This program represents a fantastic opportunity for you to engage with emerging talent in the climate science field. By participating, you're not just accessing valuable funding; you're also tapping into a network of motivated scientists and innovators who are eager to collaborate. This fresh wave of talent can bring new ideas and solutions to the challenges your business faces, especially relating to the impacts of climate change.

The program emphasizes mentorship and collaboration, allowing you to actively shape the future workforce in climate science. It's a chance to gain visibility and credibility within the research community while making a positive impact on your local community. You’ll be positioned at the forefront of innovative projects, enhancing your business’s reputation as a leader in addressing climate challenges.

By applying, you’ll find it’s designed to be accessible to a wide range of businesses, regardless of structure or scale. This means you can contribute to community resilience while reaping the benefits of enhanced partnership opportunities in a sector poised for growth.

Type of Financing

The financing offered is primarily in the form of Grants. These funds do not require repayment, allowing you to focus on meaningful initiatives without the stress of debt.

Repayment Terms and Fees

Since these are grants, there are no interest rates or repayment terms attached. This means you can utilize the entirety of the funds to support your project. Importantly, there are also no fees associated with this program, making it a cost-effective funding option for your business.

Eligible Expenses

Funds can be used for a range of eligible expenses, including:

• Professional development activities
• Coordination of support for emerging research institutions
• Capacity building initiatives
• Mentorship programs focused on students from historically excluded and underserved groups

Restrictions on Fund Usage

However, it's essential to note that the funds cannot be used for general operating expenses, personal salaries, or projects that fall outside the outlined objectives of enhancing entrepreneurial and innovation capacity within the research community.

• US Citizenship or Permanent Residency: Participants must be US citizens or permanent residents.
• Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs): Business must be affiliated with an emerging research institution.
• Support for Diverse Groups: Focus on building cohorts from historically excluded and underserved groups in STEM.
• Participants: Must include senior students in undergraduate programs and students in master's degree programs.
• No Minimum or Maximum Employees: No restrictions on the number of employees in the business.
• No Minimum or Maximum Revenue: Revenue size does not affect eligibility.
• Legal Structure: Open to all legal structures.
• Profit Structure: Open to all profit structures.

Disqualifiers:

• Non-U.S. Citizens: Businesses that do not have participants who are US citizens or permanent residents are disqualified.
• Ineligibility as an Emerging Research Institution: Businesses not affiliated with ERIs cannot apply.

The program offers valuable funding and support aimed at developing the skills of future climate scientists and innovators. By focusing on training students from emerging research institutions, it creates opportunities for your business to engage with a fresh wave of talent equipped to tackle climate challenges. You'll benefit from enhanced collaboration and access to a diverse pool of researchers who are ready to bring new ideas and solutions to your industry.

With a focus on mentorship and capacity building, this initiative helps foster a culture of innovation and engagement. As a business owner, your participation means you can actively shape and support the future workforce in climate science. This is an excellent chance to build relationships with young professionals who can help address the effects of climate change—an issue that impacts many sectors today.

The program encourages long-term community resilience and enhances your business’s visibility within the research community. It creates a pathway for you to become involved in impactful projects that not only benefit your business, but also the wider society. You'll find yourself at the forefront of emerging solutions in climate adaptation, making a lasting difference.