The City of Long Beach is launching its second round of funding for the ClimateLB Youth Climate Action Fund Microgrant Program (Program) to support youth ages 15 to 24 in designing, producing, and overseeing urgent climate solutions that further the City’s climate action goals. The Program will aid in fulfilling the City’s 10-year community investment plan, the Westside Promise, and also aligns with the goals of the Long Beach Climate Action Plan, Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults and Racial Equity and Reconciliation Plan.

“The ClimateLB Program centers our local youth and the critical role they play in creating a more livable and climate-resilient Long Beach and increases support for youth-led sustainability initiatives in West Long Beach,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By more than doubling the grant funding this year, we are underscoring our commitment to investing in youth leadership opportunities and encouraging innovation and civic engagement, both of which are necessary to solve the difficult climate challenges our communities face.”

The Program will award $85,000 in grant funding to support 17 local youth-led climate projects over 10 months through the distribution of $5,000 microgrants. The City will prioritize proposals from youth-serving organizations that address climate change mitigation, environmental justice, equity and adaptation actions in West Long Beach. Selected projects must focus on one or more of the following themes:

1. Youth-Led Reforestation and Tree-Planting Projects: Projects that mobilize youth volunteers to plant trees, improve urban green spaces and increase urban canopy coverage for better air quality and climate resilience.
2. Youth-Led Climate Education Efforts: Educational initiatives led by youth that target local schools and communities to increase awareness and understanding of climate issues.
3. Youth Climate Ambassadors Programs: Programs that engage youth to provide information on local climate and environmental resources to local businesses, nonprofits and residents.
4. Youth-Designed Public Art and Awareness Campaigns: Partnerships with youth artists to create public art installations and awareness campaigns that convey the urgency of climate action and the City’s climate goals.

Applications are now available on lbcity.info/climatelb and will be available through Monday, March 17. Grant awardees will be announced in early April, the funds will be administered in early May, and the full grant award must be expended by Oct. 31.

The Youth Climate Action Fund is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University and is administered by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Last year, the Program awarded eight youth-led projects with $5,000 microgrants to support youth-led reforestation and tree-planting projects, climate education efforts, climate ambassador programs and public art and awareness campaigns.

For more details about the ClimateLB Youth Climate Action Fund Microgrant Program and to register for the kickoff event, visit the Office of Climate Action and Sustainability website at lbcity.info/climatelb.