HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated March 10, 2026ITEM #:36
DATE:03-10-26
DEPT:CMO
SUBJECT:2026 CITY OF AMES CLIMATE ACTION GRANTS PROGRAM
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
To support community partners in completing projects that align with the Climate Action Plan
(CAP), at the January 25, 2025 Council meeting, the City Council approved $70,000 towards
the Climate Action Grants Program (Program).
The Program offers two grant opportunities:
1. Community Climate Grants - up to $10,000 for each grant award. This opportunity is
available to any organization in Ames, including non-profits, businesses, and groups of
individuals.
2. Youth Mini-Grants - up to $500 for each grant award. This opportunity is available to
young people in Ames grades 12 or lower.
Below is a summary table of the two grants and their status as of March 6, 2026:
Community Climate Grants Youth Mini-Grants
Total Amount Available $66,500 $3,500
Maximum Award
Amount Up to $10,000 Up to $500
Availability Two application rounds in spring and fall
2025
Applications accepted on
a rolling basis until
available funds are fully
expended
Total Applications
Received
14 applications requesting $114,165 in
funding
6 applications requesting
$3,000 in funding
Grants Awarded 9 grants totaling $60,325 (see attachment)6 grants totaling $3,000
(see attachment)
Grant Match
Requirement
20% of total project cost either through a
cash match or volunteer hours. The goal
of the cost match is to leverage private
dollars into sustainable upgrades. The
nine awarded projects are expected to
leverage $70,000 in matching funds and
200 volunteer hours
None
Grant Duration
Up to one year to complete their project.
All projects are anticipated to be
completed by November 2026.
Up to six months to
complete their projects.
All six projects are
complete as of
December 2025.
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Unused Funds as of
March 6, 2026*$6,175 $500
*any unused funds would be carried forward should the Council choose to continue the
Program.
Grant funds are disbursed as a reimbursement after project completion. More information
about the grants can be found at www.cityofames.org/ClimateActionGrants.
Staff believes providing these grant opportunities have been successful in getting the
community to take meaningful sustainable actions. Therefore, for FY 2026/27 staff is
seeking Council authorization to allocate an additional $70,000 for these two programs:
$66,500 for Community Climate Grant and $3,500 for the Youth Mini-Grants. Any
unused funds from the first round of funding would carryover.
If approved, the Youth Mini-Grants would remain available on a rolling basis. Another round of
community climate grant applications would open in late March 2026 and awards would be
made in July 2026.
Residential Owner-Occupied Sustainability Grants:
In addition to the two grants described above, for FY 2026/27 staff is seeking Council
authorization to allocate up to $80,000 towards establishing a new grant opportunity:
Residential Owner-Occupied Sustainability Grants.
This new opportunity would support low- to moderate-income (LMI) households with funds to
install solar panels or a whole-home heat pump system. For this program, LMI would be
defined as less than 120% of area median income (AMI), as published by the US Department
of Housing and Urban Development for the Ames, IA metro area annually. If approved,
income limits for 2026 are included in the table below.
US HUD Income Limits, 120% of Area Median Income for the Ames, IA metro area
Persons in Family 1 2 3 4 5 6
120% AMI $104,160 $119,040 $133,920 $148,680 $160,680 $172,560
Eligibility is also limited to owner-occupied households. Rental households are not eligible as it
would not be feasible to monitor compliance with the income limits as rental properties change
tenants, and improvements may inadvertently result in higher rents.
Furthermore, these grants would cover up 30% of total project costs, up to $4,000. Staff
believes this amount is enough to encourage action while using resources efficiently, enabling
the distribution of funds across more projects. The table on the next page provides project cost
estimates and the impact of each project type.
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Eligible Project Type Cost Estimate
Lifetime Carbon
Emission
Reduction
Estimate
Average Useful life
Whole-home Heat Pump*
(must be Energy Star
rated)
$10,000 - $20,000 30 – 40 MT CO2e**15 years
Solar*$15,000 - $25,000 10 – 15 MT CO2e**25 years
*Ames Electric customers are also eligible for Smart Energy rebates for these projects
**MT CO2e = metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent
For context, annual greenhouse gas emissions per capita and per household in Ames are
about 15 and 37 MT CO2e, respectively.
