Green Equity Initiative Grants

Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) partners with immigrant women to foster an inclusive, prosperous transition to the U.S. through artisan skills training in zero waste and small batch manufacturing.

Project Description: Grain and Feed Sack Upcycling: Transforming Used Bulk Bags into High-Value Consumer Goods

Contributing to our circular economy, RAI's Grain and Feed Sack Upcycling project will convert hard-to-recycle materials into a diverse portfolio of useful products.

Seattle Good Business Network connects and inspires people to buy, produce, and invest locally so that everyone has a meaningful stake in the local economy.

Project description: Climate Action Youth Internship

Seattle Good Business Network will use their funds in collaboration with public and private-sector partners to develop and execute a 240-hour Climate Action internship program for young adults, ages 18-24. The  program will offer an opportunity to gain high-demand skills in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measurement and reduction to support both small-to-medium-sized businesses and public agencies in King County, as well as initiatives outlined in King County's Strategic Climate Action Plan. Participants will also obtain skills in project management and sustainability.

Zero Waste Washington focuses on driving policy change for a healthy and waste-free world by working on law and programmatic changes rather than individual behavior changes. The organization plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving natural resources, and reducing waste like plastic pollution and toxic chemicals in the environment.

Project Description: Creating Green Jobs and Building Furniture Repair Skills in Washington State

Zero Waste Washington will use their funds for “The Furniture Repair Bank,” a program that seeks to deploy a new workforce development component to provide furniture repair, refinishing, and reupholstery skills to refugees and immigrants.

The Furniture Repair Bank reduces furniture waste in Washington state through repair and redesign of broken or worn furnishings and providing those items to recent refugees and other families in need. In addition, they are developing a program that will employ workers, and trainees so that the enterprise is sustainable. It will also include interpretation and English as a Second Language classes, along with other marketable skills.

Olympia Community Solar is a nonprofit organization working to steward an equitable and accessible transition to clean energy. Their team offers pro-bono solar development support to nonprofit organization and tribes.

Project Description: Low Income Clean Energy Deployment Initiative

Olympia Community Solar will use their funds to provide solar panels for two separate initiatives:

The Quixote Village Solar Project will install four solar panels across 30 tiny homes and 86 panels on the village's community building, saving the community more than $551,000 in energy costs over the next 40 years. 

Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) Community Enterprise Program provides training, one-on-one advising, and other support to help with the first steps of building a business, from idea generation to solidly established and ready to grow. CIE currently serves people in Clallam, Jefferson, Skagit, Island, and North Snohomish counties in Washington state.

Project Description: Circular Economy Program

CIE will enhance and leverage their existing business development program to develop and deliver the Circular Economy Program, a specialized track to support the development of waste-to-profit microenterprises contributing to sustainable local circular economies and green jobs in marginalized and BIPOC rural communities disproportionately impacted by environmental harm. These waste-to-profit microenterprises will generate revenue, profit, and green jobs by turning harmful waste byproducts into valuable goods and services with a measurable positive impact on the local environment.

Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national nonprofit network of organizations that work to advance a sustainable environment while creating just and inclusive economies with opportunities for all. It's an approach they call “the high road.” ECC develops energy, green infrastructure and other sustainable development projects that not only contribute to the resilience of our metropolitan regions but also ensures an equity stake for low-income communities of color in the green economy.

Project Description: E-Contractor Program

Emerald Cities E-Contractor Program (Academy and Accelerator) provides small minority construction businesses (MBE) with a comprehensive training program, support services and business opportunities to enable rapid and profitable growth, particularly in the clean and renewable energy sector.

ecoTHRIVE Housing is a community-led community land trust that develops affordable, resilient villages that address people's fundamental needs and foster community.

Project Description: Burien Cooperative Village

With their funds, ecoTHRIVE Housing is piloting the Burien Cooperative Village, a community with 27 EcoCottages, a common house and playground within the Boulevard Park neighborhood in Burien, Washington. The smaller footprint cottages are located in an area with native and edible plants and are easily accessible to transit. They will be affordable housing options for households earning 50% AMI to own. In addition to ensuring affordability, there are many climate adaptive features of the village, including water catchment systems, organic gardens, energy efficient buildings and appliances, and an electric vehicle charging station with a shared electric vehicle.

