Green Neighborhoods Grant Guidelines

Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2026 cycle.
 

The Carrboro Town Council accepted the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) in 2017 to expand the Town’s existing climate action efforts and emphasize measures that community members can implement to help achieve greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The plan’s goal is to raise the community’s awareness and involvement in climate action and the enhancement of ecosystem resilience. In 2020, the Town updated the CCAP goals to recommend an 80% reduction of 2010 emissions levels by 2030. To achieve this goal, widespread community participation in every aspect of the plan is essential.  

The Green Neighborhoods Grant Program seeks to benefit low-income households and residents of color by bringing neighbors together to pursue projects which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create natural areas that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, ultimately benefiting the entire community.   

Grant Program Goals:   

• Educate and empower neighborhoods to address climate change. 
• Build neighborhood capacity to engage in climate action.
• Develop and enhance community and Town partnerships. 
• Leverage Town and neighborhood involvement and resources. 
• Distribute resources to low-income communities and communities of color who are disproportionately affected by climate change. 
   

NEW THIS YEAR: Maximum grant amount: $25,000.00

The Town has approximately $25,000 available in the FY25-26 budget to fund Green Neighborhoods Grants. 

Note: All projects must be completed within fourteen months of grant being awarded.

For questions and additional information please contact: 

 
Amy Armbruster
Chief Sustainability Officer
Email: aarmbruster@carrboronc.gov 

Tel: (919) 918-7345 

Guidelines

Application Process:   

1. Prepare your application.  

After reviewing the guidelines below, fill out the online application. To help you prepare your responses, please see page 7 of the guidelines and application document for a full copy of the application questions. Paper applications will not be accepted without prior approval.   

If the online application form presents a barrier to your neighborhood’s participation, please contact: Amy Armbruster at aarmbruster@carrboronc.gov or (919) 918-7345. 

2. Submit the application. 

Submit completed applications by Feb. 18th at 5:00 PM.  

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.   

Definitions  

1. Anthropogenic: Caused or produced by human activity. 
2. Ecosystem resilience: A natural area’s capacity to recover from damage or respond to changes in climate. 
3. Formal Entity: An organization that is a legal entity to carry out specific lawful activities, e.g. an association, a trust, a proprietorship, a corporation, or an individual. 
4. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Gases including water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone which absorb and emit radiant energy in earth’s atmosphere. Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions such as the combustion of fossil fuels are one of the primary causes of global climate change. 
5. Emissions Mitigation: Reducing the amounts of greenhouse gas emissions produced by anthropogenic activities in order to prevent increased impacts of global climate change. 

Eligible Applicants   

• Neighborhoods must be located within Carrboro’s Town Limits. 
• Applicants may request up to $25,000.   

Fiscal and Administrative Agent  

• All applicants must designate an administrative and fiscal agent for their project.  
  • The agent must be a formal entity with a Federal Tax ID number, also known as an EIN. If the agent does not already have a Federal Tax ID number, they will need to will obtain one through a brief process –IRS Federal Tax ID Number Application.  
• The agent will be responsible for: 
• Completing the grant application.  
• Executing the grant contract with the Town.  
• Ensuring that grant funds are used in compliance with the grant contract.  
• Making a report to the Town about the expenditures of the grant funds.  
• Providing the Town with a Federal Tax ID number. 
• Submitting a signed letter of intent stating that they have discussed serving in this role for the project.   
• If you need assistance designating an agent, please contact aarmbruster@carrboronc.gov.
• Fiscal agents must have required insurance. See chart below for more information.
• Fiscal agents assume tax liability for awarded funding.  

Forms of Liability Insurance and Minimum Policy Amounts Required  

Project Requirements  

All projects must:  

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance ecosystem resiliency, or contribute to climate action awareness or engagement. 
• Be completed within fourteen months of grant award. 
• Be initiated, planned, and implemented by community members.
• Obtain Town permits required for construction, if applicable. 
• Group/fiscal agent must obtain insurance for project (See Forms of Liability Insurance and Minimum Policy Amounts Required, page 7) 
• Any contractors must carry required insurance.
• Present all receipts to the Town. 
• Complete mid-year check-in with the Town.
• Submit final report (Report Template).  

 Examples of projects suitable for grant funds include the following: 

Projects which improve ecosystem resilience can be related to:  

• Reducing stormwater impacts 
• Increasing tree canopy and biodiversity 
• Management of invasive plants 
• Encouragement of native plants 
• Creation and enhancement of pollinator habitat 
• Management of organic waste 
• Improving soil quality 
• Preparation for natural disasters

(Please note that the above list is not a comprehensive list of all eligible projects and activities that may be carried out to meet the stated goals of the program).  

Allowable Expenses  

• Materials/Supplies:(e.g. construction or planting materials, non-alcoholic refreshments).
• Professional Services: (e.g. site planning). 
• Other Project Expenses, if applicable: (e.g. permit fees, insurance). 

Grant funds may not be used for:  

• Benefiting an individual or individual household. 
• Operating expenses, such as rent, utilities, insurance, or ongoing payment of an existing or new operating expenses. 
• Food and beverage costs that exceed $250 (unless the project relates to food choices or gardening). 
• Entertainment. 
• Political activities. 
• Salaries and wages. 

The Fiscal and Administrative agent is responsible for the management of grant funds.  

• Grant funds will be expended in a check which must be deposited or cashed before 180 days.
• All grant funds remaining after completion of the project shall be returned to the Town.  

Attachments Required with Application    

1. Letter of Permission from property owner(s), if applicable (View Template). 
2. Fiscal and Administrative Agent Letter of Intent (Required) (View Template).
3. Copy of Fiscal Agent’s Insurance Policy. 

Selection Process   

1. Staff Review and Comment: Staff will review each application to ensure requirements are met.  
2. Project Scoring and Decision: Projects will be scored by Town staff and the Climate and Environmental Advisory Commission members using the criteria below. 
3. Project Ranking: All projects will be ranked by score and a recommendation will be made to staff for the award of grants for full or partial funding to the top-scoring projects.
4. Award Notification: All applicants will be notified of grant decision. 
5. Grant Contract: All applicants awarded a grant will be required to enter into a Grant Contract with the Town. 

 Selection Criteria Summary  

A project can be awarded maximum of 120 points. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated applications according to the following criteria: 
  

1. Racial Equity and Climate Justice 

Low-income households and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change. These groups will continue to be increasingly vulnerable without resources to adapt to the changing climate.  
 

2. Project Impact  

3. Project Planning and Design   

4. Neighborhood Participation and Support   

5. Project Engagement 

6. Finances 

7. First-Time Applicant 

Grant Awards  

Grant recipients will be notified by April 2025.  

Funding Schedules 

Final Report  

After project work is complete, grant recipients must submit a final report detailing all accomplishments as well as 3-5 digital photos of the project (in progress and completed). Photos may be submitted as .jpg, .png or similar file types suitable for high-quality printing. 

Recipients must answer the following questions in their report:   

• How were the grant funds used? 
• How were community members engaged in project work? 
• How many community members participated in project work? 
• Please provide demographic information related to your outreach/engagement and residents who participated in your project work. 
• What did community members learn from their participation? 
• How did this project contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reductions, ecosystem resilience, or climate action engagement/awareness?
  
  

Timeline 

Non-Discrimination Statement   

The Town of Carrboro considers grant applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. The Town will consider racial equity and climate justice when reviewing project applications, as described above in the Selection Criteria.