Community Climate Action Grant Program

The Community Climate Action Grant Program is administered by Orange County, North Carolina, through its Climate Action Fund, which was established by the Board of Orange County Commissioners in 2019 to accelerate climate change mitigation actions within the county. This program is intended to advance the county’s Climate Action Plan, adopted on November 2, 2023, which sets goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, compared to 2005 levels. For the FY 2025-26 funding cycle, approximately $267,750 is available to support projects that expand climate change mitigation and resilience efforts, building upon Orange County’s long history of sustainable initiatives. The purpose of this grant is to encourage public entities, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses (with annual gross revenues not exceeding $3 million) to develop and implement innovative projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address climate change impacts, and provide measurable benefits to Orange County residents and the environment. Eligible projects may include new, repaired, or replacement clean energy infrastructure; communication and education efforts on climate resilience; nature-based solutions such as reforestation or soil regeneration; waste reduction and circular economy initiatives; analyses and planning studies; and other community-based environmental projects. All awarded funds must be spent within Orange County, and projects must show that funding will either accelerate their implementation or significantly expand their scope. For repair and replacement projects, applicants must demonstrate energy efficiency improvements and that the work is unlikely to be funded from other sources within the next five years. Applications will be evaluated by the Orange County Commission for the Environment (CFE) and the Human Relations Commission (HRC) using scoring criteria that prioritize social justice and racial equity, emissions reduction, efficient use of funds, applicant capacity, local economic development, community engagement, and timely completion. Each criterion is assigned a maximum point value, with social justice and racial equity receiving the highest weighting. Example metrics include the degree to which projects benefit marginalized communities, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced locally, and the project’s cost-effectiveness. Reviewers may consult experts and other advisory boards to ensure diversity, inclusion, and alignment with county goals. They may recommend full or partial funding. Comments from reviewers may be shared with applicants upon request. The application process includes one open period for FY 2025-26, starting Monday, June 16, 2025. The deadline for applicants to request technical assistance or submit questions is Friday, August 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The final application deadline is Friday, August 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. From September to November 2025, applications will be reviewed and scored by the CFE and HRC. Complete scoring will be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners in December 2025 or January 2026 for review and final approval. Contracts will be executed and projects will begin in early 2026. Applicants may request technical assistance, including help with greenhouse gas emissions reduction calculations, from the Orange County Sustainability Office at sustainability@orangecountync.gov. Requests for assistance or disability accommodation in completing applications must be submitted before the August 8, 2025 deadline. The program follows the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) model to ensure equitable outcomes. Funded projects will be subject to quarterly written progress reports, ongoing monitoring for performance and compliance, and may include site or office visits by county staff. Past recipients of the program include organizations such as EMPOWERment, the Eno River Association, Habitat for Humanity, Jubilee Healing Farm, SolarEquity, Trees for the Triangle, and Urban Sustainability Solutions, with projects ranging from rooftop solar installations and reforestation to food forests and sustainable stormwater management. Orange County also accepts tax-deductible donations to expand the size of the grants available, allowing the program to support a greater number of impactful community projects in future cycles.