Similar to the established grant opportunities, this new grant will be provided on a
reimbursement basis. Equipment must be installed, properly permitted, installed by a licensed
contractor, and operating prior to submission of the application. Funds will only be dispersed
to residents and not contractors. If this new grant is approved by Council, an income
verification process will be established, and this new grant will be made available in July 2026
and remain open until available funds are expended.
Funding
The initial $70,000 for the Program was funded by the Sustainability Council Priorities Fund in
FY 2025/26. The additional $150,000 staff is seeking authorization on for all three grants for
FY 2026/27 would also come from the same fund. The current unallocated balance of the
Sustainability Council Priorities Fund is $990,150.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve up to $150,000 in FY 2026/27 from the Council Priorities Fund sustainability
reserve to be made available as Climate Action Grants, including:
a. $66,500 in community climate grants,
b. $3,500 in youth mini-grants, and
c. $80,000 in residential owner-occupied sustainability grants.
2. Approve an alternative combination of funding and grant programming.
3. Do not approve any funding in FY 2026/27 for Climate Action Grants.
4. Refer back to staff for additional information.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Offering Climate Action Grant opportunities incentivizes residents and organizations to invest
in sustainable actions in ways that benefit the broader community. The Climate Action Grants
Program leverages private investment through cost sharing. Funded projects engage and
educate the public about sustainability, and result in community greenhouse gas and climate
resiliency benefits. The program has been successful thus far. The addition of residential
grants will expand the program's impact and support low- to moderate-income households to
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complete climate action projects.
This program aligns with the City Council Value of Environmental Sustainability and the
Climate Action Plan . Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City
Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as described above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
2025 Awarded Climate Action Grants.pdf
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PRESS RELEASE
City Manager’s Office 515.239.5101 main 515 Clark Ave., P.O. Box 811
515.239.5142 fax Ames, IA 50010
www.CityOfAmes.org
Contact: Nolan Sagan, Sustainability Coordinator, nolan.sagan@cityofames.org, 515.239.5227
Susan Gwiasda, Communications and Outreach, susan.gwiasda@cityofames.org, 515.239.5204
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2025
Sustainability Grants Awarded
to Five Ames Organizations
AMES, Iowa – As part of the Climate Action Grant Program, the City of Ames has awarded
Community Climate Grants to five organizations in Ames to support projects that advance the
community Climate Action Plan and reduce carbon emissions.
Community Climate Grants of up to $10,000 are part of a broader
Climate Action Grant Program that supports community
involvement in the City’s sustainability goals. This is the first of
two rounds of grants that will be awarded in 2025. Organizations
have up to one year to complete their funded project.
“By providing funding for projects that promote sustainable
practices, we are moving Ames closer to our goals of the Climate
Action Plan,” said Nolan Sagan, Sustainability Coordinator.
“Community involvement is critical in reducing energy use, encouraging low-emissions
transportation, reducing waste, conserving water, and utilizing nature-based solutions.”
The five organizations awarded grants are:
Ames Community Theater (ACTORS)
ACTORS, 120 Abraham Drive, will install solar panels on the roof of its facility, which will reduce
over 500 tons of carbon emissions by generating renewable energy.
Green Hills Community
Green Hills Community, 2200 Hamilton Drive, will install and operate a compost corner on its
grounds to compost thousands of pounds of organic waste generated each year by the cafeteria and
community gardens at its facility.
-more-
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Climate Action Grants, P. 2
Seeds of Sustainability/Repair Café
Seeds of Sustainability/Repair Café will partner with KHOI Community Radio and WeCycle to
purchase tools and offer workshops to teach bicycle repair, and to install a bike rack and bike repair
station at KHOI, 622 Douglas Ave.
Prairie Flower Children’s Center
Prairie Flower Children’s Center, 1517 Northwestern Ave., will install garden beds and a compost
tumbler to educate staff and children through hands-on learning.
