News

Sign up for: 

• Property Management Certification 
• Level 1 (individual) training
• Level 2 (organization) training

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/smart-salting-training

August 25 workshop on preparing grant proposals for clean up and redevelopment of abandoned properties

Grants are available from the State of Minnesota and U.S. EPA to help community groups, local development agencies, etc. pay for environmental investigation and cleanup of abandoned or under-used properties in your neighborhood.  Also known as brownfields, these properties can be small or large areas within communities that can be developed into parkland, housing or other uses that are beneficial to communities. The MPCA’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment grant, which gives preference to small projects in areas of concern for environmental justice in Minnesota, has funds available on a first-come-first serve basis for environmental investigation and cleanup-planning. Please contact Shanna Schmitt at shanna.schmitt@state.mn.us or 651-757-2697 to find out more about grants offered by MPCA.

The two-hour  virtual workshop listed below will present an overview of state and federal grants and also provide tips for writing a successful grant application to access these competitive funds, including the various investigation and cleanup grants available in Minnesota and from the US EPA.

The U.S. EPA Region 5 Brownfields Program and the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin invite YOU to attend:

Brownfields Grant-Writing Virtual Workshop

August 25, 2020

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. CDT, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT

AGENDA          INVITATION

Reuse and redevelopment of abandoned, idled, or underutilized real property (a.k.a. brownfields) are both a challenge and an opportunity.  Putting these sites back into productive use can serve as a catalyst for local economic revitalization.

This free brownfields grant-writing webinar is being presented by the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program at Kansas State University, in partnership with the U.S. EPA Region 5 Brownfields Program and the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The workshop is designed to offer tools and tips for grant-writing when applying for U.S. EPA Brownfields, Assessment (Community-Wide, Site-Specific or Coalition), Multipurpose and Cleanup Grants.  Participants will learn:

• federal and state funding opportunities;
• tips for writing a successful narrative; and,
• utilizing TAB Resources including TAB EZ.

Attendance is free, but registration is required.  Click here to register or copy and paste this link into your web browser (https://www.ksutab.org/education/workshops/details?id=417.

Apply Now to be a Host Site for the Inaugural Community Forestry Corps AmeriCorps Program!

The Community Forestry Corps (CFC) is a new AmeriCorps program designed to assist governmental agencies and nonprofits in protecting and growing the tree canopy in their communities. This program is part of a larger climate change initiative administered by Reading & Math, Inc. and ServeMinnesota to train AmeriCorps members, enabling them to assist Minnesota in mitigating and adapting to our changing climate…first stop, Urban and Community Forestry!  

AmeriCorps CFC Members will receive training prior to their placement, which begins this fall. This training includes: tree identification, gravel bed management, working with volunteers, emerald ash borer management and preparedness, tree planting and young tree care, as well as community outreach and engagement. Consider them as an additional Lorax working in your community to help you achieve your goals of protecting and expanding your community forest.

The deadline for application is August 15th - apply today!

Position Description
Host Site Application

The CPL grant program is now accepting applications for FY2021

The Conservation Partners Legacy grant program (CPL) funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, and wildlife in Minnesota. Grant requests may range from $5,000 to $400,000 with a maximum total project cost of $575,000. Nonprofit organizations and government entities are eligible to apply, and a 10% match of non-state origin is required. Funding for the CPL program comes from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. 

$7.452 million is available for the Traditional and Metro grant cycles. Projects must be on public lands/waters or on lands protected by a permanent conservation easement. Apply by 3:00 PM September 21, 2020.

$2.5 million is available for the Expedited Conservation Projects (ECP) grant cycle. ECP funds up to $50,000 for eligible activities on public lands and waters. The ECP application is open continuously through May 10, 2021, or until all funds are awarded. Apply by 3:00 PM September 14, 2020 for the first round of ECP funding.

Additional Information:

FY2021 Request for Proposal

FY2021 CPL Funding Schedule

CPL Evaluation Criteria

Questions? Please email lscplgrants.dnr@state.mn.us for more information.

Local governments are invited to learn how their southeast Minnesotan community can incorporate sustainability and resiliency into their planning. Staff and sustainability commission members are invited to join us as the cities of Faribault, Northfield, Red Wing, and Rochester share their lessons learned. This free webinar is hosted by Minnesota GreenStep and Southeast Clean Energy Resource Team (SE CERT).

Date And Time

Wed, August 19, 2020

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/se-cert-greenstep-sustainability-and-resiliency-planning-in-southeast-mn-registration-113145126118 

Diesel equipment owners from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors are 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: September 18, 2020
• Total funding: Approximately $1.1 million

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/minnesota-clean-diesel-off-road-dera-grant

Cities Charging Ahead (CCA) is back in 2020 to help cities and Tribal Nations get their electric vehicle (EV) projects ‘across the finish line.’ This cohort will build upon the previous CCA cohort by deepening learning and focusing on taking action to accelerate EV use in Minnesota communities. We will launch the first part of the cohort in September with weekly meetings focused on EV charging. We are anticipating the Request For Proposal (RFP) for level 2 EV chargers to be released in the Fall and hope this cohort will better prepare cities and Tribal Nations to take advantage of the funding that will be available. The cohort will also include subsequent parts on EVs for city fleets and EV standards for private development in the Fall and into Winter.

