The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announces the opening of applications for the third competitive round of the Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund.
In collaboration with VLITE, VSECU, Vermont Community Foundation Flood Response & Recovery Fund, the Sunflower Fund, and the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, VCRD is supporting innovators in developing solutions that move Vermont closer to its climate and energy goals. The first two rounds included grants to 43 local innovators totaling over $117,000. A diversity of projects were funded including new draft-stopping window inserts, solar parking lot streetlights, e-bikes at local libraries, construction of a public regenerative “food forest,” solar with back-up battery storage for a library community hub, and more. To learn more about projects that were funded in 2021 and 2022, see this interactive map and read the 2021 Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund Report.
“This provides important initial funding for small projects that demonstrate the ingenuity of communities to create meaningful impact through local climate-based solutions. The range of projects across Vermont from the last two rounds of the Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund speaks to the diversity and innovation required to implement local climate solutions,” noted Program Manager, Laura Cavin Bailey. “We are grateful to our funders for their community focus, and look forward to supporting many creative applications again this year.”
Award amounts range from $500-$4,000 and will be awarded based on demonstrating a mix of addressing Vermonters in need, innovation, resilience, collaboration, and replicability. This year, some of the funding is available to support projects in flood-affected communities. Eligible applicants include municipalities, town committees, schools, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
APPLY HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWwWpYbVDS4aoOaekj_g7A245UMkz2mhFOStNuI8qRPKS1Vg/viewform.
Application deadline: November 6 2023 @ 5pm.
Learn more here: https://www.vtrural.org/climate-economy/climate-catalysts-innovation-fund/, and contact Laura Cavin Bailey at [email protected] or (802) 234-1646 with any questions.