Indiana Energy Grants

This initiative provides financial assistance to local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and businesses in South Bend for solar panel installations and energy efficiency upgrades to reduce energy costs and promote sustainability.

This program provides funding to homeowners' associations and neighborhood groups in Westfield, Indiana, to support innovative community projects that enhance local quality of life.

This funding supports Indiana's state and local governments, as well as tribal agencies, in enhancing criminal justice systems, crime prevention efforts, and public safety initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations hosting events in Rising Sun and Ohio County, Indiana, to help cover marketing costs and boost local tourism in 2025.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in St. Joseph County that are working on projects to improve community development, health services, education, and recreational facilities for local residents.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, and local businesses in Bloomington to support projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility and promote active transportation in the community.

This grant provides financial support for educational and worker training programs that benefit residents of Hobart, aiming to enhance their skills for a competitive global economy.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, churches, and educational institutions that serve the community of South Bend and St. Joseph County, Indiana, focusing on projects that enhance public welfare and benefit the general public.

United Way in Carroll County, Indiana, is offering grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 to 501(c)(3) Health and Human Services Nonprofit Organizations that align with the Cradle to Career Commitment and Basic Foundational Needs, and are located in or serve Carroll County residents, with applications due by 09/30/2024.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for its 2024 Community & Urban Forestry Assistance (CUFA) Grant. Donor Name: Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) State: Indiana County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/04/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This grant seeks to invest in the long-term growth and development of community forestry programs in Indiana to support: Expansion of urban tree canopy cover Preservation of existing urban tree canopy cover Increased and more equitable access to urban tree canopy and the health, environmental, and economic benefits associated with increased canopy Broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning. Improved resilience to climate change, pests, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices. Goals Your goals may include: To enhance residents’ quality of life in your city, village, town, township, or county. To establish, strengthen, and support a community urban forestry program. To promote urban forestry benefits through the properselection, planting, and care of trees. To establish a comprehensive tree inventory to enable local, data-driven decision-making. To promote risk management by properly assessing trees and developing mitigation plans. To restore diminished community tree canopy. To preemptively reduce your community’s ash or other susceptible tree populations to avoid inevitable future economic burdens borne by local government budgets in the aftermath of a pest invasion. To diversify the urban forest for long-term resilience and resistance to future pests. To ensure that your urban forest provides a variety of ecosystem services to your community. These include cleaner air, improved watershed health, reduced erosion, stormwater runoff, and reduced urban heat island effects. To address historic inequities in urban forestry policy and management which have been borne unevenly by certain groups or areas within your community. To adapt urban forest accessibility to changing community demographics. To promote the Indiana nursery industry through the local purchase of high-quality, native trees. To support Indiana arboriculture and landscape industries through management, planning, and tree removal, installation, and education. To enhance the built environment through increased property values, reduced energy demands, and enhanced aesthetics that offer year-round enjoyment and get people outdoors. Funding Information Your requests for project funds must be for a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000. The overall level of funds available is $230,000. Tree Inventory or Urban Tree Canopy Assessment: The community may use this grant for the development and implementation of or the expansion of a community tree inventory or urban tree canopy assessment.  Management/Response Plan: The community may use this grant to cover expenses related to the creation or update of an urban forestry management or response plan. It can also be used to fund the development or the review and update of tree ordinances. Education/Training: The community may use this grant to cover the costs of educating and training the Project Coordinator, tree advisory groups, municipal staff, and local officials in the proper care of trees. Community Engagement & Tree Planting: Any tree planting project MUST include community engagement. If you already have a community engagement plan/program, please include it in your application. All grant recipients will work closely with the CUF team to develop a community engagement strategy that is unique to your community and its needs. The specifics of this strategy will develop as your project does but keep this requirement in mind as you complete this application. Tree plantings must take place on public property and may be used to fulfill management plan goals, address ecosystem improvements, and/or address inequities in access to green infrastructure. Note that 100% of the project trees must be species native to Indiana (exceptions can be made for establishments of urban food forest). Additionally, this grant cannot be used for the purchase of trees in the Acer genus (maples). Exceptions shall be made if a current inventory and management plan demonstrates your Acer population is less than 5% of the overall tree community. In that case, no more than 5% of the total grant project trees are to be of the genus Acer. All tree planting projects MUST include a maintenance plan with the grant application.  Other Activities: You may fund activities or other projects specific to urban forestry and/or arboriculture in your community. Examples include urban wood utilization, establishment of urban food forests, invasive species removal, establishment of a not-for-profit organization, and development and implementation of a community website specific to urban forestry. Eligibility Criteria  To be eligible for a grant, applicants must be a:  Municipality: As defined under IC 369-1-2 a municipality is a city, town, township, county, school corporation, library district, local housing authority, fire protection district, public transportation corporation, local building authority, local hospital authority or corporation, local airport authority, special service district, or other separate local government entities that may sue or be sued. It does not include special taxing districts. Non-profit 501(c)3: Organization as defined under IC 23-7-1.1. Non-profit organizations must include documentation of their not-for-profit status. For more information, visit DNR.

