MassDEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant

Next steps   for MassDEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant

1. Determine Your Eligibility

   To be eligible for Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant consideration, you must be applying on behalf of:

   • An organization or business (for-profit or non-profit) that is properly licensed to operate in Massachusetts.
   • A regional entity, such as a solid waste management district, solid waste/recycling cooperative or regional planning authority, that is recognized as a governmental body under Massachusetts General Laws.
   • An individual Massachusetts city or town, or one acting as the lead for a multi-community regional initiative.
   • Pre-K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, both public and private. 
      

2. Review the Grant Guidelines

   Read the Grant Guidelines before applying. The Guidelines explain the goals of this grant program and provide a comprehensive summary of the evaluation criteria and timeline, eligible uses of funds, project ideas, and award recipient expectations.

   Open PDF file, 292.12 KB,  Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant Guidelines 2025 (English, PDF 292.12 KB)

3. Prepare the Information You Need to Submit

   You will need to provide the following as part of your application:

   • A summary of the project you are proposing and its goals.
   • Your justification for the project (i.e., why it is needed).
   • How you will evaluate or measure the success of your project.
   • A statement of project sustainability and replicability.
   • Your work plan and timeline for the project.
   • An itemized project budget, including any matching funds.

4. Submit Your Application

   MassDEP will post a link to the online application on this webpage 4-6 weeks prior to the deadline.

   Once the application opens, questions must be submitted in writing to Leah Kelleher at leah.kelleher@mass.gov. Questions are due April 29, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Answers will be posted to this webpage on May 2, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.

5. MassDEP Reviews Your Application

   Build 3-5 months into your project timeline to account for the time needed for the evaluation, award, and contracting process. Award decisions will be based on the eligibility and evaluation criteria specified in the Grant Guidelines (Step 2 above).

6. Sign a Grant Agreement with MassDEP

   Applicants whose projects are selected for funding will receive an award letter. Grantees will work with MassDEP to develop and sign a Standard Contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that includes a Grant Scope of Work and specifies the terms and conditions of the award. Additional documents will be required to set up payment and the contract. These documents must be submitted within one month of receiving an award letter.

   Grant funds may not be expended until the Standard Contract has been fully executed.

7. Project Reporting & Reimbursement

   • Applicants whose projects are selected for funding will work with MassDEP to develop a Grant Scope of Work. Project work must generally be completed as per the Grant Scope of Work.
   • Approved projects must be completed within one year of receiving the fully executed Standard Contract, which includes the Grant Scope of Work and outlines grant expectations and requirements.
   • Awarded funds will be distributed as a reimbursement based on actual costs and an approved budget outlined in the Grant Scope of Work.
   • At the conclusion of your grant project, you must submit a final report. The final report describes your work and deliverables, challenges faced, lessons learned, and recommendations for next steps, as appropriate. MassDEP will provide a template to help you write the final report and may publish information and images from it on its website or social media to inspire other organizations doing similar work.
   • Once MassDEP receives and approves your final report, you may submit an invoice to request grant payment, using a template provided by the grant manager.