CERTs Seed Grants

Project Objectives

• Support community-based clean energy projects in each Minnesota CERT region. Clean energy projects can include energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, electric vehicle-related projects, and energy storage.

• Encourage projects that are highly visible in the community and can be an example for other communities.
• We are especially looking for projects that:
  • Help people learn about clean energy and get energized.
  • Build community by engaging a variety of community partners.
  • Remove barriers, making clean energy more accessible for everyone.

Each region had its own pool of funding and its own steering committee that selects projects for funding. See map of our regions.

We call these grants “seed grants” because they are small amounts of money meant to get a project started and inspire others to support the project. Projects may receive $5,000-$10,000 for labor and minor materials and supplies.

Funding for 2024 projects was provided through the Minnesota Department of Commerce's Division of Energy Resources and the Morgan Family Foundation.

Seeking translation assistance? We have staff who are willing to translate your application answers from Spanish to English. We can recommend interpretation and translation services for other languages. Email us.

CERTs Seed Grants for community-led clean energy projects in Minnesota.

We're no longer accepting applications.

Projects were notified of awards in December 2023 and can begin work once the contract is complete. A public announcement of the awarded projects occurred in January 2024. Projects must be completed by January 13, 2025.

CERTs Seed Grants can be used for labor and minor materials and supplies. They cannot pay for equipment. See Eligibility below for details.

Wherever you are with your project idea, you can contact us. Staff are available to assist you throughout your project including with completing your application. Email us: [email protected]

The main goals of this funding: 

• Support community-based clean energy projects in each Minnesota CERT region. Clean energy projects can include energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, electric vehicles or other beneficial electrification, and energy storage.

• Encourage projects that are highly visible in the community and can be an example for other communities.

• We are especially looking for projects that:
  • Help people learn about clean energy, get energized, and consider what clean energy could mean for them.
  • Build community around clean energy by engaging a variety of community partners.
  • Remove barriers, making clean energy more accessible for everyone and easing the path to action.
  • Preferably, result in energy saved, generated, or electrified.

Applications will be evaluated according to statewide criteria (based on these goals) as well as regional criteria established by CERTs Regional Steering Committees. See Review Criteria below for details.

Each region has its own pool of funding. Each regional CERT Steering Committee will make their region's funding selections. See the map of the seven CERT regions of Minnesota.

Amounts: These are considered seed grants and are for $5,000-10,000. There are usually more requests than funds available.

Funding for these projects is provided through the Minnesota Department of Commerce's Division of Energy Resources and the Morgan Family Foundation.

• The project must be located in Minnesota.
   
• Eligible applicants include but are not limited to: nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, local governments, tribal nations, schools, libraries, civic associations, religious institutions, service clubs, student groups, business associations, cooperatives, food shelves, shelters, and for-profit entities if the project has a larger public purpose. If you have questions about eligibility, email [email protected].
   
• Eligible costs include labor and minor materials and supplies.
  • Examples of eligible labor costs include: consultant fees, design professional fees, electrician costs, installer costs, student interns, participation incentives, etc.
  • Eligible material and supply costs include: printing, postage, office materials and supplies to conduct outreach and education, training and registration fees, mileage (at approved state rates), etc.
  • Not eligible: capital costs or substantial equipment and hardware such as solar panels, wind turbines, windows, etc.
  • If you have questions about eligible costs, email [email protected].
     
• Project must be completed within the funding period: December 2023 through January 13, 2025.
   
• Preference will be given to proposals that are from, led by, and/or include meaningful participation by historically underserved populations. CERTs defines underserved populations as energy burdened communities — those who spend more than 5% of their income on energy costs — and/or people historically excluded from energy decisions and opportunities. This includes (but is not limited to) Black, Indigenous, people of color, multiracial, immigrant, LGBTQ+, women, low income, disabled, and geographically-isolated communities.

• Projects will submit an Interim Report and a Final Report. CERTs will provide the forms for these reports. 
   
• CERTs cannot fund work completed before the contract is completed in December 2023.
   
• Payments are made on a reimbursement basis, after the work is completed. However, pre-payments may be allowed if you email a request before October 10, 2023 at [email protected].
   
• Projects can request payment as soon as their projects are done. Projects can also request interim payments. 50% of the project award can be paid when 50% of the project is complete.   
   
• Invoices will not be paid until reports are received, reviewed, and approved.
   
• If there has been no progress on the project by the time of the interim report (June 3, 2024), funding may be revoked and reallocated to another project in the same region.
   
• Projects agree to share results publicly via a case study written by CERTs.

All proposals meeting the eligibility requirements described in this Request for Proposals and received by the deadline — Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at noon — will be evaluated based on the statewide and regional criteria described below. 

Complete proposals include the following:

• A completed CERTs Seed Grant Application form.
   
• Documentation from any project partner (email, letter of support), if applicable. Upload documents to the final section of the application or email: [email protected]
  • Applicants are encouraged to seek appropriate collaborators and/or partners.
     
• Documentation of secured funding from other source (award letter, email), if applicable. Upload documents to the final section of the application or email: [email protected]
   
• Multiple-Region Application Addendum if applying to more than one region. Upload documents to the final section of the application or email: [email protected]
  • A single project may apply for funding from more than one region if the project spans more than one region. If you wish to apply to multiple regions, you must include in your application the Multiple-Region Application Addendum which is available upon request by emailing  [email protected].

In addition, CERTs staff are available to help applicants with their applications. Please reach out with questions or for assistance: [email protected]. 

Complete proposals must be submitted no later than noon on October 10, 2023. 

CERTs staff do not select or vote on projects. Funded projects will be selected by Regional CERT Steering Committees in Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and West Central regions. In the Metro region, a designated Review Committee will select projects.

Projects will be evaluated on Statewide Criteria as well as Regional Criteria. Please review the Statewide Criteria and the additional Regional Criteria specific to your project’s region. See our map to identify your CERT region.

1.  Advance community-based clean energy projects. Clean energy can include projects related to energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, electric vehicle-related projects, and energy storage.

2.  Help people learn about clean energy and/or has high potential to be a replicable model.

3.  Engage a variety of community partners.
4.  Remove barriers or make clean energy more accessible in communities.
5.  Demonstrate clear goals, benchmarks, timelines, and budgets.
6.  Result in energy savings or offsets.
7.  Preference will be given to proposals that are from, led by, and/or include meaningful participation by historically underserved populations. CERTs defines underserved populations as energy burdened communities — those who spend more than 5% of their income on energy costs — and/or people historically excluded from energy decisions and opportunities. This includes (but is not limited to) Black, Indigenous, people of color, multiracial, immigrant, LGBTQ+, women, low income, disabled, and geographically-isolated communities.

Click the region for details.

CERTs will provide a template for the Interim Report (due June 3, 2024) and Final Report (due January 13, 2025). You must show progress on your project by noting it in your Interim Report or your funding may be revoked. 

If you have an idea, or even if you feel like this could be an opportunity but don’t yet have a concrete idea, please contact us! Staff are available to help you with your application. Contact us: [email protected].