The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering Climate Planning Grants for the 2025–2027 biennium, pending legislative appropriation. These grants, funded through Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, aim to support counties and cities across Washington that are required to include a Climate Change and Resilience element in their comprehensive plans as part of the Growth Management Act (GMA) periodic update process. Approximately $17.5 million in statewide grants will be distributed, with activities such as public outreach, GHG inventories, VMT studies, vulnerability assessments, and resilience planning being eligible for funding. However, implementation activities are not currently eligible unless further appropriations become available.

The application window opens on April 17, 2025, and closes on June 2, 2025. Grant-funded work may begin as early as July 1, 2025. For jurisdictions with a periodic update deadline of December 31, 2025, a Notice of Interest must be submitted by April 17, 2025, to be eligible to apply. For those with update deadlines in 2026 or 2027, the application period is open without a prior Notice of Interest requirement. Final deliverables and invoices must be submitted by June 30, 2027.

Eligible applicants must be local governments within Washington State that are updating their comprehensive plans per GMA requirements. Funding allocations are based on jurisdiction population size and the number of elements that need to be updated, as outlined in HB 1181. Applicants must submit a completed application form, a scope of work, a detailed budget, and a letter of commitment from an authorized official. These materials must be uploaded via the provided SmartSheet links.

Evaluation includes adherence to deadlines, completion of all required documentation, and responsiveness during the contract execution phase. Contracts will be executed via DocuSign. Additionally, Commerce provides resources such as planning guidance, FAQs, and access to regional technical assistance to help applicants prepare. Key contact persons include Sarah Fox, Climate & Ecosystem Section Manager, and Noelle Madera, Climate Operations Team Lead.