The Mayor of Chicago, Lori E. Lightfoot has announced a new grant opportunity aimed at catalyzing climate action by nonprofit organizations and small businesses across the city.
The recently established Climate Infrastructure Fund will enable green infrastructure solutions to capture stormwater and lessen onsite flooding, in addition to funding improvements in renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings.
It will also support the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations for them. Applications will be graded according to project preparedness, equity impact, and criteria for climate mitigation and resilience.
Announcing the opportunity on Tuesday, Lightfoot said: “In October of last year and along with the support of the City Council, we committed to delivering on bold, equitable, and actionable climate solutions by investing in the largest climate budget to date in Chicago.
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โThat $188 million serves as a down payment for climate action and resiliency with an intentional focus on direct benefits within neighbourhoods that are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change and decades of disinvestment. The Climate Infrastructure Fund is further strengthening this foundation by supporting organizations and small businesses as they take on leadership roles as participants and beneficiaries in the green economy.โ
The $5 million Climate Infrastructure Fund will provide funding for initiatives that support the City’s pledges to reduce emissions, support environmental justice initiatives throughout the city, and meet climate action plan goals.
The Climate Infrastructure Fund is part of a suite of climate and environmental justice projects within the Chicago Recovery Plan, which funds a variety of projects across the city. Grant amounts will range from $50,000 to $250,000.
Story was adapted from Chicago.
