Cedar Rapids has opened applications for its City Manager's Sustainability Grant, which awards $500 to $10,000 per project. Nonprofits, businesses, and community groups can apply for funding to support EV charging stations, energy conservation, food waste reduction, walking and biking improvements, and related work. Projects must serve the public and align with the city's Community Climate Action Plan, which targets a carbon-free Cedar Rapids by 2050. Applications are open until Dec. 11, 2026 at 5 p.m. A selection committee will score proposals on feasibility, innovation, budget effectiveness, and community engagement. The city says it will prioritize local purchasing and one-year project timelines, with extensions possible. Anyone interested can apply through the city's sustainability grant page. The program is a small-scale way to test local climate ideas, and the city has not yet said how many grants it will award.
