SEED AWARDS
seed awards
Application Period: May 1, 2026 - June 30, 2026
Total Funding Available: $300,000
Award Size: $8,000 - $10,000
(No Match Required)
The NextCycle Michigan Seed Award Program is providing small-scale funding and support to early-stage projects focused on keeping materials out of landfill. These awards are designed to help businesses, public sector entities, solid waste authorities, tribal governments, universities/colleges, and non-profits get a jump-start to launch or scale a solution which fills a gap in Michigan’s circular economy.
Seed Awards are funded by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) as part of NextCycle Michigan. Applicants do not have to be involved in other aspects of the NextCycle Michigan program to apply.
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Businesses, non-profit organizations, tribal governments, universities/colleges, public-sector entities, municipal solid waste authorities, or similar entities physically located in Michigan.
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Any project that directly or indirectly improves collecting, processing, minimizing, reusing, composting, or recycling of Michigan’s waste materials is eligible. Types of materials recovered may range from textiles, plastics, metals, organic waste, food scraps, C&D, batteries or other materials.
Tires and electronic waste are NOT eligible for this funding opportunity.
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Project work plans and budgets can include the following expenditures (covered by the award).
Equipment and Supplies*
Prototyping/Lab Testing/R&D (supplies or labor*)
Project Related Event/Meeting Space Rental
Marketing and collateral
Contracted services related to expenditures
Awardee labor or project stipends
Surveys
Project Related Travel/Lodging - aligned with the state travel rates.
*Individual equipment purchases of the full $10,000 will not be eligible. Funding regular salaries, paid holiday, or similar is not eligible. Labor will need to be reported based on hourly tracking.
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Applications must be submitted through the online submission portal. Submissions are due on or before June 30, 2026, at 5:00 pm EST.
The application will include:
Narrative responses to general project questions
A detailed budget
A detailed work plan
Budget and work plan templates are linked in the online portal.
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Informational Meeting
May 20, 2026 at 11:00 am
Online Zoom Meeting
Register HERE
Virtual Office Hours
One-on-one online meeting
Ask questions specific to your project/application
Links to schedule meetings are listed further down this page
Email
DOWNLOAD PACKET
Click on the image to download a PDF of the information packet.
Download these templates to help you prepare your application:
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Join our virtual informational meeting and learn about the Seed Awards program.
May 20, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST
Register here: INFO MEETING
start your application here
All applications should be submitted through the online portal by 5:00 pm ET on June 30, 2026. Applicants will be contacted via email regarding their grant application.
You can save your application in the portal and return later to finalize.
Schedule Virtual Office Hours
Schedule a one-on-one virtual meeting with a program facilitator.
Understand if this program is a right fit for your project or if there are other opportunities that would be a better fit.
Ask questions about eligibility or other application requirements.
Get help using the online application portal.
Discuss resources that may be able to support your project.
General Seed Award questions please email: NextCycleMI.Grants@recycle.com.