(ABC 6 News) – The state of Minnesota is awarding a handful of southeast Minn. organizations money to help kickstart local projects aimed at creating clean energy.

It is a part of the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Team’s CERT Seed grant money. The grants are being awarded to the following:

• City of Faribault: Energy Assessment Tool Library
  Faribault, Minn.—The City of Faribault will compile a tool and resource library for residents to use to conduct small-scale energy efficiency assessments and to calculate potential savings. The project aims to increase public awareness around energy efficiency and participation in incentive programs, as well as reduce energy consumption and costs.
• Growing Up Healthy: Weatherization for Mobile Home Residents
  Rice County, Minn.—Growing Up Healthy will assist residents who may not be eligible for weatherization programs with home repairs to improve energy efficiency and save money.
• LifeGate Services: Clean Energy for African Immigrant Communities
  Rochester and Austin, Minn.—LifeGate will create energy educational materials to distribute within the African immigrant communities in Rochester and Austin.
• Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association: Gap Funding to Pursue Historic Amount of Federal
  Funding for Tribal Clean Energy Projects Southeast MN—MTERA will provide resources directly to Tribes to fund necessary aspects of clean energy project development and implementation, such as funding grant writers or hiring contractors for specific aspects of projects outside of their or MTERA’s expertise.
• Project FINE: Energy Efficiency Outreach
  Winona, St. Charles, Lewiston, Altura, Minnesota City, Goodview, Minn.—Project FINE will provide
  information to refugees and immigrants about ways to improve the energy efficiency in their homes and learn about the benefits of clean energy.
• Slipstream Group, Inc: Manufactured Home Building Basics Training
  Southeast MN—This project will develop a curriculum to provide contractors and weatherization staff with a foundation of knowledge on manufactured home structures, heating systems, ductwork, and building science principles.

Statewide project details are available here.