April 2023 – Grant Resources & Opportunities | |
|
NC DEQ Opens its Spring Round of Funding: The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) recently opened up its application portals for its spring round of grants. Allowable grant projects include construction of new or improved stormwater or wastewater collection systems, building viable utilities structures, or developing systems to provide safer drinking water to residents.
Division of Water Structure - Approximate Funds Available for Spring 2023 Applications State
Revolving Fund (SRF) – Grants
· DW and WW / CDBG-I rating systems for construction projects.
Determination of Disadvantaged Areas: 1) Affordability of water and/or sewer rates relative to income levels of residents; 2) Median household income; 3) Poverty rates; and 4) Additional factors, such as socio-economic or existing contamination factors. Public and environmental health are to be the benefits.
· CDBG-I – (Federal grants from HUD with conditions) DW & WW grants benefitting non-entitlement communities only (incorporate municipalities under 50,000 in population and counties under 200,000 - low-to-moderate income).
Construction projects: Approximately $19M, maximum grant is $3M over 3 years; their years begin at time of SWIA award date. No more than 3 open grants within 3 years.
· LASII – Stormwater Planning Grants available for research or investigative studies; funding is limited. Benefitting Natural Heritage Program Areas and Nature-based solutions add 2 points, each. Approximately ~6.3M available; SWIA will award remaining planning grant funds at its July meeting. Funding limits: $400,000 per applicant per grant cycle and $500,00 per grant per cycle. If 2 or more units of local government work together on the same project.
Applications are due by Monday, May 1 at 5:00 PM. Visit https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-infrastructure
| |
|
FEMA/Building Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) 2023 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program is for capability and capacity-building (C&CB) activities, mitigation projects, or management costs. The projects must be aligned with the applicable hazard mitigation plan and reduce or eliminate risk and damage from future natural disasters.
The application deadline is April 14, 2023. Counties, local governments, townships (acting as sub-applicants with the required FEMA-approved local HMP) submit their sub-applications to the State. Apply via FEMA_Grants_Outcomes_(FEMA_Go). For additional information, visit askcsid@fema.dhs.gov .
| |
|
Golden LEAF Flood Mitigation Program – Golden LEAF has a new grants management online portal. Help is available for updating or adding a contact to the portal from a Golden LEAF Program Officer or via email grantportalhelp@goldenleaf.org .
The State of North Carolina provided funds to the Golden LEAF Foundation to award funds to units of local government for public infrastructure projects for flood mitigation. Up to $250,000 may be awarded per project.
Eligible Projects: Up to $250,000 may be awarded per project.
· Construction of new or improvement of existing publicly owned stormwater infrastructure, including natural drainage infrastructure and flood control equipment.
· Repair of existing stormwater infrastructure damaged or destroyed by flooding, which must include improvements to mitigate against future flooding.
· Engineering expenses related to planning and development of flood mitigation solutions.
Process: Applications will be accepted until all available funds are awarded. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Visit https://www.goldenleaf.org/mitigation/. Questions from potential applicants:
Visit Mitigation Frequently Asked Questions - Golden LEAF Foundation . https://www.goldenleaf.org/mitigation/faq/
| |
|
Golden LEAF’s Open Grants Program focuses on economic development projects that reflect Golden LEAF’s 3 priorities. Job creation and economic investment; workforce preparedness; and agriculture. Most of the awards will be for $200,000 or less; those projects that demonstrate additional qualities of interest may be awarded up to $500,000. Visit
https://www.goldenleaf.org/opengrants/ .
| |
2023 EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment funding supports construction and non-construction projects that spur job creation, leverage private capital investments and strengthen the community’s ability to compete in a global marketplace. EDA supports bottom-up strategies that build on regional assets to spur economic growth and resiliency. Example projects could include Water and sewer system improvements; Industrial Park; Workforce training facilities; and Incubators. Through this NOFO EDA intends to advance general economic development in accordance with EDA’s investment priorities, but also to pursue projects that, where practicable, incorporate specific priorities related to equity, workforce development, and climate change resiliency so that investments can benefit everyone for decades to come. There is also funding available for communities impacted with job loss or supply chain disruption caused by companies transitioning from the use of coal or fossil fuels. Currently there are no deadlines set for this program. Visit https://sfgrants.eda.gov/s/funding-program/a2j3d0000000KneAAE/fy-2023-eda-public-works-and-economic-adjustment-assistance-programs | |
NC Forest Service Urban and Community Financial Assistance Program will have funding opportunities soon. Contact Andrew G. Pleninger, Program Head, to talk about you and your community needs at andy.pleninger@ncar.gov or call (919) 857-4842 (office) or (919) 780-9084 (cell). | |
|
USDA Rural Development – Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA)
Applications open on April 19, 2023. BTA provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements to eligible entities (local governments and others that promote broadband expansion into rural communities) to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training that supports the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives. There is no cost share or matching requirement. Applications must be submitted electronically through https://www.grants.gov/ no later than [TBD].
Visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/telecommunications-programs/broadband-technical-assistance-program .
| |
|
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Strategic Economic and Community Development: Application Deadline: Open. Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) supports projects that promote and implement strategic community investment plans which use the unique strengths of rural communities to advocate prosperity. Funding priorities are for small communities with a population of 5,500 or less and low-income communities having a median household income below the higher poverty line (80%) or 60% of the state non-metropolitan median household income. USDA Rural Development helps finance these projects by using community assets, identifying resources, convening partners, and leveraging federal, state, local, or private funding. Visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/strategic-economic-and-community-development#overview .
| |
|
The Rural Transformation Grant Fund: The final round of The Rural Transformation Grant Fund, which opened on March 23 will close on May 3, 2023. Make sure to read the guidelines. Please realize that since this is the final round, there will be limited funds available. This grant will be very competitive. Remember, the project is to be transformational to your community. Visit
https://www.commerce.nc.gov/grants-incentives/rural-transformation-grants . For more information, contact: Hazel Edmond, Rural Engagement & Investment Program Director hazel.edmond@nccommerce.com .
| |
USDA Department of Agriculture – Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program: Application deadline to RD State Office: June 30, 2023. USDA Rural Development loans and grants support the Microenterprise Development Organization to establish revolving loan funds. Visit https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-08-31pdf/2022-18779.pdf . | |
USDA and EDA Economic Development Resource Guide: The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) have created a planning resource guide, which features four key focus areas: Planning and Technical Assistance; Infrastructure and Broadband Expansion; Entrepreneurship and Business Assistance; and Workforce Development and Livability. Visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/508F_RD_EDA_JointPlanningResourceGuide.pdf . | |
|
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund will award approximately $140,000,000 in grants in 2023, subject to Congressional appropriations and the availability of funds. A non-federal match is not required but is encouraged to demonstrate broad support for the project in strong partnerships with Federal, state, and local agencies, existing regional partnerships, and communities and/or non-profits. NFWF funds activities designed to advance a project through NFWF’s “project pipeline" include: 1) Community Capacity Building & Planning; 2) Site Assessment & Preliminary Design; 3) Final Design & Permitting; and 4) Restoration Implementation. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) may contribute up to $15 million in additional funds to support coastal resilience projects through the NCRF that benefit military installations - in the vicinity of a DOD installation or range. DOD funds cannot be used to support projects on military lands (“inside the fence line” of the installation or range).
The pre-proposal due date is Wednesday, April 12, 2023, by 11:59 PM; full proposal invitations are mid to end of May; full proposal webinar June 8, 2023, at 3:00 PM; and full proposal invite-only June 28, 2023, by 11:59 PM. Visit:
https://www.nfwf.org/programs/national-coastal-resilience-fund/national-coastal-resilience-fund-2023-request-proposals
| |
|
National Endowment for the Arts - Challenge America - Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved. The program is rooted in principles that include, but are not limited to, our recognition that:
1. Some groups/communities and some geographic areas with rich cultural identities have limited grant funding opportunities, and/or have been historically underserved by national arts funding; 2. Some small organizations may face barriers to accessing grant funding; and 3. Some applicants to the NEA may benefit from enhanced technical assistance resources.
Challenge America seeks to address these potential barriers for organizations seeking funding. The program features an abbreviated application, a standardized $10,000 grant amount, and a robust structure of technical assistance to facilitate entry to NEA funding opportunities. Its deadlines are: April 27, 2023, at 11:59 PM – submit to grants.gov, and submit to the Applicant Portal when it opens; its deadline is May 2-16, 2023, 11:59 PM. This category may be a good entry point for organizations that are new to applying for federal funding. Visit https://www.arts.gov/grants/challenge-america
| |
|
North Carolina Military Business Center
The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a statewide business development and technology transition entity of the North Carolina Community College System, headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Events hosted by the NCMBC focus on matching only North Carolina businesses (small and large) with federal contracts.
Deadlines: Rolling
Visit https://www.ncmbc.us/events/ .
| | | | |
