Climate and Resiliency funding opportunities

Hennepin County supports community climate adaptation, resiliency, and mitigation initiatives through two distinct funding opportunities. FORTIFY and IGNITE support non-profits organizations and municipalities as they develop climate projects.

FORTIFY

Through FORTIFY, Hennepin County supports community climate adaptation and climate resiliency initiatives. These projects help Hennepin County become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. By funding these projects, Hennepin County seeks to expand the capacity of residents, communities, businesses and the environment to withstand, respond, and recover from climate change impacts. Note that this is not a grant program, but rather a fund that utilizes contracts to perform services and complete specific projects.

FORTIFY eligibility

Eligible projects include:

Community engagement and education
Community preparedness
Green spaces
Adaptation and resiliency in the built environment
Energy resilience

Eligible applicants:

Community based organizations
Neighborhood associations
Not-for profit organizations

IGNITE Community Climate Mitigation Fund

The IGNITE Community Climate Mitigation Fund is designed to support projects that directly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within communities, contributing to countywide climate targets. This fund supports community- and city-led energy efficiency, energy reduction, and renewable energy initiatives. Note that this is not a grant program, but rather a fund that utilizes contracts to perform services and complete specific projects.

IGNITE eligibility

Eligible projects include:

Energy efficiency and conservation
Renewable energy
Sustainable transportation
Mitigation-focused education and engagement

Eligible applicants:

Municipalities within Hennepin County
Community based organizations
Not-for profit organizations

Application timeline and details

Request for proposals (RFPs) for both FORTIFY and IGNITE will open in the beginning of- January 2026. Applications can be found in the Hennepin County Supplier Portal. Interested applicants must register for access to the supplier portal. Once registered, applicants can search for either request for proposal in the portal. To be notified about these opportunities, register with your email.

Selected projects will be contracted to complete work between April 2026 and Dec 31, 2026.