The City of Fishers is excited to announce the 2024 Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant. Donor Name: City of Fishers State: Indiana City: Fishers Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: 07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The purpose of this grant is to provide funding for creative and innovative ideas that make the community a more beautiful place to live, and that will impact the lives of the community at large in a smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial manner. Grant highlights: The Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant is a matching grant Applicants must provide at least 20% of the total project cost The Grant is awarded quarterly in 2024 Grants are competitive and will not be awarded for recurring or maintenance items Funding Information Maximum amount to be awarded is $25,000. Uses of funds  Funding must be used towards costs of a project which involves design, construction, or installation. Ideas and example photos are provided here to kick start creativity! Priority is given to projects that will have the greatest visibility and positive effect on Fishers as a community. Projects located inside the public right-of-way are subject to additional review and approval. Below are ideas for preferred projects: Converting high maintenance common area lawns to no-mow native plantings Installation of shoreline plantings, water aeration, or rain gardens near Detention/Retention Ponds (White River Alliance Resource) Monarch Butterfly Waystation and/or Wildlife Habitat Corridors Neighborhood Community Gardens Environmental & Agricultural Common Area Trail Repairs & Improvements Park Improvement such as Picnic Shelters, Benches, Planters, Mini-Libraries, or Accessible Playground Equipment Connected two or more Neighborhood Walking Trails Installation of Solar Lights or other renewable energy projects Improved Pedestrian Connectivity or Tactical Urbanism. Eligible Applicants  Neighborhoods groups and HOAs within Fishers City Limits. For more information, visit City of Fishers.

The City of South Bend Department of Public Works is now accepting applications for the 2024 Lamppost Lighting Program, which assists homeowners with lighting enhancements in their neighborhoods. Donor Name: City of South Bend State: Indiana City: South Bend Type of Grant: Program Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The program offers easy self-install, solar-powered lampposts for residential front yards. The City of South Bend’s Lamppost Lighting Program assists homeowners with lighting enhancements in their neighborhoods. The cost-share program offers easy self-install, solar-powered lampposts for residential front yards. The solar lampposts must be mounted in a level area within approximately five feet of the edge of sidewalk. They cannot be installed in the tree lawn. There is a limit of one lamppost per household. The homeowner is responsible for pickup, installation and any maintenance of the lamppost after installation. The City’s Division of Engineering will inspect the lampposts to ensure proper installation. The cost-share program is available to homeowners within city limits. For 2024, the City has selected two target areas based on income, number of vacant lots and need for lighting in the neighborhood. Homeowners who live within the target areas will pay a lower share of the total cost: Within target areas, homeowners pay $50. Outside target areas, homeowners pay $250. For more information, visit City of South Bend.

