Opportunity Overview
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is accepting rolling applications for the Climate Smart Food Systems Natural Refrigerants in Retail Food Refrigeration and Cold Storage program for larger systems. Eligible projects replace existing operational refrigeration systems at one Minnesota facility that hold more than 300 pounds of refrigerant at full charge, combined, and use existing refrigerant with global warming potential above 1300. Replacement systems must use natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, or propane.
Funding and Deadline
Approximately $5 million is available in this funding window. Maximum grants are $500,000 or $750,000 depending on applicant, facility, organization size, and priority-area status. Every project requires a 50% cash match. Funding is first-come, first-served within each refrigeration sector and applications remain open until dedicated funds are exhausted or May 27, 2027 at 4:00 PM Central Time, whichever occurs first.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must own and operate qualifying refrigeration in Minnesota. Eligible classes include certain for-profit retail food businesses, governmental entities, Tribes, nonprofits and nonprofit educational institutions with retail food refrigeration or cold storage, nonprofit food-assistance organizations, and qualifying for-profit cold-storage businesses. Applicant-size limits and sector-specific rules in the RFP control.
Project and Cost Controls
Full or partial replacement of qualifying existing systems may be eligible. Replacing self-contained cases with self-contained cases, refrigerated transport, industrial process refrigeration, ice rinks, and projects outside the RFP definition are ineligible. Direct project costs are generally eligible unless excluded by the RFP, and consulting fees may use up to 25% of the grant award. Pre-agreement costs are not eligible. Grant payments are reimbursement-based. Projects must be completed within 13 months after the grant agreement is signed.
Application
A complete application includes Section A, applicant-created floorplans for existing and proposed systems, Exhibits C, D, E, and H, plus Section B system inputs. Separate applications are required for multiple sites. Applications are submitted by email to the address and subject line specified by MPCA. The current Q&A was updated September 21, 2026 and applicants are responsible for checking the MPCA page for updates and addenda.
Atlas Assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 61/100. This is a legitimate Minnesota-administered federal pass-through opportunity with meaningful capital funding, but eligibility depends on facility-specific refrigeration capacity and project configuration. N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100. Do not initiate applicant-specific ORIGINAL outreach until a specific organization is verified to own and operate a qualifying Minnesota system exceeding the 300-pound threshold and all contact, opt-out, bounce, duplicate, and send-history gates are cleared.
Official source: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/grants-and-loans/csfs-natural-refrigerants-in-retail-food-refrigeration-and-cold-storage