Funding & Resource Announcements
Announcements of Federal Funding & Assistance Available:
Economic – Access to Capital
NEW! SBA Announces Availability of Funding under the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs
References:
Federal Funding Opportunities; entrepreneurship under WIOA; microenterprise; technical assistance; capacity building; research and development; eligibility of Indian tribes for PRIME funding, rural economic development, DRA and ARC supports for microenterprise; CDFIs, Hubzones
The Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act of 1999 (the PRIME Act) became law on November 12, 1999. The PRIME Act authorizes the Small Business Administration to establish a program for the purposes of:
- providing training and technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs
- providing training and capacity building assistance to microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) and programs
- aiding in Research and development of best practices for microenterprise and technical assistance programs for disadvantaged entrepreneur
- for other activities as the SBA Administrator determines.
NEW! SBA announced the availability of $5,000,000 for investment under PRIME.
SBA will allocate the funding available for awards as follows:
- A minimum of 75 percent for Technical Assistance Grants, Track I;
- A minimum of 15 percent for Capacity Building Grants, Track II;
- The remaining 10 percent or less may be allocated by SBA, in its sole discretion to be used for: Research and Development Grants or Discretionary Grants.
See: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=304379
In this PRIME funding cycle, SBA will also give additional consideration to those applicants that:
(1) provide training and technical assistance to economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in rural areas; and
(2) training and technical assistance to support entrepreneurship in HubZones.
In order to be eligible to submit an application for this funding opportunity an Applicant must clearly demonstrate that it is one of the following:
- A microenterprise development organization or program (or group or Collaborative thereof), such as a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution or similar entity, that has a demonstrated record of delivering microenterprise services to disadvantaged entrepreneurs; or
- An Intermediary (as defined in Section 8.1 of the solicitation) which has experience in delivering technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs; or
- A microenterprise development organization or program (as defined in Section 8.1) that is accountable to a local community, working in conjunction with a State or local government or Indian Tribe; or
- An Indian tribe acting on its own, if it can certify that no private organization or program referred to above exists within its jurisdiction.
Applications are due by June 1.
Economic - Workforce Development:
May 16 Webinar - Free Resources for Apprenticeship & Work-based Learning
May 16 (3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern)
Are you an institution in need of free resources to set up apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities? This webinar will explore Open Educational Resources (OER) available on SkillsCommons.org that were produced by community colleges in partnership with employers across the country. You will learn about the array of OER related to apprenticeship and work-based learning, such as guides, reports, course materials, handbooks, and much more!
This webinar is the last in a webinar series showcasing strategies and resources developed by community colleges that are of broad interest to educational institutions engaged in career-focused education and training. Previous webinars (available as recordings) explored making industry experts into expert instructors to increase student success, scaling career pathways in Wisconsin, resources for developmental education using competency-based education, affordable learning solutions, and sustaining grant-funded projects for long-term success. For more information, please visit: Innovations Leading to Career Success Webinar Series.
The material featured here and the many resources available on SkillsCommons were produced by grantees of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program, a collaboration between the US Department of Labor and the US Department of Education.
May 17 Webinar Part I - Disaster Preparedness and Response: Serving Farmworkers
May 17 (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern)
Part I of this two part series on Disaster Preparedness and Response: Serving Farmworkers will focus on what we can learn from National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grantees’ experiences. In 2017, the operations of several NFJP grantees were disrupted by different natural disasters that impacted the farmworker community in distinct ways.
NEW! DOJ Announces Funding Opportunity under the FY 2018 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program
Cites Collaboration with WIOA, Encourages Workforce Development Agencies to Apply in Collaboration; Sets June 18 Deadline for Proposals
Second Chance Act programs are designed to help communities develop and implement comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by incarcerated adults re-entering their communities and the workforce, as well as recidivism reduction. Several years ago, the Bureau of Justice Assistance within DOJ initiated a pilot project, the “Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies” project that sought to test an innovative approach to reduce recidivism and increase job readiness for offenders returning from incarceration and to integrate best practices in reentry and employment.
Building upon the pilot project, the FY 2018 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program will now provide funding for strategic planning grants to replicate the framework developed in the pilot project.
BJA welcomes collaborative applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award, including corrections, parole and probation, and workforce development agencies; however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees). The applicant must be the entity that would have primary responsibility for carrying out the award, including administering the funding and managing the entire project. Under this solicitation, only one application by any particular applicant entity will be considered. An entity may, however, be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one application.
