Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action GrantCity of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 21.
Copyrighted
December 15, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Grant
Application Submittal
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval of a grant
application and funding request to the Bloomberg Youth
Climate Action (YCAF) grant program.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo —Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund Grant Application for Council
approval_12.10.2025
3. YCAF_R3_Application
4. YCAF-Mayor's-Pledge --- English
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THE CITY OF
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Grant Application
Submittal
DATE: December 11, 2025
Director of Sustainability Gina Bell is recommending City Council approval of a grant
application and funding request to the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action (YCAF) grant
program.
The grant offers $50,000 to be administered as mini grants to youth, for youth led
climate actions, with the possibility of an additional $50,000 upon disbursement of first
amount of funding. The funding would address access, sustainability, and resiliency,
while providing capital and experiences for youth. Additionally, the work directly
supports our 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
Additionally, the grant allows use of funding for staff support.
The grant request is $50,000.00. No match is required and there is no additional budget
impact; however, the project will require staff time.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
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THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
December 10, 2025
Dubuque
AII•Anerin CIV
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Grant Application Submittal
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval of a grant application and funding
request to the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action (YCAF) grant program.
BACKGROUND
In December 2023, Mayor Cavanagh and I attended the United Nations Conference of the Parties or
COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During the Local Climate Action Summit (LCAS), Michael
Bloomberg announced a grant opportunity to Mayors participating in the LCAS to help fund global
youth climate action. We submitted a grant application and were awarded $50,000 and successfully
granted funding to youth in our community to take climate action. We applied and were awarded a
second round of YCAF funding, $100,000 in 2025. We are in the final portion of the grant and
finalizing projects and reporting requirements.
DISCUSSION
In early November 2025, Economic Development Director, Jill Connors, and I traveled to Rio de
Janeiro, Brasil, to represent Dubuque and the Mayor at C-40's World's Mayors Summit and the Local
Leaders Forum, where Bloomberg Philanthropies announced YCAF 2.0.
Building on the success of past youth -led climate projects led by teens and supported by $150,000 in
microgrants from the Office of Sustainability, and with the full support (including a pledge) from Mayor
Cavanagh, we have prepared another grant application, with the intention to once again compete for
this funding. The grant offers $50,000 to be administered as mini grants to youth, for youth led climate
actions, with the possibility of an additional $50,000 upon disbursement of first pot of funding. The
funding would address access, sustainability, and resiliency, while providing capital and experiences
for youth. Additionally, the work directly supports our 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action and
Resiliency Plan.
Additionally, the grant allows use of funding for staff support.
BUDGETIMPACT
The grant request is $50,000.00. No match is required and there is no additional budget impact;
however, the project will require staff time.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully request the City Council approve the submittal of the grant proposal to the Bloomberg
Youth Climate Action grant program.
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Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) 2.0 Application — Dec. 2025
Due: January 23, 2026
Plan to Submit: December 16, 2025
Online submittal portal: https://youthctimateactionfund.fillout.com/apply
Award: $50,000 (and if distributed successfully, an additional $50,000 may be available)
Grant Purpose: Youth -led climate action via mini -grants
1. Please provide the following basic information:
a.
City Name:
Dubuque
b.
State Name:
Iowa
c.
Country Name:
United States
d.
Region:
North America12/31/2025
e.
Mayor's Name:
Brad M. Cavanagh
f.
Mayor's Email:
BCavanagh@cityofdubuque.org
g.
Mayor's Preferred
Phone Number:
(563) 690-6502
h.
Mayoral Term
Start Date:
January 1, 2026
i.
Mayoral Term
End Date:
December 31, 2029
j.
Applicant's Name
(if not mayor):
Gina Bell
k.
Applicant's Email
(if not mayor):
GBell@cityofdubuque.org
L.
Confirmation that Applicant is authorized to submit application on behalf of
city
i. Select One: YES NO
m. Preferred Language: English
n. City Population: 58,873
o. City Social
Media Accounts:
i. https://www.facebook.com/CityOfDubuque/
ii. https://twitter.com/cityofdubuque
iii. https://www.instagram.com/cityofdubuquegov/
iv. https://www.youtube.com/user/DubuquePIO
v. https://nextdoor.com/profile/7127545/
vi. https://www.Linkedin.com/company/city-of-dubuque-iowa/
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We currently plan to deliver this program in English, Spanish, and French. Would your city need
materials or sessions in another language to ensure full participation? Please note that youth
participants will be able to engage in any language.
Please select the option that best applies: ENGLISH, SPANISH or FRENCH
Section 2: Your City's Climate Strategy and Youth Engagement
Please provide a publicly accessible web address to your city's official climate action plan
or strategy. This should be an actively used climate strategy or plan, such as plans
consistent with the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) frameworks.
www.sustainabLedubuque.com
Status of Your City's Climate Plan: In progress.