Ames United Church of Christ
Ames United Church of Christ, 217 Sixth St., will install a heat pump to meet heating and cooling
needs at its facility.
The deadline for the next round of applications is Friday, Oct. 3. Applications are available at
www.CityOfAmes.org/ClimateActionGrants.
Youth Mini-Grants
In addition to the community grants, Youth Mini-Grants of
up to $500 are available for student-led projects year-
round. Like the community grants, the mini-grants also
support ideas that advance the goals of the community
Climate Action Plan. All students in grades PreK-12 can
apply, and projects must take place with the city limits of
Ames.
In the first round of mini-grants, several students were
awarded funding, including a grant to fund stickers
promoting pollinator awareness. The stickers are being
distributed at Wheatsfield Cooperative, Burgie’s Coffee, Clayton Farms Salads, and Filling Station.
For more information on the Climate Action Grant Program, contact Nolan Sagan at 515.239.5227 or
nolan.sagan@cityofames.org, or visit www.CityofAmes.org/ClimateActionGrants.
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PRESS RELEASE
City Manager’s Office 515.239.5101 main 515 Clark Ave., P.O. Box 811
515.239.5142 fax Ames, IA 50010
www.CityOfAmes.org
Contact: Nolan Sagan, Sustainability Coordinator, nolan.sagan@cityofames.org, 515.239.5227
Kati Frahm, Communications and Outreach, kati.frahm@cityofames.org, 515.239.5205
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 2, 2026
Sustainability Grants Awarded
to Four Ames Organizations
AMES, Iowa – As part of the Climate Action Grant Program, the City of Ames has awarded
Community Climate Grants to four organizations in Ames to support projects that advance the
community Climate Action Plan and reduce carbon emissions.
Community Climate Grants of up to $10,000 are part of a broader
Climate Action Grant Program that supports community
involvement in the City’s sustainability goals. This is the second
round of grants that were awarded in 2025. Organizations have up
to one year to complete their funded project.
“We are advancing the Ames Climate Action Plan by funding
projects that prioritize sustainability,” said Sustainability
Coordinator Nolan Sagan. “To truly succeed in conserving water,
reducing waste, and lowering emissions, active community participation is essential.”
The four organizations awarded grants are:
Ames High School Cybersecurity & Technology (ACT) Club
ACT Club will purchase and distribute over 100 advanced power strips. This will reduce wasted
“vampire” energy from electronics and appliances.
The EcoTheatre Lab
The EcoTheatre Lab will organize an EcoTheatre Festival: A Storytelling and Neighborhood
Resilience Project. The festival will involve readings of original plays written by Iowa playwrights
responding to local climate issues.
-more-
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Climate Action Grants, P. 2
Labyrinth Coffee/Collegiate Presbyterian Church
Labryinth Coffee/Collegiate Presbyterian Church will install a public electric vehicle charger in its
parking lot at 159 Sheldon Ave. This supports the transition to low-emissions transportation.
North Grand Christian Church
North Grand Christian Church, 919 30th St., will expand its ground-mounted solar array. This will
save on its utility bills, reduce its carbon footprint, and raise awareness about sustainability and solar
energy.
Youth Mini-Grants
In addition to the community grants, Youth
Mini-Grants of up to $500 are available for
student-led projects year-round. Like the
community grants, the mini-grants also support
ideas that advance the goals of the community
Climate Action Plan. All students in grades
PreK-12 can apply, and projects must take place
with the city limits of Ames.
In the first round of mini-grants, several students
were awarded funding for projects including
stickers and yard signs promoting pollinator
awareness, an EcoVision event that brought community organizations together to focus on
sustainability, and a seed-sharing project that distributed apartment-friendly kits to help people grow
food at home.
To receive notifications regarding potential future grant cycles in 2026, residents are encouraged to
subscribe to our sustainability email updates at www.CityofAmes.org/sustainability.
For more information on the Climate Action Grant Program, contact Nolan Sagan at 515.239.5227 or
nolan.sagan@cityofames.org, or visit www.CityofAmes.org/ClimateActionGrants.
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