2021 Timeline

Cool City Challenge Launches

June 1, 2021

Candidate cities fill out application.

 

Approximate Time Needed to Complete Each Action

 

  • Action 1: Time Needed — 1 to 2 weeks
  • Action 2: Time  Needed — 1 to 2 weeks
  • Action 3: Time Needed  — 2 to 3 weeks
  • Action 4: Time Needed — 1 to 2 days
  • Action 5: Time Needed — 1 to 2 days
  • Action 6: Time Needed — 1 to 2 weeks
  • Action 7: Time Needed — a few hours

 

Actions 1 to 3 are done consecutively.

 

Actions 4-6 are done in parallel with other actions.

 

Total time needed for application process:

4 to 7 weeks

June 1, 2021 - Sept 6, 2021

Applications Due

Sept 7, 2021

Applications Reviewed

Sept 8, 2021 - Sept 22, 2021

Finalists Announced

Sept 23, 2021

Finalists make adjustments, as needed, to their proposals based on reviewers’ feedback and resubmit by Oct 22nd, 2021. Year 1 budgets and staffing are proposed and approved. Campaign Director and Program Managers from finalists cities are interviewed.

Sept 24, 2021 - Oct 22, 2021

Finalists are interviewed. This includes each cities moonshot team and Campaign Director.

Oct 4, 2021 - Oct 11, 2021

3 winning cities announced

Oct 25, 2021

Empowerment Institute visioning and capacity building of campaign leadership teams and team planning.

Oct 28, 2021 - Dec 31, 2021

First Year Grant

$200,000 paid in installments.

Jan 1, 2022 - Dec 31, 2022

Cool Block Campaign

Implementation of 200 Cool Block teams and growth into Cool Neighborhoods; development of carbon neutral city moonshot framework.

Jan 1, 2022 - Dec 31, 2022

Cool Block Campaign

Implementation of 200+ more Cool Block teams and growth into Cool Neighborhoods and Cool Districts; continued buildout of carbon neutral city moonshot framework.

Second Year Grant

$200,000 paid in installments.

Jan 1, 2023 - Dec 31, 2023

Cool Block Campaign 

Continued growth of Cool Blocks into Cool Neighborhoods and Cool Districts. 

Third Year Grant

$100,000 paid in installments.

Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024

Climate Moonshot Implementation

Implementation of carbon neutral city moonshot framework with support from Empowerment Institute

$500,000 Moonshot Grant

Paid in yearly installments. 

Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2026

Campaign leadership team operates with consultation support by Empowerment Institute.

Jan 1, 2026 - Dec 31, 2030