Michigan EGLE's Nextcycle receives federal grant

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) NextCycle Michigan initiative has received an $813,330 grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant is expected to boost Michigan’s circular economy.

EGLE launched NextCycle Michigan in 2021 to connect entrepreneurs, companies, organizations and communities to resources for recycling, recovery and reuse initiatives. Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) manages and facilitates the partnership, innovation and engagement initiative in collaboration with the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University and the Michigan Recycling Coalition (MRC).  

According to a news release from EGLE, the EDA announced the grant to Centrepolis for a $1.63 million project to advance tech entrepreneurship by increasing inclusive access to entrepreneurial support and startup capital. Working with EGLE, RRS and the MRC, Centrepolis plans to produce and expand assistance to disadvantaged businesses and communities, including:  

• technical assistance to remove structural market barriers and use technology and service solutions to focus on capacity building for recycling, recovery and reuse initiatives in distressed communities and upstream and downstream markets; 

• entrepreneur support, including coaching, investor connections and programming, coordinated through Michigan SmartZones; 

• technology commercialization assistance, including access to university labs, testing and product road mapping; and 

• circular economy events to convene industry and recycling value chain stakeholders within underserved communities to harness economic opportunities, investment and job creation statewide.  

EGLE says the project is expected to grow Michigan’s circular economy by generating high-skilled, high-paying jobs and economic growth. It will also remove market barriers, spur technology advancements and service deployment and support a focus on Michigan's distressed communities. The focus on reuse and recycling aligns with the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan goal of tripling Michigan’s 2005 recycling rate to 45 percent by 2030.  

EDA awards grants competitively based on funding availability and applicants’ merit and eligibility. More information is available here or by calling the EDA at 202-482-2900.