Determine if you are eligible. The program is open to:
- Preschools and grades K-12
- Austin Independent School District (AISD) schools
- Austin area charter and private schools
- Schools in cities – such as Round Rock and Pflugerville – that utilize services through Austin Energy, Austin Water Utility, or Austin Resource Recovery
Past grant recipients may also participate, but only if the Office of Sustainability has received a completed Project Information Sheet for past projects. Contact Mary K. Priddy at mary.priddy@austintexas.gov if you have any questions.
There is no limit to the number of Bright Green Future Grants each school may apply for, and your school could be awarded more than one grant per school year based on available funding and the number of applicants. A separate application form must be completed for each project submission.
Be prepared to submit materials during the application period.
Applications for the program are typically accepted each year starting in mid-August through September. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, applications for the 2020-2021 school year will be accepted Oct. 12 through Oct. 26, 2020. See below for more information related to changes made for COVID-19.
Send an email to mary.priddy@austintexas.gov to request an application and more information.
Important COVID-19 updates
Given the many uncertainties brought by the pandemic, we are making several changes to the Bright Green Future Grant program for the 2020-2021 school year.
First, applications will be accepted starting Oct. 12 through Oct. 26, 2020. Second, instead of applying with original project ideas, we will be offering a “menu” of options for schools to choose from. These options will be sustainability-themed curriculums offered through local nonprofit organizations. The main benefit of this change is that all curriculums offered can be completed whether you are meeting in the classroom or virtually. We are working to have these options finalized and posted to our Bright Green Future Grant page by Sept.12.
More about the program
This program was designed to recognize and support innovative projects that will inspire students to become lifelong environmental stewards. Projects that are selected to receive funding actively engage students and members of the community with hands-on involvement and learning. Through local educators and open_in_new, we identify projects like:
- composting systems
- rainwater harvesting
- organic gardens
- rain gardens
- bicycle academies
- wildlife habitats
Past projects from 2019 include:
- Students implementing the Digital Tree Monitoring Project at Chaparral Star Academy created a solar-powered network of digital environmental and soil sensors around campus to collect and report data that will inform efficient ways of watering and caring for trees.
- A Wind Turbine Garden Project at Round Rock Opportunity Center will use clean wind energy to power a water-wise drip irrigation system to water their community garden.
- Students at Boone, Redeemer Lutheran, and Lee Elementary Schools will raise awareness about the impact of plastic on the environment through the “Pledge to Go Plastic Free” recycling campaign, and installation of water bottle refilling stations on campus.