The solicitation notes, in part:
Applicants must provide evidence of a history of collaboration between state, local and or tribal government agencies overseeing corrections, parole, probation, workforce development, and education, as well as an extensive discussion of the role of the corrections department in ensuring the successful reentry of offenders into communities, including securing and maintaining employment. Successful applicants will also describe how correctional, workforce development, and education funds such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) are leveraged to support correctional education or reentry services. For more information about WIOA and how it can be leveraged to support employment and education services for offenders, please see The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: What Corrections and Reentry Agencies Need to Know.
https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6.13.17_WIOA_What-Corrections-and-Reentry-Agencies-Need-to-Know.pdf
BJA expects to make up to six awards of up to $200,000 each, with an estimated total amount awarded of up to $1,200,000. BJA expects to make awards for a 12-month period of performance, to begin on October 1, 2018.
Proposals are due by June 18. See: https://www.bja.gov/funding/SCAEMP18.pdf
Economic – Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialization
NEW! SBA’s Office of Innovation & Technology Announces Funding Opportunities under the SBIR AND STTR Programs
The mission of SBA’s Office of Innovation & Technology, which bears responsibility for administering the FAST Program, is to strengthen the technological competitiveness of small businesses across the country through coordination of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The FAST program focuses on increasing the participation of small firms in the innovation and commercialization of high risk technologies, keeping the United States on the cutting edge of next generation research and development.
The Office of Innovation & Technology has announced two funding opportunities:
Applicants selected for awards under these announcements are required to maximize their efforts to leverage SBA funding by working in conjunction with other public and private entities that provide support or have resources that would benefit SBIR/STTR applicants and/or awardees:
- a. Resource partners such as Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, Growth Accelerators, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, SBA lenders, and more;
- b. Federal, state, and local governments;
- c. Universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; and
- d. Private organizations such as chambers of commerce and trade/industry groups.
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Availability: $2,000,000 Ceiling: $125,000 Floor: $50,000 Expected Awards: 16 |
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Availability: $1,000,000 Ceiling: $125,000 Floor: $50,000 Expected Awards: 6 |
Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program
The funding opportunity announcements for FAST are now open: May 4, 2018 through June 20, 2018. See www.grants.gov for full announcement information:
FAST-2018-R-0012 (general applicants, $2 million available for awards up to $125,000)
FAST-2018-R-0012A (SBTDCs, $1 million available for awards up to $125,000)
The FAST Partnership Program provides one year funding for organizations to execute state/regional programs to increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals (through outreach and financial support); increase the number of SBIR/STTR awards (through technical assistance and mentoring); and better prepare SBIR/STTR awardees for commercialization success (through technical assistance and mentoring).
Education
NEW! Department of Education Announces Assistance to Storm- and Wildfire-Impacted Schools under (1) Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education Program
Under the Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education Program (EAI), the Department will award grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) for emergency assistance in areas directly affected by a covered disaster or emergency: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the wildfires in calendar year 2017 for which the President declared a major disaster or emergency under section 401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Budget Act) the funds available under the EAI Program are for programs authorized under subpart 3 of part A and part C of title IV and part B of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, but the funds may be used for activities beyond those supported by those specific programs. The Department has identified a total of $100,000,000 for investment under EAI. The estimated maximum award is $20,000,000 with an average size of awards established at $650,000. The Department projects a total of 150 awards. The Department will make the pre-applications available upon today’s publication of a FEDERAL REGISTER notice, and it will make the applications available after review of the pre-applications. · Deadline for Transmittal of Pre-Applications: June 4, 2018.· Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 1, 2018. Eligible Applicants: Institutions that (1) meet the definition of “institution of higher education” in section 101 or section 102(a)(1) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002(a)(1)), and (2) are located in areas directly affected by a covered disaster or emergency. See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-03/pdf/2018-09417.pdf
Infrastructure
NEW! FCC Order: Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment
The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules to streamline the wireless infrastructure siting review process to facilitate the deployment of next-generation wireless facilities. As part of the FCC's efforts, the agency consulted with a wide range of communities to determine the appropriate steps needed to enable the rapid and efficient deployment of next-generation wireless networks--or 5G--throughout the United States. The Order focuses on ensuring the Commission's rules properly address the differences between large and small wireless facilities, and clarifies the treatment of small cell deployments.
As published in the May 3 FEDERAL REGISTER, the Order specifically excludes small wireless facilities deployed on non-Tribal lands from National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, concluding that these facilities are not ``undertakings'' or ``major Federal actions.'' Small wireless facilities deployments continue to be subject to currently applicable state and local government approval requirements.
