Elevate Launching Michigan-focused Justice40 Accelerator to Support Community Based Climate Solutions in the Great Lakes State

Building off of the successful national Justice40 Accelerator the Michigan Justice40 Accelerator is a 12-month program that will provide Michigan community based organizations with seed funding, technical assistance, training, connections, and peer support as local groups seek federal funding flowing from the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.

This federal initiative directs at minimum 40% of the benefits from federal government investments in climate and clean energy solutions towards serving disadvantaged communities. The Justice40 Accelerator is an independent, national non-profit collaboration led by Midwest-based community development organization Elevate, Partnership for Southern Equity, and The Solutions Project.

With Elevate’s new, state-focused Justice40 Accelerator program, 25 Michigan organizations will receive $25,000 in unrestricted grant money to support participation and project development during the cohort, as well as the following benefits:

One-on-one technical assistance
Justice40 Navigator support
Workshops on applying for government grants
Peer-to-peer learning sessions
Informational sessions with government agency officials
Curated notices of funding opportunities
Post-accelerator, national alumni network

Are you a Michigan based Non-Profit, Tribe or organization with a fiscal sponsor? Apply here today to be considered for the Michigan J40A Cohort!

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS AUGUST 1. Applications submitted after August 1 will not be considered.

Read our Press Release Here!

To leverage the infrastructure and lessons learned from the national Justice40 Accelerator, core partner Elevate is launching a state-based Michigan program to remove barriers blocking access to federal funding for climate justice solutions. This new, 12-month program for Michigan-based community groups provides seed funding, technical assistance, training, connections, and peer support for first-time federal grant applicants. Partners launching the Michigan Justice40 Accelerator include:

Elevate, a national nonprofit that seeks to create a just and equitable world in which everyone has clean and affordable heat, power, and water in their homes and communities — no matter who they are or where they live.
Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition– MEJC works to achieve a clean, healthy, and safe environment for Michigan residents most affected by inadequate policies. MEJC takes a multi-faceted approach to systems change by aligning on intersectional goals with statewide power-building organizations and small grassroots groups for policy change and disruption.
Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Works side-by-side with partners at local, regional, state and federal levels, to safeguard Michigan’s environment.

The Michigan Justice40 Accelerator is an open application process for organizations that meet the following criteria:

Nonprofits and/or tribal-serving organizations with 501(c)(3) status, fiscally sponsored projects, and cooperatives based in the state of Michigan.
Operate in or serve Justice40 Communities
Have a project idea related to any of the following: Workforce Development, Resilience Hubs, Agriculture & Food Justice, Climate Action Planning, Energy & Energy Efficiency, Green Infrastructure, Water Quality & Infrastructure, Sustainable Housing, Toxins & Pollution Issues, Transit and Transportation Justice.
Committed to applying for federal funding for their chosen project (we are here to help you do this!)

All applications will be reviewed externally by national Justice40 accelerator alumni organizations and the selected cohort will demonstrate greatest alignment with these criteria alongside representing the breadth of frontline communities and climate solutions across the state. View a webinar recording on the program here! Check back for future listening sessions coming soon!

For Questions about the Michigan Justice40 Accelerator Please Contact:

Hudson Villeneuve hudson.villeneuve@elevatenp.org

Latia Leonard Latia@michiganej.org