The Indiana Office of Energy Development is seeking applications for its Empowering Energy Partnerships in Indiana Communities. Donor Name: Indiana Office of Energy Development State: Indiana County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The Indiana Office of Energy Development is committed to affordable, stable, and reliable energy solutions for the benefit of all Hoosiers. Indiana OED supports the development of comprehensive energy policy that supports a diverse and balanced portfolio of energy resources. Program Goals  Empowering Energy Partnerships in Indiana Communities (EPIC) is a community-based competitive grant program to address energy needs and priorities at a community or regional level. Applicants are encouraged to think big, and to consider how they can address their energy needs on a larger scale. The purpose of the EPIC grant program is to support a comprehensive energy solutions program tailored to specific communities and serve as a model for other communities across Indiana. The goals of the EPIC program are to support Indiana’s five pillars of electricity policy: reliability, resiliency, stability, affordability, and environmental sustainability. Each proposal is encouraged to support as many of the five pillars as possible with a measurable impact. Proposals must be able to demonstrate public benefit to their communities, including but not limited to underserved and disadvantaged communities. Successful applicants will serve as a model for other communities with similar energy needs and goals. Awardees will share their progress during the project and their success upon project completion. Further, to support broader local and state priorities, awarded projects will demonstrate a connection to one or more of the following state priorities: economic development, workforce development, education, and public safety. Partnerships are expected to be an essential element. Funding Information Indiana OED is making approximately $2,500,000 available. OED anticipates awards averaging $300,000 to $500,000 per awardee. Project Period 3 years or less. Eligible Projects & Technologies Proposals must fall into one or more of the following topics. Example technologies are listed but are not exhaustive. Energy Efficiency- Includes projects that result in using less energy, such as: Building upgrades and retrofits Energy system technology to monitor and manage energy usage Weatherization measures Higher efficiency technology, equipment, and appliances Alternative Fueling and Charging Infrastructure-Includes projects for publicly accessible alternative fueling and/or charging infrastructure to reduce energy consumption and reduce local emissions. Vehicle purchases are not allowable under EPIC. Alternative fuels include biodiesel (B20+), compressed natural gas, electric, ethanol, hydrogen, liquid natural gas, propane, and renewable diesel (R20+). Examples include: Publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure (excluding Level 3 or DC fast charging) Vehicle-to-Grid technology development and/or deployment Publicly accessible alternative fuel fueling infrastructure Energy Security and Reliability-Includes projects that support resource adequacy, and support responses to and recovery from energy emergencies, shortages, or disruptions. Examples include: Backup generation (battery energy system storage, solar + battery storage, propane) Microgrid technologies Cybersecurity measures Clean Energy Resources- Includes projects that result in the use of renewable and other clean energy technologies, such as: Battery storage Solar (and solar + battery) Geothermal Wind Biomass Eligibility Criteria Eligible entities include local units of government, non-profit organizations, for-profit entities, and institutions of higher education. Entities that work throughout a community or region and can coordinate partnerships are strongly encouraged, such as local and regional economic development organizations, community foundations, and other organizations that participate in community development initiatives. Eligible entities must be Indiana based and registered with both the federal and state governments in order to receive award fund An eligible entity may submit only one proposal. An entity can coordinate submission on behalf of multiple beneficiaries. A community may be a part of multiple submissions as long as they are not the prime applicant (i.e., the one executing the grant agreement with OED) in more than one submission. Tiered subawards are not allowable under the federal award, so the prime recipient may only release funds to subcontractors to perform work on the project and may not make further subawards. For more information, visit OED.

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) application for program year 2023-2024 will open on October 02, 2023 at 8am EST. Indiana residents can apply for utility bill assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally-funded program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The application period closes on May 20, 2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Applicants can apply online via the online portal, by mail, in-person, or by calling 2-1-1. To apply in-person or request a paper application form, applicants must contact their Local Service Provider. The EAP provides a one-time benefit to assist with the high cost of electricity and heating for homes. However, it is important to note that this benefit is not intended to cover all heating and electricity costs, so applicants should continue to pay their bills regularly. Eligibility and benefits are determined by Local Service Providers based on income qualifications. It may take up to 55 days for eligibility determination and an additional 30 days for the utility company to process the benefit. For more information on eligibility and to find contact information for the Local Service Provider that serves your area, visit http://eap.ihcda.in.gov. If you have any questions or need to follow up on an application, please be sure you contact your Local Service Provider directly rather than contacting IHCDA. For general inquiries about the Energy Assistance Program, please contact the Community Programs team at [email protected].