Grant Applications are open through March 10, 2023
MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES, DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR RECYCLING PROGRAM?
The Recycling Partnership, through funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is offering grants to communities to enhance residential curbside, drop off, and multifamily recycling programs. Grant applications will be due March 10, 2023 with grant awards made in April 2023.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who’s eligible to apply?
Any Michigan community or regional authority representing a group of communities, both rural and urban, who operate or contract out a curbside recycling program, a drop-off recycling program or a combination of both, are eligible for grant funding. Previous grantees are also eligible to apply for the new App to Action grant money that furthers education and outreach after the Quality Improvement Grant has been conducted. New funding is also available this year for communities in need of multifamily recycling infrastructure and/or quality improvement.
How much money is available?
There is grant funding available for MI communities to conduct a quality improvement recycling campaign in an effort to reduce contamination by 25 percent. Expenses for this program are expected to be at $3/household for drop off programs and $4/household for curbside programs, with a maximum of $150,000/200,000 per grant application. There is also additional grant funding available at $1.00/household to take data gathered during the quality improvement project and create an additional education program to amplify specific messages. Grant funding for multifamily projects is available up to a maximum of $100,000 per grantee.
What does the grant pay for?
Grant eligible expenses will include, but are not limited to:
- Staff for project implementation
- Infrastructure needs
- Printing and mailing direct mail pieces
- Website and other social media
- Signage
- Anti-contamination security solutions (i.e. fencing, cameras, etc.)
- One-year subscription to an online recycling digital communication platform
- Other innovative contamination reduction strategies
What are the selection criteria for funding?
Key grant selection criteria will include:
- Ability of applicant to conduct all of the required elements of the grant program
- Community has support from MRF and hauler
- Readiness of applicant to successfully implement a quality improvement recycling project including the required related outreach efforts
- Number of households in proposed project area
- Willingness to reject contaminated carts at the curb or inspect materials being delivered to drop off locations
- Leverage of additional resources, including local, state, or other non-profit funding
- App to Action—grantee has data from a previous quality improvement program and willingness to use data to create a specific educational project
- Multifamily – grantee has a planned approach to increase equity and inclusion of their diverse populations within their recycling program, including the ability to expand or enhance recycling programs to public housing properties
What is the grant application and implementation timeline?
The grant request for proposal (RFP) was released January 18, 2023. Grant applications will be due March 10, 2023 with grant awards made in April 2023. The Partnership seeks projects that can be implemented between April and December 2023. Communities are encouraged to visit the EGLE website and click on the Red Envelope to sign up for the EGLE Grant and Loan Opportunities Information list-serve to receive future communications about this program.
How does my community apply for funding?
Complete application instructions will be released with the RFP on January 18, 2023. Communities can begin the process by gaining a letter of support from their MRF and hauler, as well as applying to be a member of the Municipal Measurement Program and filling out the surveys online at www.municipalmeasurement.com.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Cassandra Ford at: cford@recyclingpartnership.org or 785-840-4048.