New $1.5M Grant Opportunity Available to Help Low and Moderate-Income Residents Prepare Homes for Climate Hazards

Patrick Herron February 27, 2024 at 5:49pm

Montgomery County has announced a new $1.5 million grant opportunity to help low and moderate-income residents prepare their homes for the effects of climate change.

The County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Office of Grants Management are currently accepting applications for the inaugural FY 2024 Healthy, Efficient, Electrified, Climate-Adapted Pilot (HEECAP) Homes Grants Program. This new program aims to retrofit homes of income-eligible community members for energy efficiency, a healthy indoor environment and climate resilience along with the use of all-electric appliances.

The County is offering a grant opportunity to eligible organizations, with a total of $1.5 million to be awarded. Individual awards may range between $300,000 and $1.5 million. The purpose of this grant is to pilot new ideas for the best strategies to help income-eligible residents ensure their homes are safe healthy efficient and resilient to climate change. This is part of a broader effort to preserve and protect housing for vulnerable residents.

“In our Climate Action Plan, we recognize the urgent need to empower our communities to combat the effects of climate change and help residents prepare for climate hazards,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We also recognize the need to support efforts that address racial equity and social justice. This grant helps enhance the resilience of our community while working to preserve and protect housing for vulnerable residents in the face of environmental challenges.”

The HEECAP program seeks to fill gaps not currently covered by existing federal, state and County programs, as well as to pilot creative approaches that may be scaled up to more established, large-scale County programs that aim to reduce emissions, improve residents’ health and adapt to a changing climate.

“We are looking to work with mission-aligned organizations that share our goals of advancing innovative solutions to help low- and moderate-income residents adapt to the impacts of climate change,” said Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Director Jon Monger. “I encourage nonprofits already working with income-eligible residents in energy efficiency to apply for this new grant opportunity to work with DEP to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate hazards in our community.”

There will be a virtual information session at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 4 to provide eligible and interested applicants an opportunity to ask questions about the solicitation and receive guidance on how to complete the application form, to ask questions about the solicitation and receive guidance on how to complete the application form.

Key Program Dates:

MS Teams Live Online Grant Program Information Session: 1 p.m. on Monday, March 4.
Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 8.

Key Program Resources:

Online Grants Application Platform: https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/
Grant Program Page: https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/prog/HEECAP/

Applicants may submit multi-year funding proposals for up to two years, but funding beyond the first 12 months will be contingent on both satisfactory project performance and availability of funding.

For more information about the program, eligibility and to apply, visit the Montgomery County Office of Grants Management grant application platform. Applications must be submitted by eligible organizations by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 8.

Grant applications will be reviewed by an independent committee organized by the Department of Environmental Protection. The committee will include neutral, qualified individuals from Montgomery County Government who are selected for their expertise, grants administration or project management, as well as community members with grant review expertise.

For more information on the application process, contact the Office of Grants Management by calling 240-773-3344 or by email at [email protected].

For more information about energy efficiency and energy assistance programs available to County residents, please visit the Montgomery Energy Connection website, call 301-7-ENERGY, or email [email protected].