Houston-based electric transportation nonprofit Evolve Houston is offering microgrants for programs related to electric mobility, from electric vehicle infrastructure to educational campaigns.
Evolve Executive Director Casey Brown said the grant program aims to expand EV infrastructure across Houston.
“Some of these areas that our eMobility microgrants focus on are areas that have not received a similar focus in EV infrastructure investments,” Brown said. “We want to bring EV technology to all Houstonians.”
The grants run up to $15,000. The categories include eMobility education and awareness, expansion of EV infrastructure, workforce development, and access to microtransit or EV-focused transportation options.
“So, really anything supporting electrification in Houston,” said Grace Millsap, Evolve director of equity and investment. “Particularly in underserved communities because we want to make sure that as we are transitioning towards a cleaner transportation system that all communities are able to partake in this transition.”
Evolve currently offers microtransit services in Third Ward and Second Ward through a $1.3 million contract with the City of Houston and the METRO Transit Authority of Harris County. The service uses electric shuttles to provide a first and last-mile transit option to residents.
Evolve’s microgrant program is funded by bp America and General Motors. It includes a microtransit category, as well as a category for the expansion of EV infrastructure like charging stations.
The program prioritizes historically underserved communities.
“It’s going to be very important that EV charging infrastructure is able to grow with demand,” Brown said. “It’s heavily focused on the importance of EV infrastructure for folks in Houston who rent — and we have a very large percentage of Houston that rents — and those are areas that you do not have the ability to make an infrastructure change to your place of residence in many cases.”
Applications are open to individuals, private organizations, nonprofits, collectives and community-led groups. The deadline to apply is Dec. 1.