Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant (NCRG) Program

Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant (NCRG) Program is sponsored by City of Richmond, Office of Sustainability. The NCRG Program supports the implementation of equity-centered, neighborhood-based planning and climate resilience projects within the City of Richmond.

Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program | Richmond Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program The Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant (“NCRG”) Program supports the implementation of equity-centered, neighborhood-based planning and climate resilience projects within the City of Richmond.

Notice of Funding Availability: Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program – Cohort 3 The City of Richmond’s Office of Sustainability is pleased to announce the availability of funding through the Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program. This grant opportunity supports community-based projects that strengthen climate resilience in Richmond’s frontline communities in alignment with the RVAgreen 2050 Climate Equity Action Plan.

Total Available Funds: $150,000 Maximum Award per Project: $49,999.

00 Funding is contingent upon approval by Richmond City Council Application Opens: December 1, 2025 Information Session: January 7, 2026 - RSVP here Priority Deadline: January 23, 2026 Round 1 Review: February 2 – February 17, 2025 Conditional Awards (Round 1): Spring 2026 Round 2 Applications (if funds remain): Spring 2026 Be an organization providing services to residents of the City of Richmond.

Demonstrate a clear connection between their work and the goals of the RVAgreen 2050 Climate Equity Action Plan. Submit a completed application, including a project scope of work and budget. Focus their efforts on equitable climate action, climate change mitigation, or resilience building.

Funding may support, but is not limited to, the following types of projects: Climate resilience workforce development and training Expansion or improvement of green spaces and recreational facilities Neighborhood cleanups and public space revitalization Urban heat mitigation strategies Food insecurity initiatives (e.g., support for food banks) Remediation and cleanup of vacant or abandoned properties Alternative and sustainable transportation infrastructure Please Note: Staffing Cost cannot exceed more than 15% of the overall project budget.

Join us on January 7, 2026 from 12pm to 1pm to learn about the City of Richmond’s Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program. RSVP to attend the NCRG Info Session here. Applications will be reviewed in two rounds, based on priority deadlines and available funding.

All applicants receiving a conditional award must complete additional documentation and meet City pre-award requirements. If the proposed project is located on City-owned property, it must receive approval from the appropriate City of Richmond agency before funds can be released. Please Note: Final approval and fund disbursement may take 60–90 days following the conditional award and is subject to Richmond City Council approval.

The Office of Sustainability reserves the right to alter, suspend, or revoke any preliminary approval based on interim developments or failure to meet requirements. Applications and additional program details will be available beginning December 1st . Visit richmondva.

gov/sustainability or contact the program team for materials. Apply to the 2026 NCRG Cohort 3 here. For questions or technical assistance, please email: ncrgrantprogram@rva.

gov As the Office of Sustainability and the City of Richmond continues to implement RVAgreen 2050, we are excited to announce the second cohort of the Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program! This program supports organizations and their projects that build climate resilience in frontline communities throughout Richmond. Renewable energy is a rapidly growing sector with high demand for skilled workers.

However, vulnerable and underserved populations often face barriers to accessing training and employment opportunities in this field. Our approach aims to diversify the clean energy workforce by providing training and support to underrepresented groups, ensuring a more inclusive and equitable future for renewable energy.

As a community-based arts organization, we prioritize climate equity through three key strategies: Providing accessible studio spaces and financial support to artists, regardless of their economic background; Offering free community space for educational programs, cultural events, and resource sharing; and Creating a public green space that promotes sustainability, accessibility, and community well-being.

Organization: Studio Two Three This project will utilize RVA Goats to graze a section of invasive plants and then provide follow-up remediation and monitoring of the site to ensure healthy native habitats remain at Crooked Branch Ravine Park. Organization: Reedy Creek Coalition Future Habitats seeks to restore the former hospital campus to a resilient native forest and prairie habitat.

By the development of the Art Loop, native meadows, and invasive species management, we will create numerous opportunities of outdoor education, unique learning experiences, and wellness for our community. Organization: Future Habitats This Urban Gardening Initiative will train 100 individuals in small-scale aquaponics, focusing on adults with autism.

Participants will learn to build IBC-based aquaponics systems and cultivate vegetables and seafood, promoting community farming in low-income urban areas. Organization: ProFarms Gateway Richmond Community Toolbank Richmond Community Toolbank This project aims to enhance Richmond's parks by providing a diverse range of accessible outdoor furniture.

By collaborating with PRCF, ToolBank will address the current lack of standardized park amenities and create more inclusive outdoor spaces.

Organization: Richmond Community ToolBank Renewal of Life Land Trust Renewal of Life Land Trust This Soil Rehabilitation Project aims to sustainably elevate soil health, enhance natural habitat biodiversity, to help capture atmospheric carbon, and reduce the threat of climate impacts in census block 709; the most cumulatively impacted district in the state.

Organization: Renewal of Life Land Trust The Office of Sustainability officially announced the Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 with an application due date of August 4, 2023.

In total, the OOS received 20 applications which were reviewed and scored by a diverse panel of city staff members spanning the Office of Sustainability, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities, Department of Public Works, and the Department of Public Utilities.

Bridging the Gap in Virginia Bridging the Gap in Virginia This project will provide solar panels, rainwater catchments, and electric water pumps to enhance the respective community gardens’ irrigation systems leading to more effective food systems. These enhancements would produce and harvest more food production and sustainability to subsidize food in the respective communities.

