The NextCycle Michigan Seed Award Program offers small-scale funding and support to early-stage projects aimed at keeping materials out of landfills. This initiative supports businesses, public sector entities, solid waste authorities, tribal governments, universities, colleges, and nonprofits that want to launch or expand solutions to fill gaps in Michigan’s circular economy.
Eligible projects focus on improving the collection, processing, minimizing, reusing, composting, or recycling of waste materials in Michigan. These materials can include textiles, plastics, metals, organic waste, food scraps, construction and demolition debris, batteries, and more.
The program has a total funding pool of $300,000, with awards ranging from $8,000 to $10,000. Funding can be used for equipment and supplies, prototyping, lab testing, research and development, event or meeting space rentals, marketing materials, contracted services, labor or stipends, surveys, and project-related travel and lodging within state travel rates.
To be eligible, applicants must be businesses, nonprofits, tribal governments, universities, colleges, public-sector entities, or municipal solid waste authorities physically located in Michigan. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2025.
For more information, visit NextCycle Michigan.
