizzie Morris Vogt, Director of Partnerships

lizziemorrisvogt@ampact.us | 612-314-3906

Join a class or webinar with Rethos and learn more about how to connect with historic places and promoting community vitality. 

Offerings include (for example): 

• Accessibility in Historic Downtowns 
• Why Old is Green: Sustainability in Older Homes 
• Racism in Real Estate
• Maximizing Window Energy Efficiency 
• Old Home Weatherization 
• Prairie Garden installations and maintenance

Audience: 

• NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS who need advice on historic designations or saving important structures.
• DEVELOPERS who support the need to work with legislators on the historic tax credits and seek us out for investment partnerships.
• HOMEOWNERS who want to learn more through our unique classes and experiential tours.
• MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES for a proven path to economic strength - and more.

SEE ALL EVENTS AND SIGN UP  

Share your input on Minnesota's draft Climate Action Framework!

Climate change is no longer a far-off possibility. Minnesotans are suffering its devastating effects right now – and it will get worse. Fortunately, we can all be a part of the solution. Addressing climate change presents us with a historical opportunity to strengthen our economy, improve our health, and create a more equitable Minnesota for everyone.

To guide this work, Minnesota’s Climate Change Subcabinet has released a draft of our state’s Climate Action Framework  

The Framework sets a vision for how Minnesota will address and prepare for climate change. It is organized around six key goals for climate action including:  

• Clean Transportation  
• Climate-Smart Natural and Working Lands  
• Resilient Communities  
• Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings  
• Healthy Lives and Communities  
• Clean Economy

Asking Minnesotans help us plan and prioritize how we will address climate change together. We want feedback on how this plan aligns with the needs of your community. 

Share Your Feedback

Over the next several months, we will continue conversations to finalize the Framework. One aspect of this process will include stakeholder workgroups. These workgroups will meet approximately six times from March to May to review the draft and provide input on the Framework and its implementation. 

If you are interested in being considered for participation on a workgroup, visit our website and fill out the form by February 15, 2022.

The Climate Change Subcabinet will release a final Climate Action Framework in  mid-2022.  

For more information visit mn.gov/framework or email climate@mn.state.us.