CERTs Seed Grants

20 YEARS OF COMMUNITY-LED IMPACT

CERTs awards seed grants to community-led energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across Minnesota. Since 2006, we’ve awarded over $2.36M to 561 projects.

We call these seed grants because they are small amounts of money meant to get a project started and inspire others to support the project. Projects receive $5,000-10,000 to spend on labor expenses.

The 52 projects awarded seed grants in 2026 serve a wide array of clean energy ideas, with many focused on helping neighbors to be more energy efficient. Sign up for Energy Stories to learn more about this round of projects later in the year.

Project Objectives

The main goals of this funding are to:

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.
- Build community by engaging a variety of community partners.
- Remove barriers, making clean energy more accessible for everyone.

Financial and programmatic support comes from the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Division of Energy Resources, the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program, the Carolyn Foundation, and the Morgan Family Foundation. Each of the seven geographic regions of Minnesota has its own pool of funding and the projects are selected by local residents who make up the region's steering committee.

Seed Grant Timeline

person standing behind a table with tools

Aug. 2025: CERTs issues the application guidelines and begins accepting applications.
Aug. - Oct. 1, 2025: CERTs staff available to assist applicants with seed grant ideas, questions and applications.
Oct. 1, 2025 at noon: Application deadline.
Oct. - Nov. 2025: Regional CERT Steering Committees review applications and meet to determine project funding.
Dec. 2025 - Jan. 2026: CERTs notifies applicants of funding decisions and paperwork needed to complete the contract. Once the contract is complete, organizations will receive an email notifying them that they can begin work.
June 1, 2026: Interim report due. Projects may submit an interim invoice for up to 50% of the full project award, if 50% of project is complete. Any project that has not begun work may have funding revoked. Funds will be redirected to other project(s) in the region.
Jan. 12, 2027: Project work must be completed. Final Invoice and Final Report are due (Final Report form will be provided by CERTs).
Upon project completion: CERTs will work with seed grant recipients to produce the project story.