The City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment & Sustainability has launched the 2025 Green Workforce Development Grant Round through the GCP Seeds of Change Program. Thanks to a $60,000 award from a private foundation, this funding opportunity will support organizations advancing equitable pathways into Cincinnati’s growing green economy. Funding range: $10,000-$30,000 per project (at least 2 awards).  

Grant Details   

• Eligible applicants: 501(c)(3) non-profits, education institutions, and qualifying for-profit businesses  
• Project period: Nov 1, 2025 – Oct 31, 2026  
• Application deadline: September 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM 
• Info Session: September 8, 2025, 2–3 PM. Register Here 

Projects should support trainees from disadvantaged communities and align with the Green Cincinnati Plan’s goal to train 4,000 individuals for green jobs by 2028. Learn more and apply today.

Install energy efficiency measures and clean energy property by December 31, 2025- no income restrictions! Upgrades must be made on your primary residence. Landlord cannot claim the credit, and homes used for businesses will qualify for a portion of the credit.

Hamilton County ReSource is seeking a partner organization or community to become a small-scale in-vessel compost demonstration site. “In-vessel composting can process a variety of organic materials without taking up much space. This method involves feeding materials into a vessel, such as a drum, silo, concrete-lined trench, or similar enclosed equipment. The materials are then mechanically turned or mixed in the vessel with bulking agents like wood chips to ensure aeration.” (U.S. EPA). 

Organizations and communities should express interest by September 19th to be considered for this collaboration.

Resilient and Welcoming Region Workshop

This summer, OES in partnership with Green Umbrella, HDR, Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, hosted a regional stakeholder engagement process to better understand how changing migration patterns– due in part but not limited to climate change – might present opportunities and challenges for the Cincinnati region. Engaging with government officials, nonprofit organizations, anchor institutions, utility providers, and development experts, we aimed to explore all sides of the impact of climate migration on Cincinnati. 



After a series of focus groups with the above contributors, OES hosted the Resilient and Welcoming Region Workshop in August to strategize the key actions Cincinnati could pursue under different migration scenarios. This workshop broke down traditional silos and united partners around the common cause of making Cincinnati a more enjoyable, resilient, and enticing place to live for current and future residents. Conversations around climate mobility will continue in order to craft strategies to prepare Cincinnati to welcome newcomers while improving quality of life for current residents. We would like to thank all who participated in the engagement process and hope to continue the collaboration as climate migration becomes a reality. 

Help Us Map Local Composting Sites

Are you already composting or ready to get started? Then join our partner, MakeSoil, by adding your composting site or joining a composting site near you! For a limited time, OES is offering FREE kitchen food scrap collection caddies to Cincinnati residents who join a Soil Site on MakeSoil! To claim your free caddy, email proof of your membership at a Soil Site to oes@cincinnati-oh.gov. Thanks for helping us map all the great local composting efforts.

Afterall, composting your kitchen food scraps is one of the most impactful things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Composting diverts organic materials from landfills, where they would otherwise decompose under anaerobic conditions and produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, and turns them into nutrient rich soil. OES is thrilled to work with MakeSoil to connect residents to composting opportunities in your own neighborhoods!

Multifamily Building Recycling Access Grows

Thanks to a grant from The Recycling Partnership, OES has expanded recycling access to five large multi-family properties, working in partnership with Rumpke, property managers, and residents. These efforts have already brought recycling to 75 households in two neighborhoods, but we're just getting started. By the end of 2025, we're committed to reaching 3,000 households across the City.

OES's newest partner, Horizon Hills, near Price Hill, will soon receive a dedicated recycling dumpster along with free indoor recycling bins for residents. Meanwhile, CP Cincy, student housing near UC, has already launched its recycling program following student move-in. Nearly half of all occupied rooms have requested indoor recycling bins, and several students have volunteered as Recycling Ambassadors—a role designed to help track recycling participation and contamination levels to ensure the program’s success. If you live in or own a multifamily residential building that would be interested in joining the pilot, please contact Ben Russ at ben.russ@cincinnati-oh.gov.

OES Partner Highlight – Ohio Environmental Council

This month, OES is excited to spotlight the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) for their commitment to making Ohio a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable place for all. OEC works to create meaningful change through community mobilization, partner and coalition building, civic and political engagement, strategic policy and legal advocacy, and accountability. OEC’s work takes on a multifaceted approach, and tackles climate, energy, public lands, water, democracy, and field advocacy work.  OEC has a commitment to centering community voices and engaging residents.

In Greater Cincinnati, OEC specifically focuses on engaging residents in the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan, resulting in action to address environmental justice issues and advance climate resilience. OEC played a key role in developing the Green Cincinnati Plan, with OEC member Kylie Johnson serving as the community activation focus area chair. Thank you, Kylie and OEC for your efforts in protecting the land and citizens of Cincinnati and in the state of Ohio! To get connected with OEC, join their email list here.

Upcoming Events