REGION – The Vermont Council on Rural Development announced the launch of a new small grant program designed to support local innovators with projects that move Vermont closer to its climate and energy goals. The Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund is capitalized with $20,000 from the Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity and VSECU. This grant program is intended to support innovative local projects for which a small grant could have a meaningful impact. Municipalities, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and town energy committees are all eligible to apply. Four to 10 grant awards will be made ranging in size from $500 to a maximum of $4,000.
“Tackling climate change and preparing for its impacts means acting at every level, from the hyper-local to statewide, nationally, and internationally,” noted program director Jon Copans. “Across Vermont towns, organizations, and businesses are stepping up in creative ways to confront this challenge. Our intention is for this grant to support projects that demonstrate some mix of innovation, collaboration, and replicability, while also addressing the plight of Vermonters in need.”
“Since the adoption of our Environmental Mission Statement in 2006, VSECU has been actively supporting our member-owners to reduce their energy use and save money while doing it,” said Simeon Chapin, community impact officer at VSECU. “The Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund will help engaged communities across the state test ideas, learn, and share new ways to move us all further towards our individual and collective energy and climate goals.”
A short grant application can be found here: https://forms.gle/ghoDJpMxDkdEXDVs8. The deadline to apply for this grant is July 22.
Anyone with questions about this grant and how to apply should contact Jon Copans at jon@vtrural.org or call him at 802-272-0162. An informational Zoom session about the grant program will be hosted June 24 at 12 p.m. Register here for this session: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtcu2qrz0vGdMIkSYGpQNpYRq8UYHbOaEi.