The MPCA has approximately $820,000 available for this FY25 grant round. Funding for this grant is appropriated by the state legislature for programs administered by the MPCA. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: • Prevent or reduce waste through changes in product design, manufacturing, or production. • Develop and implement training courses that provide skills-building for product repair or other processes that maintain the value of items to avoid or reduce new production (e.g., electronics repair training, tailoring and mending classes, furniture repair or reupholstery training, etc.). • Pilot or establish a new program, process, or system to increase reuse, rental, and/or repair in the organization (can include developing a new position) • Opening/expanding/improving a retail establishment, swap space, virtual database/hub, or otherwise connecting people to reused goods (e.g., clothing, tools, home/office furniture, doors/windows, hardware/light fixtures, countertops, appliances, solar panels) • Research or collect surveys that identify opportunities for expanding or strengthening reuse across the state or in specific industries. • Coordinate and oversee the redistribution of funds awarded to the grantee as smaller grants to other entities (i.e., “micro grants”) along with technical assistance to help resale, rental, and repair organizations improve their operations or pilot new strategies.
