On this page you will find resources to help your community move forward on our sustainable journey. If you’re looking to identify funding opportunities or learn about participating in one of MGC’s technical assistance cohorts, you’ve come to the right place!
Resources
Interested in being part of the Michigan Green Communities Network?
What you’ll receive:
– Information on environmental sustainability events and funding opportunities
– Ability to participate in the MGC Challenge benchmarking program
– Exclusive learning cohorts with experts, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, including webinars and workshops on sustainability
– Access to the MGC forum – ask your peers questions, learn about interesting sustainability programs other communities are tackling
Open to staff, elected officials, and appointed officials of cities, villages, townships, counties and higher education institutions
Funding
Below are resources available for local governments on federal and state funding opportunities
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity funds this user-friendly database of state and federal funding opportunities available to Michigan municipalities and counties.
There are several energy and climate-related funding programs available through the Department of Energy (DOE) including the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
Click here to visit the DOE Infrastructure Law Programs webpage.
The University of Michigan is maintaining a spreadsheet of relevant funding opportunities for Michigan communities from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA).
The Local Infrastructure Hub is a national program designed to connect cities and towns with the resources and expert advice they need to access federal infrastructure funding in order to drive local progress, improve communities, and deliver results for residents.
EGLE offers funding for projects that protect environmental quality such as those involving water, brownfield redevelopment, pollution, energy, coastal management, and more.
See a full list of funding opportunities here on their website.
EGLE’s Community Energy Management Program funds a wide variety of energy projects, including those related to energy management, energy efficiency, renewable energy, fleet electrification, EV charging infrastructure, sustainable financing solutions, and/or clean energy workforce development.
Template Sustainability Plan
In 2023, Michigan Green Communities created a template sustainability plan toolkit to help communities create sustainability plans sooner and start working toward environmental protection, environmental justice, and climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. The toolkit includes an internal-facing workplan, an external-facing sustainability plan, a one-page sustainability plan update template, and a user guide.
Technical Assistance Cohorts
The Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program offers technical assistance cohorts to all communities certified in the most recent year of the MGC Challenge (eligibility depends on specific program). These programs are offered at no cost to communities and provide opportunities for local governments to work in smaller groups to learn about specialized sustainability topics.
Accelerator Cohort
The MGC Accelerator Cohort is a technical assistance cohort for staff, elected, and appointed officials of local units of government that have reached bronze or silver in the most recent MGC Challenge. This cohort helps municipalities and counties accelerate their progress in embedding environmental sustainability in their operations, practices, and policies and move toward Gold-level MGC Challenge certification. The cohort operates on a “module” structure/schedule and bronze/silver MGC Challenge certified communities are able to join a module when as their time and needs allow. Each module consists of 3-4 meetings (1 meeting/month) with subject matter experts to tackle sustainability issues in a small group setting. The Accelerator Cohort runs 2 modules per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. If you’re interested in participating in the next Accelerator Cohort module, please send an email to info@migreencommunities.com.
- Eligibility: Bronze or Silver certified in the most recent MGC Challenge
- Lead Organization: Michigan Municipal League (MML), funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Click on the topics below to learn more about past cohort topics.
- The first module of the Accelerator Cohort kicked off in Spring 2023, focusing on green infrastructure – features such as green or vegetated roofs and walls, stormwater infrastructure, rain gardens, permeable pavements and surfaces, cisterns, rainwater collection and reuse, native landscaping, and more. Across four sessions, participating communities engaged in hands-on exercises with subject matter experts from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Lawrence Technological University, and other partners. In these workshop-styles sessions, communities worked with experts to identify relevant green infrastructure solutions and zoning reforms needed to enact those solutions.
- Sessions:
- Session 1 – GI 101 & Identifying Opportunities for GI on Public Property
- Session 2 – Zoning Audit How-to & Incremental Zoning
- Session 3 – Zoning Audit Follow Up
- Session 4 – Incremental Zoning, Equity, Recap, Discussion, & Peer Learning
The second module of the Accelerator Cohort took place in Fall 2023, focusing on materials management planning. Consultants at Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) led each session, leading presentations & discussions, bringing in outside topic speakers, available for individual coaching sessions outside of group sessions.
In late 2022, legislation was passed to update Michigan’s solid waste law, including expanding recycling and composting efforts to contribute to a circular economy. As part of the requirement for counties to develop new materials managements plans, implementation of Part 115 involves all counties and municipalities in Michigan. This module focused on the basics of comprehensive materials management, setting realistic community goals, and collaboration among municipalities and counties. Participants received provide in their materials management planning process to help them comply with Part 115 and advance the circular economy in Michigan.
- Sessions:
- Session 1 – Setting the Stage
- Session 2 – Talking Trash – Recycling and Landfill Diversion
- Session 3 – Organics and Climate Change
- Session 4 – Circular Economy
This round of the Accelerator Cohort focused on how local governments can take steps towards becoming more energy efficient and preparing for renewable energy projects. Across three sessions, participants explored a municipal energy efficiency framework, examples of decarbonization/renewable strategies in other Michigan communities, and approaches to financing these projects. Speakers included experts from RMI, 5 Lakes Energy, Michigan Saves, and Challenge participants actively working on decarbonization projects.
Sessions:
Session 1 – RMI Local Energy Action Framework
Session 2 – Local Government Examples of Decarbonization Strategies
Session 3 – Financing Energy Efficiency & Renewables
Catalyst Leadership Circle (CLC) & Fellowship (CLCF) Program
Participation in the Catalyst Leadership Circle (CLC), managed by the University of Michigan’s Graham Sustainability Institute, is available to silver and gold MGC Challenge certified communities The CLC is a group of local governments that are leading the way toward a sustainable future across the state. Perks of participation include access to bi-monthly peer-sharing convenings with other local leaders, regular email updates on relevant resources and opportunities, and eligibility to host a CLC Fellow that can assist with sustainability and clean energy projects.
During the CLC Fellowship, communities can expand their office capacity and work with a graduate-level scholar. This summer program matches communities with students attending institutions across the state and a technical advisor to complete an advanced sustainability project. Other communities across Michigan can use the fellowships’ end deliverables to reproduce results in their jurisdictions. In 2022, the first year of the fellowship, Fellows completed nine projects spanning topics from deconstruction ordinances to impervious surface mapping to resident communication strategies. The University of Michigan’s Graham Sustainability Institute website has full project descriptions.
- Eligibility: Silver or Gold certified in the most recent MGC Challenge
- Lead Organization: University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute Center for EmPowering Communities
