Infrastructure

Smart Manufacturing and Recycling Tactics for States (SMART)

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) has made available up to $63 million for states and local governments to expand battery recycling and modernize American manufacturing by making cutting edge technologies more accessible to small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs).

Eligible Recipients

The activities to be funded under this FOA support BIL sections 40534 and 40207(f)(3) and the broader government-wide approach to reinvigorating and reinvesting in the American industrial base; catalyzing American leadership and global competitiveness in the clean energy economy, investing in the American manufacturing workforce; and maximizing the benefits of the clean energy transition as the nation works to curb the climate crisis, empower workers, and advance environmental justice. These BIL sections are focused on:

  • Appropriations of $50 million over Fiscal Years (FYs) 2022 through 2026 to establish the State Manufacturing Leadership Program (SMLP), which supports state entities to provide assistance to small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to:
    – facilitate access to high-performance computing (HPC) resources; and
    – implement smart manufacturing technologies and practices.
    The SMLP awarded over $22,000,000 of the $50,000,000 in federal funds in April 2024 to 12 projects in 12 states.
  • Appropriations of $41 million over FYs 2022 through 2026 to increase the number of state and local programs to assist in the establishment or enhancement of state battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing programs, with the goal of:
    – increasing participation in recycling programs; and
    – developing recycling programs for electronics and batteries that can help immediately support a domestic battery supply chain.

Funding Source

Department of Energy (DOE)

Funding Amount

$63M in grant funding is available for two distinct project types:


Battery Recycling ($41M): For state and local governments to create new or enhance existing battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing programs, with a focus on awareness, education, and community benefits.


Smart Manufacturing ($22M): For states to establish or expand programs to assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers in accessing smart manufacturing technologies like advanced sensors and modeling.

Deadline

Full Application Submission Deadline: 9/16/2024 5:00 PM ET

Contact

InfrastructureExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov

More Information

https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId01ff6755-19bc-44e2-afb1-c0c82b96ab47

Closed Loop Infrastructure Fund

The Closed Loop Infrastructure Fund accepts applications for U.S.-based projects on a rolling basis and provides below-market rate loans to municipalities and companies to improve recycling infrastructure.

Eligible Recipients:

TBA

Eligible Projects:

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Project must be based in the U.S.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions reduced/avoided
  • Materials diversion from disposal
  • Applicant’s ability to repay
  • Replicability and scalability of the project or model
  • Amount of increase in access to or participation in recycling
  • Amount of increase in the recovery and/or reuse of post-consumer commodities (i.e., plastics, paper, glass, or metal)
  • Economic benefit(s) to the community(ies) served by the project or company
  • Ability for the applicant and/or project to leverage additional sources of capital

Funding Source:
Closed Loop Partners

Funding Amount:

  • We provide zero interest loans to municipalities and below market rate loans to private companies.
  • Typical loan size is $3-$5M over a 3-10 year term, with each loan secured by collateral.
  • We invest in best-in-class operators who are leaders in their industry in the United States.

Funding Deadline:
 Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Contact:
Apply on website

More Information:
https://www.closedlooppartners.com/funds/apply-for-funding/closed-loop-infrastructure-fund/

EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure and Recycling Grants

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program provides grants to implement a strategy to improve post-consumer materials management and infrastructure; support improvements to local post-consumer materials management and recycling programs; and assist local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems.

Eligible Recipients:

  • U.S. States and political subdivisions of states.
  • Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
  • District of Columbia.
  • Federally recognized tribal governments.
  • Former tribal reservations in Oklahoma (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior).
  • Alaskan Native Villages as defined in Public Law 92-203.
  • Intertribal Consortia consistent with the requirements in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 35.504(a).

Eligible Projects:

TBA

Funding Source:
United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and initially funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Funding Amount:
TBA

Funding Deadline:
EPA anticipates the Requests for Applications will be released this fall.

Contact:
Provide input or submit questions about this program to SWIFR@epa.gov.

More Information:
https://www.epa.gov/rcra/solid-waste-infrastructure-recycling-grant-program