The Order also clarifies and makes improvements to the process for Tribal participation in section 106 historic preservation reviews for large wireless facilities where NHPA/NEPA review is still required; removes the requirement that applicants file Environmental Assessments solely due to the location of a proposed facility in a floodplain, as long as certain conditions are met; and establishes timeframes for the Commission to act on Environmental Assessments.
FCC states: “These actions will reduce regulatory impediments to deploying small cells needed for 5G and help to expand the reach of 5G for faster, more reliable wireless service and other advanced wireless technologies to more Americans:”
See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-03/pdf/2018-08886.pdf (May 3 FEDERAL REGISTER document)
Webinar May 16 - BroadbandUSA Technical Assistance to Rural Communities
May 14-21, 2018 marks the 6th annual national Infrastructure Week, so BroadbandUSA is focusing this month on connectivity in rural communities. According to the FCC’s 2018 data, 25 million Americans and 31% of rural Americans do not have broadband available to them. The BroadbandUSA Technical Assistance Team has devoted time to working with providers and local government officials to improving broadband infrastructure in rural communities.
For example, the team assisted a community in rural Alaska by providing solution- and technology-neutral advice on many issues, including market assessment, revenue modeling, construction schedules, and specific steps that the local government can implement to assist private providers speed up deployment and expansion of broadband infrastructure. A town in Virginia requested assistance during the implementation process of a new land mobile radio (LMR) public safety system. In Maine, the team provided feedback to a remote community during its Request for Information (RFI) development to attract potential broadband providers. On a regular basis, the team provides assistance to support infrastructure and digital inclusion planning, funding, and implementation efforts.
May 16, 2018
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series: Infrastructure Week Special: Successful Models and Best Practices for Rural Broadband Deployment
The BroadbandUSA Technical Assistance Team is looking forward to serving more rural communities through building partnerships. Contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
NEW! USDA Accepting Applications for Funding under the Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
Under the Community Facilities Technical and Assistance and Training grant program, USDA Agency makes grants to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, (such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations) to provide associations Technical Assistance and/or training with respect to essential community facilities programs. The Technical Assistance and/or training will assist communities, Indian Tribes, and Nonprofit Corporations to identify and plan for community facility needs that exist in their area.
USDA’s Rural Housing Service announced on May 3 it is accepting FY 2018 applications under this program. Applications must be submitted by July 2.
USDA encourages applications that will support recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report to help improve life in rural America (www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity). Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include: · Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America· Developing the Rural Economy· Harnessing Technological Innovation· Supporting a Rural Workforce· Improving Quality of Life See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-03/pdf/2018-09351.pdf
Previously Announced Federal Funding Opportunities Closing Soon:
Below is a list of previously highlighted funding opportunities that are still open. Enter the Opportunity Number in Grants.gov to see announcement details. You can also search Grants.gov for a full list of current federal opportunities, including programs not listed below.
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Opportunity Number |
Opportunity Title |
Agency |
Posted Date |
Close Date |
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Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid: Tribal Heritage Grants |
DOI-NPS |
03/01/2018 |
05/11/2018 |
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Community Connect Grant Program |
USDA-RUS |
03/15/2018 |
05/14/2018 |
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State Occupational Licensing Review and Reform |
DOL-ETA |
04/12/2018 |
05/14/2018 |
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FY 2018 FOA for DOD’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) Manufacturing Engineering Education Program |
DOD-ONR |
01/12/2018 |
05/16/2018 |
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Special Research Grants Program - Aquaculture Research |
USDA-NIFA |
04/03/2018 |
05/17/2018 |
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Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill |
USDA-AMS |
03/07/2018 |
05/24/2018 |
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NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for FY 2018 – Caribbean Area |
USDA-NRCS |
03/30/2018 |
05/30/2018 |
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Labor-Management Cooperation Grant Program |
FMCS |
03/12/2018 |
05/31/2018 |
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Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program |
USDA-RUS |
04/05/2018 |
06/04/2018 |
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Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grant Program 2018 |
USDA-NIFA |
04/16/2018 |
06/07/2018 |
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ROSES 2018: Earth Science Applications: Disaster Risk Reduction and Response |
NASA-HQ |
d |
02/15/2018 |
06/14/2018 |
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Industry Partnerships for Cybersecurity of Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) Research, Development and Demonstration |
DOE-NETL |
04/16/2018 |
06/18/2018 |
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Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources |
NSF |
08/22/2017 |
10/01/2018 |
Eligible applicants for FAST funding include state and local economic development agencies, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), accelerators, incubators, Women’s Business Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), colleges, universities, and more. Only one proposal is allowed per state, with an accompanying letter from a state’s governor or equivalent.
More information on FAST at www.sbir.gov/about-fast
