This is part of a series of messages from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to share updates on relevant Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) information related to energy and sustainability. This series will occur monthly and provide a snippet of upcoming federal grants, trainings, and other resources.

See below for the May 2023 update in the BIL and IRA Resources Series.?

FUNDING IN ACTION: The Michigan Infrastructure Office has created an Infrastructure Investment Tracker and map that shows the nearly 500 BIL grants that have been awarded to the State of Michigan to date, totaling nearly $5.5 billion.

FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES: Through the American-Made Challenges, the Buildings Upgrade Prize will award cash prizes of up to $400,000 per team for scalable and replicable projects to upgrade buildings with efficient electric equipment. This prize aims to build capacity to rapidly and equitably transform U.S. buildings. Applications are due July 18, 2023.?

The Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program ? Tribal Transit Program is a competitive grant for federally recognized Tribes to provide public transportation services on or around Indian reservations or Tribal land in rural areas. $8.9 million is available and applications are due June 26, 2023.?

The Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program will provide loans up to $100 million for renewable energy and storage projects that serve rural communities. The PACE Program will also forgive 20 ? 60 percent of loans for clean energy-related projects, with higher loan forgiveness for projects serving disadvantaged communities and Tribal populations. The application window for Letters of Interest is June 30 through September 29, 2023.

The Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program is a $9.7 billion grant and loan program for rural electric cooperatives to transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. Funds can be used to make energy efficiency improvements to generation and transmission systems, build/deploy renewable energy, or purchase renewable energy. Letters of Interest will be accepted from July 31 through August 31, 2023.

GRANT SUPPORT: Michigan local and tribal governments have the opportunity to get one-on-one technical assistance to help identify and apply for grants. Contact Kate Madigan ([email protected]), a consultant working with EGLE, to learn more.?

The Michigan Infrastructure Office also has a Technical Assistance Center that funds communities to directly contract with consultants through their Metropolitan Planning or Economic Development Organizations for grant writing, administration, and other services.