Washington Wild protects and restores wild lands and waters in Washington state. They achieve this goal through advocacy, education and civic engagement.

Project description: Indigenous Climate Impacts Oral History

In collaboration with This Is Indian Country, Washington Wild will use their grant funds to produce 15 three to five-minute video interviews with tribal elders and leaders.

EarthGen equips youth to grow their power as changemakers for a healthy environment. Through EarthGen's science-based, action-oriented programs, young people gain the knowledge, skills and experience they need to become leaders for climate solutions and environmental justice.

Project description: Expanding Youth Climate Science Education and Action Through Technology

EarthGen will use their grant funds to help expand access to climate science education and action for K-12 students in Washington state. The grant will help advance environmental and climate justice solutions in Washington through implementation of technology.

Our Climate empowers young people to advocate for the science-based, equitable and intersectional climate justice policies that build a thriving world. They train youth from affected communities and groups to participate in broad and diverse advocacy coalitions.

Project Description: Empowering Young Climate Justice Leaders in Washington

Our Climate will create a structured curriculum to train young people across Washington to become powerful climate advocates.

Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) partners with immigrant women to foster an inclusive, prosperous transition to the US through artisan skills training in zero waste and small batch manufacturing.

Project Description: Coffee Bag Reuse: Upcycled Rollstock Portable Outdoor Gear

Contributing to our circular economy, RAI's Upcycled Rollstock Portable Outdoor Gear project will divert coffee bags from landfills by upcycling them into a diverse portfolio of household products.

Bike Works promotes the bicycle as a vehicle for change to empower youth and build resilient communities.

Project Description: Bike Works Recycle & Reuse Expansion & Support

Support the growth and effectiveness of our Recycle & Reuse (R&R) initiative. The R&R team processes between 7,000 - 8,000 bike donations every year for use in our youth & adult programs, free bike giveaways and social enterprise bike shop.

The Black Farmers Collective seeks to build a Black-led food system by developing a cooperative network of food system actors, acquiring and stewarding land, facilitating food system education and creating space for Black liberation in healing and joy.

Project Description: Stewarding the next Generation of Black Farmers

Their vision is to steward a new generation of Black farmers, bridge the gaps in our current food systems and strive toward food sovereignty and Black liberation.

Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) Community Enterprise Program provides training, one-on-one advising, and other support to help with the first steps of building a business, from idea generation to solidly established and ready to grow. We are currently serving people in Clallam, Jefferson, Skagit, Island, and North Snohomish Counties.

Project Description: The North Olympic Peninsula Green Equity Accelerator Emerald Cities Collaborative

CIE will pilot a social enterprise accelerator for emerging social entrepreneurs in marginalized and BIPOC rural communities including Clallam and Jefferson counties.

Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national nonprofit network of organizations that work to advance a sustainable environment while creating just and inclusive economies with opportunities for all. It's an approach they call "the high road." ECC develops energy, green infrastructure and other sustainable development projects that not only contribute to the resilience of our metropolitan regions but also ensures an equity stake for low-income communities of color in the green economy.

Project Description: E-Contractor Program

Emerald Cities E-Contractor Program (Academy and Accelerator) provides small minority construction businesses (MBE) with a comprehensive training program, support services and business opportunities to enable rapid and profitable growth, particularly in the clean and renewable energy sector.

Harbor WildWatch inspires knowledge of the Puget Sound, and greater Salish Sea by providing learning opportunities about the environment to our community and beyond.

Project Description: Developing the Next Generation of Environmental Sustainability Professionals

Harbor WildWatch is working to support the implementation of a new internship program across four counties that will reduces access barriers for BIPOC and marginalized students. The goal is to help provide the experience needed to secure first jobs in the field of environmental sustainability.