The Cleveland Climate Action Fund is awarding a total of $15,000 to three neighborhood-led projects that will reduce carbon emissions and improve the community. This marks the Fund’s first round of 2016 grant recipients. The Fund provides competitive grant opportunities for projects that advance neighborhood priorities while also furthering Cleveland’s climate action goals.

People power is the answer to true and lasting climate action in Cleveland. This means that a citizen-centered approach is needed to align climate action with the assets, capacities and priorities of Cleveland residents. The three awarded projects include:

• ciCLEvia: closes the streets to cars and opens them to people, encouraging them to be active, build community, and engage in a culture of health. ($5,000 – Clark-Fulton/Tremont)
• Collinwood Friends Garden Expansion: With the addition of 6,140 square feet of land, this expansion will create a more enjoyable walking path that creates a welcoming community space within the garden by installing a privacy fence, mulch, vegetables, and perennials. ($5,000 – Collinwood)
• North Shore Collinwood Art District HQ Green Parking Lot: The project will combine economic development, art, education, and sustainability with the addition of an apple orchard alongside a planned bioswale parking lot. ($5,000 – North Collinwood)

Grant requests for the second round of Request for Proposals are due on November 18, 2016 and can be found online at . See the section on Cleveland Climate Action and Urban Resilience Grant Application.