To join the cohort, complete the survey and share with us your city's past and planned EV efforts. Take the survey here . 

 To learn more about Cities Charging Ahead: https://www.driveelectricmn.org/cities-charging-ahead/

As cities grapple with the impact of COVID-19 on their local communities, cities may wonder how to address race equity. The state and other cities have created helpful resources that may benefit your community.

The League will continue to compile race equity resources, so check here for updates.

Get answers to frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and race equity

• Are there racial disparities related to COVID-19?
• Are there racial disparities in Minnesota related to COVID-19?
• How can cities include race equity in their response to COVID-19?
• If city residents are looking for multilingual COVID-19 resources, where can the city find them?
• We hear there may be acts of racial bias or discrimination happening related to COVID-19, but they are not getting reported to our police department. What can the city do to address this issue?
• What kind of statement could a city make related to race equity and COVID-19?
• What are Minnesota cities doing to address race equity during this health pandemic?
• What other local government efforts should cities be aware of related to equity and COVID-19?

Request for Proposals 

Spring 2021
The University of Minnesota’s Resilient Communities Project (RCP) is now accepting proposals for partnerships to begin spring academic term (January 2021). Partners benefit from applied research and technical assistance, provided by students and faculty at the University of Minnesota from a variety of departments and disciplines, to address one or more locally identified projects that advance community resilience to economic, social, environmental, or technological changes. RCP specifically encourages proposals for projects focused on racial inequities, unjust systems, or the COVID-19 pandemic, and that center communities most impacted by these issues. 

The selection process is competitive, and successful applicants must support the effort through dedicated staff time and a local financial contribution. 

RCP currently has two open requests for proposals:

• Comprehensive Plan Implementation Partnership: Round II (deadline: September 15)
• Standard RCP Partnership (deadline: October 1)

RCP staff are available to help with development of your proposal at any stage—from introducing the RCP program and model to your staff, elected officials, and other stakeholders to helping brainstorm ideas for projects. Contact rcp@umn.edu to get started!
 

Comprehensive Plan Implementation Partnership: Round II
Round II of this special call for proposals, issued in conjunction with the Metropolitan Council, is intended for Twin Cities metro area communities seeking to collaborate on one to two (1–2) projects that build community resilience and implement elements of a locally adopted 2040 comprehensive plan. 

Eligibility: Townships, cities, and counties located in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan and within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Council are eligible. The local financial contribution for a partnership is $2,000 per project, with a $5,000 match from the Metropolitan Council.

Deadline: Proposals must be received by September 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM. Communities selected for participation will be notified by the end of September 2020.
Download proposal guidelines for complete application information
 

Standard RCP Partnership 
Intended for Minnesota local government agencies interested in collaborating on one to twenty (1–20) projects. Projects should demonstrably advance community resilience to economic, social, environmental, or technological changes. RCP specifically encourages proposals for projects focused on racial inequities, unjust systems, or the COVID-19 pandemic, and that center communities most impacted by these issues. 

Eligibility: Cities, counties, tribal public entities, special districts (e.g. watershed, transit, park, school), and regional government agencies or collaboratives located anywhere in the state of Minnesota are eligible. The local financial contribution for a partnership is $6,000 per project.

Deadline: Proposals must be received by October 1, 2020 at 11:59 PM. Communities selected for participation will be notified by the end of October 2020. Proposals for standard RCP partnerships are accepted three times per year: June 1 for projects to begin fall semester (September–December), October 1 for projects to begin spring semester (January–May), and February 1 for projects to begin summer semester (June–August).  
Download proposal guidelines for complete application information

Curb wastewater nutrient challenges: Upstream nutrient source reduction assistance

Is your community facing challenges with Nitrogen or Phosphorous loading in wastewater? Is your business facing pressure from the treatment facility to get a handle on wastewater releases? The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) has demonstrated that source reduction assistance can improve a wastewater facility’s ability to meet effluent targets while enhancing business operations through expanded capacity, improved quality and reduced cost. In January 2020 MnTAP has launched a project geared towards working with facilities upstream of wastewater treatment plants to help them better-manage wastewater effluent.

Through this project, MnTAP staff and interns can help identify strategies for upstream nutrient reduction, which can:

• Decrease load to local wastewater treatment ponds and plants

• Reduce the burden on our local bodies of water and wildlife

• Minimize pressure and costs for businesses that discharge wastewater

If your community, wastewater treatment plant and/or business could benefit from no-cost assistance with wastewater nutrient management, contact Matt Domski – mdomski@umn.edu 612-624-5119 or Daniel Chang – dwchang@umn.edu 612-624-0808.