Following the success of its historic investments in 2022, the City of Chicago continues to work to create resilient and sustainable communities throughout the city.
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) maintains its focus on equity impacts and building green partnerships through its latest allocation of funds.
New grants are part of the City’s Climate Action Plan goal to reduce greenhouse emissions by 62% by 2040. They give priority to environmental justice communities where residents are suffering disproportionately from health and financial distress related to environmental causes such as tree inequity, heat island effect, and flooding. Additionally, the grants are designed to simultaneously support 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and small businesses.
City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development’s Climate Infrastructure Fund
Grants will be awarded in the range of $50,000 to $250,000 and fall into three categories:
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Systems: Proposals may include efficiency upgrades to a building’s existing energy systems and/or installation of renewable energy systems or components.
Electric Vehicles (EV) and EV Charging Infrastructure: Proposals may include the purchase of zero-emission electric vehicles and the installation of EV charging infrastructure for private and/or public use.
Green Infrastructure (GI): Proposals may include stormwater management systems that diverts water from the city’s sewers, including native plantings and soil, permeable pavement, gardens and related projects, especially in flood-prone portions of the city.
The DPD aims to initiate immediate improvements by prioritizing project readiness and hopes to continue development with additional Climate Infrastructure Grant rounds to be opened later in 2023.
Submissions will be accepted through February 24, 2023, and can be made online by completing the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development: Universal Small Grant Application 2023 (for grants up to $250,000).
Additional resources can be found on the City’s Climate Infrastructure Fund Resources page.
Omni Ecosystems work as a landscape architecture design studio and living infrastructure provider located in the City’s South Side positions us perfectly to support applicants seeking grants for green infrastructure projects.
Our award-winning design studio Omni Workshop designs spaces for people, embracing nature to test and advance the ecology & culture of place. This unique expertise helps green infrastructure projects employ working landscapes to provide natural beauty and co-benefits, such as managing stormwater.
Omni Infinity Media is unmatched in the marketplace as an engineered growing media used to maximize stormwater management capacity within bioswales. Developed nearly 20 years ago and employed across the country, this advanced ‘soil’ equips design & trade professionals to create effective green infrastructure on their projects.
Read more here about some of Omni’s experience leading green infrastructure design and implementation throughout Chicago, especially our community of Bronzeville.
Our experience has shown that collaborative involvement in climate action and environmental justice leads to positive change. We’re excited about the City’s promise to continue this important funding and we are eager to engage in meaningful, sustainable development. Contact our team to help your project come to life today! Email our design studio Omni Workshop here, or email Omni Rewild here to purchase Omni Infinity Media.
