Grant Program Overview:
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Office of Grants Management (OGM) are soliciting grant applications for the County’s FY 2024 Healthy, Efficient, Electrified, Climate-Adapted Pilot (HEECAP) Homes Grants Program, which aims to retrofit income-eligible houses for energy efficiency, a healthy indoor environment, climate resilience and all-electric appliances. A total of $1,500,000 will be made available to fund awards to eligible nonprofits between $300,000 and $1,500,000 for 12, 18, or 24 months. DEP and OGM will hold a virtual Information Session on the date indicated below to give eligible and interested applicants the chance to ask questions about the solicitation and receive guidance on how to complete the application.
Key Program Dates:
- Program Opens for Applications: Monday, February 26, 2024
- MS Teams Live Online Grant Program Information Session: Monday, March 4, 2024 at 1 PM
- Submission Deadline: Monday, April 8, 2024 at 11:59 PM
Key Program Resources:
- FY24 Healthy, Efficient, Electrified, Climate-Adapted Pilot (HEECAP) Homes Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
- Click here to view the Information Session [note: you will be able to open Microsoft Teams to view the recording, but you may also select the "Watch on the web instead" option to view directly in your web browser.]
- Information Session Presentation Slides
- Information Session Questions and Answers
- 5 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants
- Optional Budget Template
This grant opportunity aligns with the Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan, which identifies the top climate hazards faced by County residents, as well as actions that will address the County’s declared climate emergency. Through the HEECAP Homes Grants Program, the County seeks to pilot new ideas on the best strategies to help Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) residents ensure their homes are resilient to climate change, safe, healthy, and efficient—in a broader effort to preserve and protect housing for vulnerable residents. This grant program seeks to fund projects and initiatives that meet that intent, specifically:
- Retrofit projects that remove fossil-fuel systems from homes and replace them with efficient electric systems, add batteries to onsite renewable energy systems, or perform other climate-resiliency measures not already funded through existing programs.
- Home improvement projects that are not currently funded by existing income-eligible weatherization and/or energy efficiency programs that improve the safety and health of residents.
- Leveraging County grant funding from this program to fix home problems that prevent LMI residents’ increased participation in existing weatherization and/or energy efficiency programs.
Target Population
The target population for this grants program is LMI residents (i.e. households that have an income at or below 85% of the Area Media Income for Montgomery County). The grant recipient must outline in their application how eligibility will be verified.
Funding Priorities
This program seeks to fill gaps not covered by existing federal, state and County programs, as well as to pilot approaches that may be scaled up into more established, large-scale County programs in the future, with the goals of maximizing emission reduction and adapting to climate change. Nonprofits that are already working with LMI residents to improve household energy efficiency are best positioned to be awarded funding under this program.
Montgomery County seeks proposals that apply a racial equity lens, demonstrate cultural proficiency, and inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community members.
The application will consist of the following Tasks:
- Applicant Information – Organization mission, contact information, background documents and optional demographics (Reusable Task)
- Applicant Background - Optional demographic and organization size questions (Reusable Task)
- Licenses, Policies, and Procedures - MHIC license and procurement/subcontracting policies and procedures
- Project Strategy – Series of narrative questions detailing the proposed project
- Project Budget and Budget Narrative – Explanation of proposed project costs
- Project Staffing Plan - Proposed allocation, Level of Effort and qualifications of staff required to successfully implement the project
- Project Work Plan/Timeline – Proposed project implementation schedule
- Performance Plan and Performance History – Outline of metrics to be collected, targets for each metric, and the data collection method for each metric as well as applicant's relevant performance history
- Supporting Documents – Optional upload of background documents supporting your proposal
- Application Certification, Acknowledgments, and Assurances – Confirmation of ethics considerations, legal terms, and the authenticity of the application
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
- Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.
- Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.
- If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.
- OGM now REQUIRES that all applicants already be registered with CVRS by each application deadline. Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3344 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.
