$1.3 million in federal funds available to governments, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations to help implement the MI Healthy Climate Plan

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer joins the Michigan Community Service Commission and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in announcing the federal funds to support the Michigan Climate Corps AmeriCorps program.

The Michigan Climate Corps (MICC) is a part of Michigan’s strategy to address climate change, protect the environment for future generations, and build the next generation of climate leaders in Michigan. This funding will support the state’s implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, a roadmap to make Michigan carbon neutral by 2050 with interim emissions reduction goals in 2025 and 2030.

“Today, we are coming together to launch the Michigan Climate Corps, bringing hardworking AmeriCorps members to our state to help carry out the MI Healthy Climate Plan and address climate change head-on,” said Governor Whitmer. “These talented young people will help us build a Michigan where every Michigander has clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and access to healthy, affordable local food. Protecting our precious natural resources required us to roll up our sleeves and do the work, and by connecting a successful national service initiative to climate change and conservation efforts, we can ensure future generations get to enjoy our beautiful public lands and majestic Great Lakes.”

The MI Healthy Climate Plan, unveiled in April 2022 and coordinated through EGLE’s Office of Climate and Energy (OCE), is the state’s roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality while averting the worst impacts of climate change; creating good-paying jobs; and building a more prosperous, healthy, equitable, and sustainable future for all Michiganders. OCE’s Catalyst Communities initiative, launched in 2020, is tasked with providing education, planning, and tools to help local governments prepare for the impacts of climate change. In June, Catalyst Communities launched the Catalyst Leadership Circle to place emerging climate leaders in nine communities to help communities reach their climate and energy goals.

“Vital climate action is a team sport,” said Liesl Clark, EGLE director. “Just as hundreds of dedicated people worked together to create a climate plan by Michiganders for Michigan, the Michigan Climate Corps will deliver a surge of energized and involved AmeriCorps members to help fulfill the plan’s promise at local levels.”

The MICC will be a collaboration among multiple individual AmeriCorps programs (both new and expanded) working in coordination with the Michigan Community Service Commission and other state and local partners to harness the power of national service as part of a broader statewide effort to address climate change. Eligible recipients will be able to request dollars for planning and operational grants.

“AmeriCorps service continues to help solve pressing issues across the state,” said Ginna Holmes, executive director of the Michigan Community Service Commission. “There is a tremendous return on investment through the federal funding of AmeriCorps and the positive impact this service has on communities across the state. The Michigan Climate Corps will be another example of how service can be part of the solution.”

The following nonfederal entities are eligible to apply.   

• Native nations.  
• Institutions of higher education.  
• Local governments.  
• Nonprofit organizations.  
• State departments and agencies. 

View the full guidelines on the Michigan Community Service Commission website.

To state your interest in applying, the Concept Form Application can be found at https://www.research.net/r/MIClimateCorpsIntent. Concept Form applications will be reviewed starting Oct. 3, and the deadline is Oct. 31. Successful applicants will be contacted for next steps.

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Background on the Michigan Community Service Commission The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) utilizes service as a strategy to address the state’s most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities. In 2022-2023, the MCSC is granting more than $21 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. Michigan’s AmeriCorps, Mentor Michigan and Volunteer Michigan are premier programs of the MCSC. The MCSC is housed in the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/volunteer