2021 Timeline
Cool City Challenge Launches
June 1, 2021Candidate 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
Applications Due
Sept 7, 2021Applications Reviewed
Sept 8, 2021 - Sept 22, 2021Finalists Announced
Sept 23, 2021Finalists 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, 2021Finalists are interviewed. This includes each cities moonshot team and Campaign Director.
Oct 4, 2021 - Oct 11, 20213 winning cities announced
Oct 25, 2021Empowerment Institute visioning and capacity building of campaign leadership teams and team planning.
Oct 28, 2021 - Dec 31, 2021Cool Block Campaign
Implementation of 200 Cool Block teams and growth into Cool Neighborhoods; development of carbon neutral city moonshot framework.
First Year Grant
$125,000 paid in installments.
Jan 1, 2022 - Dec 31, 2022Cool 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
$125,000 paid in installments.
Jan 1, 2023 - Dec 31, 2023Cool Block Campaign
Continued growth of Cool Blocks into Cool Neighborhoods and Cool Districts.
Third Year Grant
$125,000 paid in installments.
Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024Cool Block Campaign
Continued growth of Cool Blocks into Cool Neighborhoods and Cool Districts.
Forth Year Grant
$125,000 paid in installments.
Jan 1, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025Climate Moonshot Implementation
Implementation of carbon neutral city moonshot framework with support from Empowerment Institute
$500,000 Moonshot Grant
Paid in yearly installments.
Jan 1, 2025 - Dec 31, 2030