FY24 Healthy, Efficient, Electrified, Climate-Adapted Pilot (HEECAP) Homes Grants Program
Grant Program Overview:
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Office of Grants Management (OGM) are soliciting grant applications for the County’s FY 2024 Healthy, Efficient, Electrified, Climate-Adapted Pilot (HEECAP) Homes Grants Program, which aims to retrofit income-eligible houses for energy efficiency, a healthy indoor environment, climate resilience and all-electric appliances. A total of $1,500,000 will be made available to fund awards to eligible nonprofits between $300,000 and $1,500,000 for 12, 18, or 24 months. DEP and OGM will hold a virtual Information Session on the date indicated below to give eligible and interested applicants the chance to ask questions about the solicitation and receive guidance on how to complete the application.
Key Program Dates:
- Program Opens for Applications: Monday, February 26, 2024
- MS Teams Live Online Grant Program Information Session: Monday, March 4, 2024 at 1 PM
- Submission Deadline: Monday, April 8, 2024 at 11:59 PM
Key Program Resources:
- FY24 Healthy, Efficient, Electrified, Climate-Adapted Pilot (HEECAP) Homes Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
- Click here to view the Information Session [note: you will be able to open Microsoft Teams to view the recording, but you may also select the "Watch on the web instead" option to view directly in your web browser.]
- Information Session Presentation Slides
- Information Session Questions and Answers
- 5 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants
- Optional Budget Template
This grant opportunity aligns with the Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan, which identifies the top climate hazards faced by County residents, as well as actions that will address the County’s declared climate emergency. Through the HEECAP Homes Grants Program, the County seeks to pilot new ideas on the best strategies to help Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) residents ensure their homes are resilient to climate change, safe, healthy, and efficient—in a broader effort to preserve and protect housing for vulnerable residents. This grant program seeks to fund projects and initiatives that meet that intent, specifically:
- Retrofit projects that remove fossil-fuel systems from homes and replace them with efficient electric systems, add batteries to onsite renewable energy systems, or perform other climate-resiliency measures not already funded through existing programs.
- Home improvement projects that are not currently funded by existing income-eligible weatherization and/or energy efficiency programs that improve the safety and health of residents.
- Leveraging County grant funding from this program to fix home problems that prevent LMI residents’ increased participation in existing weatherization and/or energy efficiency programs.
Target Population
The target population for this grants program is LMI residents (i.e. households that have an income at or below 85% of the Area Media Income for Montgomery County). The grant recipient must outline in their application how eligibility will be verified.
Funding Priorities
This program seeks to fill gaps not covered by existing federal, state and County programs, as well as to pilot approaches that may be scaled up into more established, large-scale County programs in the future, with the goals of maximizing emission reduction and adapting to climate change. Nonprofits that are already working with LMI residents to improve household energy efficiency are best positioned to be awarded funding under this program.
Montgomery County seeks proposals that apply a racial equity lens, demonstrate cultural proficiency, and inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community members.
The application will consist of the following Tasks:
- Applicant Information – Organization mission, contact information, background documents and optional demographics (Reusable Task)
- Applicant Background - Optional demographic and organization size questions (Reusable Task)
- Licenses, Policies, and Procedures - MHIC license and procurement/subcontracting policies and procedures
- Project Strategy – Series of narrative questions detailing the proposed project
- Project Budget and Budget Narrative – Explanation of proposed project costs
- Project Staffing Plan - Proposed allocation, Level of Effort and qualifications of staff required to successfully implement the project
- Project Work Plan/Timeline – Proposed project implementation schedule
- Performance Plan and Performance History – Outline of metrics to be collected, targets for each metric, and the data collection method for each metric as well as applicant's relevant performance history
- Supporting Documents – Optional upload of background documents supporting your proposal
- Application Certification, Acknowledgments, and Assurances – Confirmation of ethics considerations, legal terms, and the authenticity of the application
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
- Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.
- Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.
- If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.
- OGM now REQUIRES that all applicants already be registered with CVRS by each application deadline. Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3344 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.