From Commerce Energy Division <[email protected]>
Subject Grant Opportunity: State Competitiveness Fund, Matching Funds Program Round 5+
Date November 3, 2025 6:34 PM
  Links have been removed from this email. Learn more in the FAQ.
  Links have been removed from this email. Learn more in the FAQ.
FundingMasthead
New round of SCF Matching Funds reflect expanded amount of eligible federal awards

Minnesota energy

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is seeking applications for the Minnesota State Competitiveness Fund (SCF), Minn. Stat. § 216C.391 [ [link removed] ], which provides matching funds for eligible entities applying for eligible federal funding opportunities requiring a match.

This legislatively created program is intended to increase the competitiveness of Minnesota in securing federal funding. Awards from federal programs are critically important to ensuring the state's economy is strong and growing. Increasing competitiveness can be accomplished by improving productivity, improving competition, and improving investments. The SCF Matching Funds Program will enhance the ability of eligible entities, defined in Minn Stat. 216C.391 [ [link removed] ], and Tribal Governments sharing geography within the borders of Minnesota to successfully compete for federal funds by providing matching funds.

The Minnesota State Legislature allocated* $100,000,000* for Commerce to award grant funding to eligible Minnesota entities and projects to enhance the likelihood of these entities receiving federal funding awards. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 216C.391 [ [link removed] ] Commerce is soliciting proposals from eligible entities applying for federal funding opportunities requiring matching funds or applying for federal funding opportunities not requiring a match but for which a match would enhance the likelihood of the federal grant being funded.



This new round reflects an expanded amount of eligible federal awards, beyond the previous restriction of only accepting federal programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Projects selected for SCF Matching Funds must demonstrate that the project will help meet the state's clean energy and energy-related climate goals through renewable energy development, energy conservation, efficiency, or energy-related greenhouse gas reduction benefits.

The legislation stipulates the following:


* No single entity may receive grants totaling more than $15,000,000; and,
* At least $75,000,000 of the fund must be allocated for grant awards of less than $1,000,000.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are fully reserved. The full Request for Proposals (“RFP”) and required forms are available for download on Commerce’s RFP website at [link removed]. Applications must be submitted through Commerce’s grant submission portal. A link to the portal and instructions for submitting applications can be found in the RFP.

The State reserves the right to cancel this solicitation. All expenses incurred in responding to this notice are solely the responsibility of the Responder.








*Minnesota Department of Commerce | Energy Division
*85 7th Place East, Suite 280 | St. Paul, MN 55101*
*Email: [email protected]
Local: 651-539-1886 | Greater MN: 1-800-657-3710

*Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ]  |  Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]  |  Help [ [link removed] ]  |  mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ]
*

"Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ]."

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota Department of Commerce GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;}
Screenshot of the email generated on import

Message Analysis