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SCALE UP: Small Communities Advancing Local Environmental Action

USDN has organized a small communities cohort program called SCALE Up that will provide training for local government participants to build their capacity to advance environmental health, energy affordability, and emergency preparedness priorities in their communities. Training will be rooted in understanding the landscape of project funding and financing mechanisms, supporting workforce development, developing enabling policy, and identifying actionable strategies and partnerships to scale local impact. 

This effort is intended to set small local governments up for success to directly and indirectly leverage existing and future funding and financing opportunities. We aim to use key learnings from the cohort to engage, educate, and collaborate with public, private, and community stakeholders.

Target Audience

This cohort aims to support 15-20 small to medium sized local governments (population <250,000). This will include local governments who are interested in diverse funding and financing mechanisms, but need additional support building cross-sectoral partnerships, understanding implementation pathways. This opportunity is open to USDN member communities, non-members, and their local partners.

Format

This is a three-part program that kicks off May 2025. Each part will include three sessions (one/month) and monthly optional office hour sessions. The expectation is that program participants register for at least two of the three program parts. 

  • Part One: Understanding Local Priorities and the Funding Menu for Local Governments (May 2025 -July 2025)

  • Part Two: Developing a Project Implementation and Funding Roadmap (September 2025 -November 2025)

  • Part Three: Creating an Enabling Landscape for Project Implementation (December 2025 -February 2026)

Participants will hear from peers and technical experts on monthly online learning sessions. SCALE Up’s monthly learning sessions, webinars, place-based technical assistance, and grant support will help local governments access funding and financing programs either directly or indirectly, as well as build capacity and knowledge to apply to future opportunities.

Cohort participants will meet once a month for a learning session that will include curriculum content and peer learning time. The program will also offer optional monthly “Office Hours” to provide additional one-on-one and small group support. 

Outcomes

Through this cohort, participants will:

  • Be able to tell the story of local needs in their community, using data and visualization tools 

  • Develop project/program proposals to support environmental action

  • Be able to assess and strengthen the capacity of their local government to make more strategic short-, mid-, and long-term decisions around funding and financing, capacity, and partnerships 

  • Be better prepared to access future public funding, philanthropic grants, and other sources of capital 

Cohort Schedule

PART 1 Understanding Local Priorities and the Funding Menu for Local Governments

Session 1: MAY 6, 3-4:00PM ET - Understanding Local Environmental Injustices & Investing in Frontline Communities
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/s9-t29FGRum1DcFdACO_rg

Session 2: JUN 3, 3-4:00PM ET - Creating Inclusive Planning Processes & Local Partnerships
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/40uXXYElTfqBhYB1jAkmjQ

Session 3: JUL 9, 2-3:00PM ET - Understanding the Funding Menu for Local Governments 
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SbzfWmA4SI6POb61JWsGGg

PART 2 Developing a Project Implementation and Funding Roadmap

Session 4: SEP 10, 2-3:00PM ET - Assessing the Funding Menu - How small local governments select which funding to pursue
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/k-otPz0ERc-zemJqH0buxw

Session 5: OCT 1, 2-3:00PM ET - Developing a Project Implementation and Funding Roadmap 
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VlmFSZRPRoyLIzFobu7KZw

Session 6: NOV 5, 2-3:00PM ET - How to set up internal systems to be ready for funding
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/aiOB-7hPS8KvTzEve1nHlA

PART 3 Creating an Enabling Landscape for Project Implementation

Session 7: DEC 3, 2-3:00PM ET - Creating the Enabling Workforce Environment 
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jlTzeZ3XRXKVyaMgO2baZA

Session 8: JAN 14, 2-3:00PM ET - Supporting an Enabling Policy Landscape 
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/oAAdnQxwQW-L1DyscsmYZw

Session 9: FEB 11, 2-3:00PM ET - Overcoming Implementation Challenges 
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/n55c-UW9S72nX5wwW7rz6Q

Helpful Links

  • Frequently Asked Questions about the SCALE UP Cohort

  • Learn more about the USDN Federal Funding Program and browse our federal funding resources (open to USDN member communities).