Apply for a NextCycle Michigan Seed Award to Jump-Start Your Circular Economy Project
Small Grants, Big Impact
Seed Awards Fuel Early-Stage Solutions for a More Circular Michigan
The NextCycle Michigan SEED Awards are back — and they’re here to support big ideas at the very beginning. With grants between $8,000 and $10,000, this program is designed to fund early-stage projects that help keep valuable materials out of landfills and advance Michigan’s circular economy.
Whether you're a startup looking to prototype a new recycled-content product, a municipality piloting a composting program, or a nonprofit launching a reuse or repair initiative — the SEED Awards offer flexible funding to get your project off the ground. No match funding is required, and selected recipients will also receive up to 10 hours of technical assistance from NextCycle Michigan and EGLE specialists.
Funding is provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). RRS is the facilitator on the project and we work alongside the state to design and manage the program—supporting applicants with technical guidance, business planning, and connections to partners and funding. Our role is to help bridge big ideas with real-world implementation, creating space for innovation while aligning with Michigan’s goals for a stronger, more circular economy.
Applications open through July 31, 2025 at 5pm ET.
Closing Gaps in Michigan’s Circular Economy
Helping Early-Stage Ideas Get Off the Ground
The SEED Awards were created to catalyze new ideas and solutions that plug critical gaps in Michigan’s waste and materials systems. From capturing materials that currently end up in landfills to testing new logistics for difficult-to-recycle products, these awards support creative, scalable approaches that can be modeled elsewhere in the state.
Awarded projects often focus on collecting, processing, or reusing materials in new ways — especially in communities where infrastructure, funding, or access is limited. There’s a strong emphasis on equity, climate impact, and economic inclusion.
What Makes a Good Project?
From Prototypes to Pilots — It’s All About Impact
Strong applications come from teams or organizations that are ready to test or expand a tangible solution. These projects might be developing a new product with recycled content, running a short-term pilot to prove a new collection method, or building buy-in from stakeholders for an emerging reuse initiative.
Applications should include a well-developed budget, a clear work plan, and defined milestones. Projects must take place in Michigan and involve Michigan-generated waste or material streams. The program is open to a wide variety of efforts — whether your project is tech-forward, community-based, or systems-driven — as long as it contributes to real, measurable impact.
Eligible materials include:
Plastics, paper, metals, and glass
Food scraps and organic waste
Construction and demolition debris
Textiles, batteries, and other hard-to-manage materials
Tires and electronic waste are not eligible for this award.
Funding What Matters Most
One of the biggest benefits of the SEED Awards is how flexible the funding is — as long as it’s tied to your project’s success. You can use your grant to purchase equipment and supplies, conduct prototyping and lab testing, rent space for community events, create outreach materials, contract technical services, or even cover labor and stipends for your team.
The key? Your budget must be specific, transparent, and connected to your work plan. Individual equipment purchases totaling the full $10,000 are not eligible, and the grant may not be used for general salaries, operating costs, or expenses unrelated to the proposed project.
Who Can Apply — and When
If You’re in Michigan and Solving a Waste Problem — You’re Eligible
Eligible applicants include:
Businesses
Nonprofits
Universities and colleges
Tribal governments
Municipalities and public-sector entities
Solid waste authorities and local haulers
Projects must be located in Michigan and work with Michigan-based materials. Projects should be ready to launch and completed within 6 months after the award agreement is signed (expected early 2026).
You do not have to be involved in other aspects of NextCycle Michigan to apply. And because no matching funds are required, this is one of the most accessible grant opportunities for first-time applicants and new ideas.
Timeline at a Glance:
June 2: Application opens
June 18: Info session at 11am ET
July 31: Application closes
Fall 2025: Awards selected
Early 2026: Award agreements executed
Take the Next Step Toward Circular Impact
Download the full SEED Awards info packet to explore everything you need to apply — from timelines and budgets to examples and eligibility.