Organization: Bridging the Gap in Virginia These funds will go to supporting the Greening Richmond Public Libraries initiative, specifically the implementation of the green infrastructure site plan underway at East End Branch Library Funds will be used to purchase 234 herbaceous plants, a combination of native switchgrasses and river oats, and mulch to help conserve soil moisture and limit the growth of weeds."

Organization: James River Association The Church Hill Association of RVA The Church Hill Association of RVA These funds will be used to plant trees along public streets, restore tree wells along public streets, and educate and engage residents. A particular goal is helping the people of our neighborhood who are the most socially vulnerable.

Organization: The Church Hill Association of RVA Together with Swansboro West Civic Association (SWCA), Southside ReLeaf, Groundwork RVA, and Colesville Nursery, Richmond Tree Stewards plan to focus on planting young street trees. SWCA has inventoried most of the streets in the Swansboro West area and has identified planting spots for 100 street trees.

Organization: Richmond Tree Stewards Chimborazo Native Food Project Chimborazo Native Food Project The Chimborazo Native Food Project is using our grant funds to expand the native community orchard with native fruit tree and shrub plantings, and the construction of a grapevine trellis.

We’re also now expanding our invasive plant removal with goat grazing and targeted treatment so that we can install a large native grassland on a hillside. Organization: Chimborazo Native Food Project Southside ReLeaf is seeking funding to improve Blackwell/Charlie Sydnor Playground (Blackwell Playground) in the Blackwell neighborhood on Richmond’s Southside.

Partners, alongside community members, will convert an underused open, grass-lawn park that lacks adequate amenities into a thoughtfully planned, beautiful community asset featuring urban green infrastructure stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Organization: Southside ReLeaf Community Climate Collaborative Community Climate Collaborative This project will specifically focus on analyzing neighborhood-level energy consumption data in the City of Richmond, creating a heat map to identify energy disparities, and formulating targeted solutions to improve the quality of life for residents.

Organization: Community Climate Collaborative SevaTruck Richmond Foundation SevaTruck Richmond Foundation These funds will help them to continue making meals utilizing locally grown, sustainable produce for those in need and to partner with more community organizations. Their goal is to reach more kids of low-income families and provide meals after school or on the weekends when they may not have steady access to food.

Organization: SevaTruck Richmond Foundation Happily Natural will leverage these funds to train community members in urban farming and enhance the Sankofa Community Orchards infrastructure as a sustainable urban farm demonstration. HND’s training programs work in synergy with our 6 urban farms and gardens located in both Northside and Southside.

Organization: Happily Natural Tech for Troops would use the funds to promote electronics drives across RVA to lessen the amount of e-waste landfill, promote recycling, and support general waste reduction and sustainability efforts.

Organization: Tech for Troops Capital Region Land Conservancy Capital Region Land Conservancy This project would support both staffing costs but importantly the costs associated with transferring properties to the City of Richmond for future parks that have been coordinated with the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Organization: Capital Region Land Conservancy This funding will primarily support the walking for fresh fruits and veggies plus supplies and promotion. Taken-A-Lap exercise and nutrition incentive program to increase purchasing power for fresh fruits and vegetables and to encourage healthy eating and exercise, and promoting a healthier, more sustainable community.

Organization: Second Baptist Church Storefront for Community Design Storefront for Community Design Storefront aims to leverage these funds to bring the two programs (Design Session and City Builders Design Workshop) together to continue working with the partner and guide this project into the next phase through additional educational opportunities, design development, and multi-level resources (i.e. connections to professional contacts, similar case studies, cost estimates, and material sourcing) Storefront will convene community members to envision a garden plan with climate resilience at its center.

Organization: Storefront for Community Design Girls For A Change would like to leverage these funds for a school-based food sustainability and justice program.

Through our program, they will partner with organizations that produce locally sourced, sustainble food products for schools and the community, like Eat Smart, Sankofa Farms, The Kitchen Magician, 1115 Mobile Kitchen and two RPS schools (preferably an elementary school and/or a small population high school to start) to provide sustainable lunches once a week.

Organization: Girls for a Change Living Water Community Center Living Water Community Center Living Waters Community Center will leverage these funds is to increase the number of native trees in the Southside of Richmond, particularly along streets and medians. Organization: Living Water Community Center Capital Trees aims to use these funds to support their work to transform the Hotchkiss Field and Community Center’s 1.

88 underused acres of turf into an inviting urban landscape that includes walking trails, seating areas, shade trees, a pollinator garden, and native shrubs and perennials. The green space is designed to meet the needs of the humans who call the surrounding neighborhoods home, and the wildlife and pollinators who need an oasis amidst a largely urban area.

Organization: Capital Trees Kinfolk Community’s conservation/urban agriculture workforce development program will offer youth paid training and work experience on a variety of conservation projects as well as the chance to build valuable life skills and personal resilience in a supportive environment.

Some of those projects include: Training – urban agriculture and life skills (3 teams of 10 = 30 youth) Building and maintenance of community gardens at MLK Middle School and Gilpin Court Planting trees at Gilpin and MLK Middle School (50 fruit bearing trees, 50 other) Beautification and cleaning – Gilpin Court Organization: Kinfolk Community Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline RVA.

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