Municipal Investment Fund
The Municipal Investment Fund (MIF) is a transformative opportunity for communities across the US to develop finance-ready project pipelines that will unlock private investment, create jobs, lower energy costs, and improve life for all Americans.
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA is partnering with the Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) to offer market-building funding and technical support to help communities — Local governments, Tribes, and their partner not-for-profit organizations — to develop public-private partnership plans that can accelerate the deployment of capital to clean energy projects. Selected communities will receive grant funding through the Municipal Investment Fund.
Timeline
The application deadline was March 5, 2025, and ICLEI USA is not accepting additional applications at this time. ICLEI USA selected 50 communities in July 2025. To be notified of future solicitations, please complete this form. All communities that previously applied will remain in consideration for future opportunities.
January 16th, 2025: Municipal Investment Fund Launches its Call for Proposals.
March 5th, 2025: Application period closed. MIF Receives 114 Applications Across 46 States and Tribal Nations Despite the Funding Freeze in March. This demonstrates the demand to keep moving forward.
July 2025: CGC and ICLEI USA restructure MIF and announce their selection of 50 communities for awards of up to $250,000 each.
July 2025-October 2025: Selected awardees sign contracts.
October-March 2026: Grantees receive technical assistance from ICLEI USA, CGC, and trusted partners to develop public-private partnership plans and a pipeline of financeable projects.
February-March 2026: 50 public-private partnership plans delivered by communities.)
About the Municipal Investment Fund
Through the Municipal Investment Fund, CGC sought proposals from local governments (cities, towns, counties, the District of Columbia, or local governments in federal territory), Tribes, and their partner not-for-profit organizations to accelerate the deployment of capital to clean energy projects. CGC and ICLEI USA are committed to mobilizing public-private capital through all 50 states to ensure our communities are resilient and safe from disaster.
CGC and ICLEI USA will support communities to receive technical assistance and up to $250,000 in Market-Building grants for activities necessary to build the market for financeable project pipelines that will accelerate the deployment of clean energy and jobs across the country.
Grantees will gain partners, tools, and frameworks that will enable them to deploy clean energy projects in their communities to advance the creation of new jobs, affordable energy, clean air, and clean water.
Application Criteria for Market-Building Funding & Technical Support for the CGC Municipal Investment Fund
To qualify for this opportunity, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Population Size: Communities must have a population of between 10,000 and 750,000 residents. Tribes are exempt from this requirement.
- LIDAC Designation: Applications must include at least one census tract designated as a Low-Income and Disadvantaged Community (LIDAC) as defined by the White House Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool or an equivalent definition under the U.S. EPA NCIF program.
- Whole Community Approach: Ability to pull together a coalition that can include entities such as community organizations, labor, businesses, utilities, renewable energy developers, and state and local lenders.
- Partnership Requirement: Applicants are encouraged to partner with a not-for-profit organization, preferably a local or state Green Bank.
- Receipt of Funds: The recipient of funds (either the community or not-for-profit partner) must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and registration in the Federal System for Award Management (SAM).
What’s Included
- Technical Assistance: Awardees receive expert guidance throughout the Municipal Investment Fund application process. Grantees will gain tools and frameworks to advance clean energy projects in their communities, a pipeline of clean energy projects geared for investment, and relationships with infrastructure investors and related practitioners.
- Market-Building Support: Awardees receive funding to develop public-private partnership plans that can accelerate the deployment of capital to NCIF-qualified projects.
Funding Scope and Requirements
The Municipal Investment Fund is contingent on the availability of funding. Market-building activities, as defined by the U.S. EPA as:
- Building the market for financeable qualified projects.
- Are not tied directly to Qualified Projects the Recipient intends to finance.
- Are necessary and reasonable for the deployment of Financial Assistance to Qualified Projects.
Predevelopment activities, as defined by the U.S. EPA as:
- Improving the likelihood of the grantee financing qualified projects.
- Tied directly to qualified projects grantees intend to finance.
- Being necessary and reasonable for the deployment of financial assistance to qualified proje
Municipal Investment Fund Request for Proposals
Additional Resources
If you have questions about this program, reach out to your membership advisor or iclei-usa@iclei.org for non-members.
Forms
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document below.
To express your interest and be notified of program updates, complete the form using this link.
If you are a local community interested in having ICLEI USA connect you with a Green Bank operating within your state, complete the form using this link.
Webinars
Watch our webinar from January 15th to review application components, tips for success, and opportunities to engage with program staff.