Federal Climate Convening
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law, and set the tone for a historic investment in equity, climate change and clean energy, never before seen in this country. Coupled with additional funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the IRA created a unique opportunity for local governments, non-profits, private developers, and professional industries with an unprecedented level of funding to significantly advance this work in every community and industry across the United States.
With rapid-fire announcements of new grant opportunities on a weekly basis, cities and other organizations alike, the Office of Sustainability felt the need to establish a process to identify the best ways to drive this funding into their communities. This includes ways to identify the right grant opportunities, assistance in navigating highly-technical processes, opportunities to better engage the community in equitable ways, and how to identify the right projects for their time and capacities.
It is in this national context that the City of Richmond, VA (the City) established the Federal Climate Convening program to work with community based organizations (CBOs) to identify projects and apply for these Federal grants in an equity-centered and community led manner.
Read more about the Richmond Federal Climate Convening here.
2023-2024 Federal Climate Convening Resources
Review notes and presentations from the inaugural year’s meetings as well as grant and project management resources.
2024-2025 Federal Climate Convening Resources
Review notes and presentations from the second year’s meetings to-date.
Federal Climate Convening Resource List
The following Federal Climate Convening Resource List has been curated to help community members and organizations to navigate this historic funding moment. Please browse through the four categories for information that might help you navigate your role in your project(s). For additional comments, questions, or support, please reach out to rvagreen@rva.gov.
The FCC Resource List is broken into 4 categories:
Data & Research
Grant Writing & Administration
Project Implementation & Workforce Development
Community Engagement & Advocacy)
Data & Research
U.S. EPA’s EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences - Adapt VA Social Vulnerability Mapper
National Renewable Energy Lab (www.nrel.gov)
State, Local, Tribal Program https://www.nrel.gov/state-local-tribal/
SLOPE: State and Local Planning for Energy https://maps.nrel.gov/slope
Research Publications Database: https://nrel.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01NREL_INST:Pubs&lang=en
U.S. Dept of Transportation
U.S. Dept of Energy
U.S. Dept of Agriculture (data not just on rural areas)
Plan RVA (generally) and the GeoHub
OOS can be a warehouse of data! Please contact us at rvagreen@rva.gov and check out the Climate Equity Index
Grant Writing & Administration
Candid FREE webinars for “how to” and all the common grant parts; BE the Resource when you can!; transferable research/writing skills from other jobs; Community Foundation grants writing courses; mentorships
Example applications (Found here!)
Peer connection to former applicants
Foundation staff are typically more than happy to support via a simple introductory email!
Environmental Protection Network grant writing support
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network Support Hours - Please contact the OOS at rvagreen@rva.gov
Project Implementation & Workforce Development
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network Support Hours - Please contact the OOS at rvagreen@rva.gov
Viridiant hosted, DOE funded, clean energy technology trainings (heat pumps, heat pump hot water heaters, EV charging, battery storage. Email: admin@viridiant.org
Clean Energy Advisory Board: Low and Moderate Income Solar Loan and Rebate Program
VA Dept of Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry Division - Very willing to support specific ideas and projects in urban greening.
Virginia Dept. of Labor and Industry: Registered Apprenticeship program
Virginia Department of Education - Work-based Learning Program
VCN Resilience workgroup, which deals with advocacy for Community Flood Preparedness Fund -- a state grant program
DEQ SLAF “locality stormwater local assistance program” which requires 50/50 match and Federal match can be used for the state program
Planning District Commission – applying for regional grants
Health Equity Fund – grant funds that address health equity topics in RVA
Virginia Career and Technical Education – career clusters of Energy; Ag, food, and Natural Resources; Energy, Transportation
Richmond City Office of Community Wealth Building
Community Engagement & Advocacy
USDN | Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning
RWJF | Transformational Community Engagement to Advance Health Equity
UVA IEN: Principles for Equitable Collaboration