FUNDING
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is excited to share a new Rural Development funding opportunity authorized by Section 6025 of the 2014 Farm Bill. This new authority entitled Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) prioritizes projects that support the implementation of multi-jurisdictional plans under the Community Facilities Program, Water and Waste Disposal Program, Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, and Rural Business Development Grant Program. Under this provision, up to 10 percent of each programs annual appropriations can be set aside and made available to eligible SECD applicants. Many communities already working together to develop multi-jurisdictional plans with the help of strategic partners including non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, university extensions, regional authorities, coalitions of counties/towns and federal special initiative coalitions such as: Stronger Economies Together, Promise Zones, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnerships, Sustainable Communities, and Local Food, Local Places. The goal of SECD is to promote collaboration in rural communities and across Rural Development agencies and programs. Communities are incentivized to align resources, develop long-term community and economic growth strategies and engage federal, state and local partners. By promoting this regional focus USDA resources can be more effectively utilized and have a larger impact on rural capacity building and wealth creation.
- DOT’s FASTLANE Program
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the U.S. Departments of Transportation’s (USDOT) Build America Bureau is now soliciting applications for up to $850 million in Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grants. The FASTLANE program was established in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to fund critical freight and highway projects across the country. In the first call for FASTLANE grants, USDOT received 212 applications totaling nearly $9.8 billion for grants – with states and localities requesting over 13 times more funding than was available through FASTLANE – underscoring the continuing need for infrastructure investment across the country. The need to support projects improving the Nation’s freight system is also highlighted in the Department’s report, Beyond Traffic 2045: Trends and Choices, where freight volume is expected to grow to 29 billion tons—an increase by 45 percent by the year 2040. The deadline for submitting applications is 8:00PM on December 15, 2016. For more information, please visit https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/FASTLANEgrants.
- NEIGHBORWORKS® AMERICA
Neighborworks America will provide grant funds through Project Reinvest: Homeownership to eligible community development financial institutions (CDFIs) for down payment assistance loans to borrowers earning 100 percent of area median income or less. Eligible organizations are limited to nonprofit CDFIs with current certification and must demonstrate the ability to originate a high volume of down payment assistance loans over a two-year period. The grant period is January 2017 through January 2019. Deadline: 11/14/2016. Click here to submit an online application.
The U.S. Department of Education is offering grants to nonprofits, LEAs, public agencies, and IHEs for a wide array of activities to encourage at-risk youth to complete high school and go on to college through the Upward Bound program. Deadline to apply: 11/28/2016. Click here for funding guidelines.
- Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields
EPA is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies for either: 1) developing inventories of brownfields, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities, and conducting site assessments and cleanup planning related to brownfields sites, or 2) cleaning up contaminated brownfields sites. Deadline: 12/20/2016. Click here for program guidelines and to apply.
- The National Institutes of Health
NIH is offering grants to rural nonprofit and public agencies for programs that help control the opioid epidemic in the United States. Deadline: 01/10/2017. Click here for grant materials.
- The Mission Continues Post-9/11 Veteran Nonprofit Fellowships
The Mission Continues is seeking applications for Post-9/11 Veteran Nonprofit Fellowships. Service fellowships, which include a cost-of-living stipend, are awarded to post-9/11 veterans to enable them to volunteer with nonprofit organizations in their community as an extension of their service to the country. Deadline: 1/17/2017. Visit the website here to review program guidelines.
- Morris K Udall and Stewart L Udall Foundation
Morris K Udall and Steward L Udall Foundation is offering a 10-week fully funded summer internship for Native American and Alaska Native students who wish to learn more about the federal government and issues affecting Indian country. Deadline to apply: 1/31/2017. Visit the Foundation website here for guidelines and an application.
- Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children Access to Care Grants
Offers matching grants to support community-based initiatives that provide dental homes to children whose families cannot afford dental care.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 15, 2016
Sponsor: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- Cooperative Agreements for Adolescent and Transitional Aged Youth Treatment Implementation
Funding to states, territories, or tribes to increase access to and improve treatment for adolescents and/or transitional aged youth with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 20, 2016
Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) Program
Grants to support innovative academic-practice partnerships to prepare primary care advanced practice registered nursing students to practice in rural and underserved settings through academic and clinical training.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jan 25, 2017
Sponsor: Bureau of Health Workforce - Native American Congressional Internship
Offers a 10-week summer internship for Native American and Alaska Native students who wish to learn more about the federal government and issues affecting Indian country.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jan 31, 2017
Sponsor: Morris K Udall and Steward L Udall Foundation
- Apply for Technical Assistance to Create Walkable, Healthy, Vibrant Communities
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites communities to apply for technical assistance through three programs that create economic opportunities, make neighborhoods more walkable, help people live healthier lives, and revitalize downtowns and neighborhoods.
Eligibility: See each program's application for specific eligibility requirements.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on November 6, 2016.
How to apply: Submit a completed application and optional letters of support (see each program's application for specific instructions).
- Local Foods, Local Places helps communities create walkable, healthy, economically vibrant neighborhoods through the development of local food systems. This initiative is supported by EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority. Learn how to apply for the Local Foods, Local Places Program
- Cool & Connected helps small towns use broadband service to revitalize small-town main streets and promote economic development. The initiative is supported by EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Learn how to apply for the Cool & Connected Program
- Healthy Places for Healthy People is a new program to help communities partner with community health centers (including Federally Qualified Health Centers), nonprofit hospitals, and other health care facilities to create walkable, healthy, economically vibrant places. The program is supported by EPA and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Under this program, communities will receive planning assistance to develop action plans focusing on health as an economic driver and catalyst for downtown and neighborhood revitalization. Healthy Places for Healthy People will focus on communities that are economically challenged, including those in rural Appalachia. Learn how to apply for the Healthy Places for Healthy People Program
- //foundationcenter.hosted.strongview.com/t/gcjbbCFuQABRoJ9D7a0GoFGZ5aaaa0GoBMACJM8aa?l=-@tEzCv&n=Tqirj2fyYni.yixT2f0_nmT.3jmR.pf4&;c=Kx&6=&i=yemiog~r-x-r-v" target="_blank">Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Accepting School Library Grant Applications
POSTED: October 12, 2016
DEADLINE: December 12, 2016
Grants of up to $7,000 will be awarded to help school libraries expand, update, and diversify their book collections....
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of up to $16.7 million in competitive grant funding to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by families and households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The funding will be awarded to eligible nonprofits and governmental organizations through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program, administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Applications are due by Dec. 12, 2016.
Purpose: Provide opportunities for youth educators to research and provide programming for youth on sustainable agriculture. Eligibility: Professional educators, farmers/ranchers, home schoolers, other youth, nonprofit educators. Funding: $2,000 maximum. Deadline: Proposals due November 10, 2016.
Purpose: Provides funding to start a school garden to help students be more active, be more environmentally-conscious, and build healthy eating habits. Eligibility: Schools that are not past winners. Funding: $500 grant. Deadline: December 1, 2016.
Purpose: Fund projects that improve access to local foods in schools. Priority funding is given to projects that: are submitted by state agencies, involve specific FNS programs (like CACFP or Summer Meals), collaborate with service programs, serve high-poverty communities, involve innovative strategies, or impact multiple schools. Eligibility: Schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations. Funding: $5 million in grants. Deadline: December 8, 2016.
Purpose: Project and planning grants to fund projects that improve access to food and/or participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs for low-income individuals. Eligibility: Public food program service providers, tribal organizations, or private nonprofit organizations. Please see RFA. Funding: $8.6 million in total grants; 100% match required. Deadline: November 30, 2016.
Purpose: Funds systems-based research and extension activities to accelerate science-based solutions and new technology for the specialty crop industry. Eligibility: Land grant institutions, for-profit organizations including small businesses, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher ed, state agricultural experiment stations. Funding: $48.1 million in total funding (100% match required). Deadline: November 15, 2016.
Purpose: Funds project providing training, education, outreach, and mentoring programs to enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. Priority given to veterans, socially disadvantaged and women farmers or ranchers. Eligibility: Collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based networks or partnership of qualified public and/or private organizations. Funding: $17.7 million total. A 25% match is required. Deadline: December 8, 2016
