Who We Are
Project 46: The Southern Indiana Regional Climate Alliance “Project 46” is an innovative regional climate alliance started by the City of Bloomington, Town of Nashville, and City of Columbus with engagement and support from a variety of local and regional organizations. Project 46 unites its members to leverage opportunities to reduce regional costs and increase economic opportunities, while also addressing the pressing challenges posed by increasing extreme weather events.The Alliance is distinguished by its bipartisan, cross-sector approach and aims to pool resources and efforts to achieve better climate outcomes in the region.
The Steering Committee consists of the Mayor of Bloomington, Mayor of Columbus, and the Town Manager of Nashville. Advisory Members include Cummins, Inc., IU Health, and IU Environmental Resilience Institute. Project 46 is supported through the in-kind contributions of members’ staff, with primary coordination by Shawn Miya, Assistant Director of Sustainability from the City of Bloomington and facilitation and specific workstreams supported by Farallon Strategies LLC and ICLEI USA.
How We Are Funded
Project 46 is funded through a blend of public and private resources. Each participating government entity contributes annually based on their population. The funding is supplemented by matching support from private and philanthropic sources, enriching the financial pool available for Project 46’s work across key areas. The Heritage Fund (the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County) is our fiscal sponsor.
Why We Were Created
The rationale behind a regional collaborative, as opposed to individual city efforts, is the enhanced capacity to tackle challenges more effectively and efficiently. A key advantage of such collaboration is the ability to apply for grants together, significantly increasing the likelihood of securing funding. By presenting a united front, our region can demonstrate a larger impact potential to funding bodies, including state and federal programs, making our applications more competitive.
Project 46 Activities
Historic Bean Blossom Covered Bridge in peak autumn colors—located in Brown County, Indiana
In early 2024, Project 46 submitted 11 project proposals to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for greenhouse gas reduction projects totaling $72M. IDEM selected 7 of these proposals to include in their state-wide proposal to the EPA. Unfortunately, the EPA did not award IDEM funding from the CPRG. However, Project 46 is actively pursuing funding for the following projects and grant programs:
Municipal Projects
Municipal Solar Array Program
Municipal Fleet Electrification Program
Municipal Electric Vehicle Charging Station Program
Municipal Weatherization and Decarbonization Program
Community Micro-Mobility Hub Program
Grant Programs
Solar Array and Battery Grant Program
Fleet Electrification Grant Program
Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station Program
Pre-weatherization and Weatherization Grant Program
Lawn Care Equipment Electrification Grant Program
Commercial and Industrial Equipment Electrification Program