Please complete one or more of the following (A, B, or C)
A. Our current plan was established in: 2013 (Year)
B. Our current plan was updated in: 2020 (Year)
C. Our plan is under development (expected completion in: Year)
Which city networks are you a part of?
Please include all that apply.
ICLEI, Climate Mayors, Urban Sustainability Director's Network, USGBC, Mississippi River
Cities and Towns Initiative
Please provide a short description of your city's climate priorities
(Maximum 150 words)
Dubuque is committed to creating a sustainable and resilient future for its residents by
reducing community -wide greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2003
levels). The city focuses on improving energy efficiency and transitioning away from fossil
fuels across all sectors. Key priorities include expanding renewable energy, reducing
energy consumption and energy burden, and promoting/providing alternative
transportation options. Dubuque also prioritizes strengthening infrastructure to address
stormwater and flooding, while ensuring fair access to green spaces and sustainable
resources. The City recognizes the importance of youth leadership and has a strong history
of actively engaging young people in climate initiatives through our Teen Resiliency Corps
program. By connecting climate action with community health, resilience, and economic
opportunity, Dubuque strives to build a more inclusive, environmentally conscious future
for all, with youth involvement at its core.
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What excites your city most about joining the Youth Climate Action Fund, and what do
you hope to achieve through participation? *
(Maximum 150 words — we invite you to share what makes this opportunity
meaningful and what impact you hope it will create for your city and young people.)
The City of Dubuque is excited to join the Youth Climate Action Fund because it presents a
unique opportunity to engage and empower our young people in shaping the city's climate
future. We've already shown strong progress in Round 1 and Round 2, and we are eager to
continue building on the networks and partnerships we've worked hard to establish in
those earlier rounds. Youth have the creativity, energy, and passion to drive meaningful
change, and this initiative will help amplify their voices in addressing climate challenges.
Through participation, we hope to create more opportunities for young people to lead
sustainability projects in the City, advocate for their futures, establish green career paths,
and collaborate with local organizations. This partnership will further strengthen the
connection between climate action and youth empowerment, fostering a generation of
climate leaders who are committed to a cleaner, healthier future for Dubuque residents.
Section 3: Your City's Commitment
Mayor's Pledge
The Youth Climate Action Fund requires commitment and support from the city's mayor.
To complete your city's application to the Youth Climate Action Fund, each mayor must
sign this document to commit to the values and principles below. Applications will not be
considered without the mayor's signature.
Please upload the Mayor's Pledge document (linked above), signed by your mayor or
equivalent *
Section 4: Key Contacts
Information about the city staff member(s) who will be responsible for implementing your
city's Youth Climate Action Fund program.
Primary Contact / City Lead:
First and Last Name *Michelle Kim
Title * Climate Action Coordinator
City Department * Sustainability
Email Address * mkimPcityofdubuque.org
Preferred Phone Number * +1 (563) 580.3745
A brief description of their role *
Michelle Kim, Climate Action Coordinator serves to implement Dubuque's 50% by 2030
Climate Action Plan. Michelle has managed the prior round of Youth Climate Action Fund
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grants and according to our YCAF coach has" more than any other community, met people
where they are at, to the scale that Dubuque has. Dubuque has addressed every barrier —
language, culture, technological and brain health. You can tell that Michelle's core belief is
to care for people. She is listening to what they are saying and offering to address
challenges. She has learned from past mistakes and revamped how to do our outreach and
support. She has built trust and established relationships through this process."
Secondary Contact / City Lead:
First and Last Name *Gina Bell
Title *Director of Sustainability
City Department * Sustainability
Email Address * gbell@cityofdubuque.org
Preferred Phone Number * +1 (563) 845.8591
A brief description of their role *
Gina Bell, the Director of Sustainability, and her team, is responsible for delivering the
Mayor and City Council's priority to strengthen our community's resiliency through climate
action. She works both internally, to review, advise and promote sustainability within City
operations; and externally to build partnerships and support resident's efforts, while
fostering collaboration throughout the community in Dubuque, Iowa.
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YOUTH CLIMATE
ACTION FUND
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies
Youth Climate Action Fund: Mayor's Pledge
I, Brad Cavanagh, Mayor (or equivalent) of
Dubuque, Iowa, confirm that:
1 feet the urgency of this moment and I am excited to be part of a group of global
cities deploying microgrants to innovative youth engagement projects across my
community within 12 months.
• lam committed to administering this youth -led climate action program in away
that is consistent with my city's climate plan.
1 can dedicate staff to launching and monitoring youth -led climate -focused
microgrants, to participating in virtual technical assistance programming, and to
sharing updates, impacts, and stories from the ground with Youth Climate Action
Fund partners.
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