Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) announced that its Community Investment Fund is accepting fall/winter grant applications from eligible local nonprofits through Jan. 31, 2026. The fund targets projects aligned with the utility’s priorities: clean-energy programs, innovative sustainability technology, and natural resource and environmental initiatives. Awards will be approved by TCLP’s board.

The fund represents a locally controlled funding source that can help nonprofit organizations in Grand Traverse County implement projects with tangible public health and community benefits. Investments in clean energy and sustainability technologies can lower energy costs for community facilities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and diminish pollution that contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular illness. Projects that protect natural resources can also support recreational and subsistence uses that are central to residents’ wellbeing and local economies.

Local service providers, environmental groups, neighborhood organizations, and community health initiatives are among the kinds of organizations that may be eligible to apply. By channeling utility resources into nonprofit-led programs, the fund creates an opportunity to expand energy-efficiency upgrades, solar installations for community centers, stormwater or watershed projects, and pilot technologies designed to improve local resilience to extreme weather.

Beyond immediate project outcomes, TCLP’s program has implications for equity in Grand Traverse County. Community-directed grants can address longstanding disparities by prioritizing underserved neighborhoods, reducing energy burden for low-income households, and supporting workforce training tied to a growing clean-energy sector. Local control of grant approvals through the utility’s board means decisions will be made by representatives familiar with regional needs, though outreach and application support will be critical to ensure smaller organizations can compete for funds.

For public health planners and health-focused nonprofits, the fund offers a mechanism to partner on interventions that reduce environmental health risks. Cleaner energy and improved environmental infrastructure can lower triggers for asthma and other pollution-related conditions, while community resilience projects help protect vulnerable populations during climate-related events.

TCLP’s application window runs until Jan. 31, 2026. Nonprofits interested in applying should review eligibility criteria and submission guidelines on TCLP’s website. As community groups prepare proposals, considerations about equitable access to funding, measurable public health outcomes, and long-term maintenance of funded projects will be important to maximize benefits for Grand Traverse County residents.