The MPCA is pursuing federal funding opportunities to help upgrade infrastructure and build resiliency in Minnesota. Congress has recently made significant funds available to address these issues. We're highlighting those opportunities here to alert potential grantees and to promote partnerships for utilizing the funding.

Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act

In 2021, Congress passed this bipartisan infrastructure law, which represents an enormous investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will rebuild America’s roads, bridges, and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind.

Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental justice through safer and more sustainable products

Application deadline: June 20, 2023

Funding to provide pollution prevention (P2) technical assistance to businesses (e.g., information, training, expert advice) in order to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by increasing the supply, demand and use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those that are certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program, or those that conform to EPA’s Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing.

Greater availability and use of safer and more sustainable products can reduce harmful chemical exposures and their impacts on human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities.

Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act aggressively tackles the climate crisis with provisions for using American-made equipment for clean energy production; expanding clean energy tax credits for wind, solar, nuclear, clean hydrogen, clean fuels, and carbon capture; and providing bonus credits for businesses that pay workers a prevailing wage and use registered apprenticeship programs. This law will reduce harmful air pollution, advance environmental justice, and save families money on their energy bills. The MPCA is focused on the following programs:

  • greenhouse gas (GHG) air pollution planning and implementation grants
  • GHG Reduction Fund
  • reducing air pollution at ports
  • advanced industrial technology funds for facilities
  • tribal climate resiliency grants

We will post additional information about these opportunities when it's available.

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

The new EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides states, local governments, and tribal nations with resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. The MPCA is collaborating with partners across Minnesota to secure these funds.

Watch this recorded webinar to learn more about this collaboration process.

Stay connected. Sign up to receive future updates on state and federal funding opportunities related to climate change.

Contact MPCA climate and energy coordinator Faith Krogstad at faith.krogstad@state.mn.us with questions.

Environmental Protection Agency

The US EPA emphasizes its commitment to protecting historically overburdened and underserved communities in its FY 2022–2026 strategic plan. For the first time, new goals focus solely on addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice and civil rights.

  • Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJTCGM) deadline extended to 6/30/2023

  • Manage the Compliance Assistance Center (EPA) to present innovative and effective approaches and partnerships that will support existing Centers websites and resources and address the long-term financial security of the Centers. Applications due 7/05/2023.

  • Support to the National Tribal Water Council to conduct, coordinate, and promote the acceleration of research, studies, training, and demonstration projects that will support the participation of the National Tribal Water Council (NTWC) and tribes to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution to waters and protect drinking water in Indian country. Applications due 7/31/2023.

  • FY24 Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants (EPA-IIJA; $12M/24 awards) - eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to deliver Brownfields Job Training programs that recruit, train, and retain a local, skilled workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed residents to obtain the skills and credentials needed for pathways into full-time employment in various aspects of hazardous and solid waste management and within the larger environmental field, including sustainable cleanup and reuse, and chemical safety. Applications due 8/02/2023.

  • Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant (IIJA) to issue and oversee subawards for environmental restoration projects in underserved Great Lakes communities. Applications due 8/11/2023.

  • National Priorities: Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge Treatment and Its Impact on the Environment research results should improve our understanding of the nature, extent, selection, and removal of ARB and ARGs found in municipal wastewater effluent and biosolids. Applications due 8/16/2023.

  • 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program includes two sub-programs, one for school district and Tribal applicants (School District Sub-program) and one for third-party applicants (Third-Party Sub-program) to serve at least four school district beneficiaries. EPA is providing two separate competitions to address the unique needs and concerns of diverse recipients and encourage participation in the CSB grants program. Applications due 8/22/2023.