A Transformative Opportunity for American Communities to Accelerate Public-Private Partnership Plans, Create Jobs, and Lower Energy Costs
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) announced a request for proposals (RFP) for its Municipal Investment Fund (MIF), which seeks to select a cohort of up to 10 U.S. communities to become the focus of concentrated investing and local community and economic development, and be the recipients of up to $2 million in grants. To support this work, CGC has awarded ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA) a subgrant of $66.5 million to provide market-building, predevelopment, and technical support to communities pursuing the fund. CGC and ICLEI USA will award $50 million in market-building grants and $10 million in pre-development grants to support communities.
The 10 communities that join the inaugural MIF cohort will focus on implementing public-private partnership plans and developing and financing projects that qualify under the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF). These projects may include distributed energy generation and storage, zero-emissions transportation, and net-zero buildings. NCIF projects reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants; deliver benefits of greenhouse gas- and air pollution-reducing projects to American communities, particularly low-income and disadvantaged communities; and mobilize financing and private capital to stimulate additional deployment of greenhouse gas- and air pollution-reducing projects.
MIF participants will receive up to $2 million in predevelopment and market-building grants, along with becoming the focus of CGC’s direct investment opportunities of $50 million and above and co-investment in projects ranging from $10 million to $50 million, and benefit from technical assistance support from CGC staff, its network, and ICLEI USA. The inaugural MIF cohort may include local governments, Tribes, and their partner not-for-profit organizations serving populations between 10,000-750,000, with at least one low-income or disadvantaged community. CGC plans to select up to 10 communities annually for the next decade, ensuring ongoing support for transformative investment and local economic development.
In partnership, CGC and ICLEI USA will identify a network of qualified communities that can submit plans to the MIF through an initial proposal process. Interested communities will be asked to submit a short proposal to ICLEI USA by February 5, 2025. CGC and ICLEI USA will select up to two communities from every state, as well as up to four Tribes, the District of Columbia, or local governments in federal territories who will receive up to $250,000 in market-building grants—totaling $26 million in funding—for activities necessary to develop public-private partnership plans that can finance NCIF-qualified projects. All 100+ participating communities will benefit from market-building grants, planning, and ICLEI USA technical support throughout the request for proposal (RFP) submission process. Once the 100+ qualified communities have been selected to receive market-building dollars, the deadline for the qualified communities to submit plans to CGC will be in June 2025, and the selected inaugural MIFcohort will be announced in August 2025.
ICLEI USA, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has operated for 32 years as the most extensive and first local government network dedicated to sustainability and climate action. ICLEI USA has worked with over 1,200 network cities, towns, counties, and Tribal nations in all 50 states. ICLEI USA pioneered the standards for local government greenhouse gas management, including in the states with the highest emissions, to create jobs, reduce emissions, and empower local solutions by providing technical assistance, strategic planning, and federal grant support. Through the CGC and ICLEI USA partnership, the 100+ selected communities will gain access to ICLEI USA’s resources and expertise to harness the cost-saving benefits of clean energy for American communities by enhancing their capacity to pursue public-private partnerships.
CGC and ICLEI USA held a webinar on January 6, 2025, to discuss the RFP. Application materials can be found at the ICLEI-USA website.
CGC’s Chief Executive Officer Richard Kauffman said, “This fund is a critical part of our broader mission to use public-private investments to accelerate cheap clean power across the country by, for, and with communities. Together, we will help Americans save money and benefit from clean air and water.”
CGC’s Chief Impact Officer Jessie Buendia said, “The Municipal Investment Fund isn’t just an investment in clean energy—it’s an investment in the people and communities that will lead this transition. By providing financial support, technical assistance, and a network of partners, we’re empowering local communities to implement solutions that create jobs, improve quality of life, and make a lasting environmental impact.”
ICLEI USA Executive Director Saharnaz Mirzazad said, “ICLEI USA has spent decades fostering an extensive network of cities, towns, counties, and Tribal nations committed to climate action planning and emissions management. We are thrilled to help localities position themselves as strong and reliable partners in mobilizing capital towards clean energy projects, bridging the gap between planning and implementing climate action.”
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ABOUT COALITION FOR GREEN CAPITAL
The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC), doing business as the American Green Bank Consortium, is a 501(c)(3) chartered specifically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution and redress climate and energy-related environmental injustice. Green banks are a proven finance model that uses public and philanthropic funds to mobilize private investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other decarbonization technologies. For over a decade, the Coalition for Green Capital has led the Green Bank movement, working at the federal, state, and local levels in the U.S. and countries around the world. For more information, visit: https://coalitionforgreencapital.com.
ABOUT ICLEI- LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY USA
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA), headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has operated for 32 years as the largest and first local government network dedicated to sustainability and climate action. ICLEI USA has worked with over 1,200 network cities, towns, counties, and Tribal nations in all 50 states.
ICLEI USA pioneered local government greenhouse gas management standards, including in the states with the highest emissions, to create jobs, reduce emissions, and empower local solutions by providing technical assistance, strategic planning, and federal grant support. Our Members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships, and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability. Learn more: https://icleiusa.org/