Federal funding opportunities on community and economic development, housing, public safety, transportation, water and storm sewer, and other infrastructure.
Before applying for grants, ensure the following are up to date and are working:
- Login.gov or ID.me login credentials work
- Active SAM.gov registration
- Know your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
- Active grants.gov account
Click on the section below to find current grant opportunities:
Broadband | Community, Economic Development and Housing | Public Safety | Transportation |
Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer, Electrical Infrastructure and Water Resources | Other Opportunities | Grant Resources
Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
Deadline: Applications Accepted Year-Round
Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program
The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program aims to stimulate economic development and job creation in rural communities. The program funds business and community projects that benefit rural areas through two grant categories: Business Opportunity and Business Enterprise grants. Eligible applicants include public bodies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations focused on serving rural areas and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Grant Categories and Funding Uses:
- Business Opportunity Grants: These funds are designated for community economic development initiatives, technology-based economic development, feasibility studies, business planning, leadership and entrepreneur training, rural business incubators, and strategic business planning.
- Business Enterprise Grants: Enterprise funds support projects for small and emerging rural businesses, including project planning, technical assistance, land and building development, pollution control, revolving loan fund capitalization, distance learning, transportation, and other community economic development activities.
Funding and Prioritization: There is no maximum funding cap, but smaller funding requests receive higher priority. Up to 10% of the annual RBDG funding may be allocated to Opportunity grants. Notably, no cost-sharing is required.
Eligible Areas: RBDG funds are designated exclusively for rural projects benefiting areas with populations below 50,000 and outside urban peripheries.
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
The AFG Program provides financial assistance directly to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs) to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment, provide funding to retrofit or modify facilities to protect personnel from known health hazards, acquire emergency response vehicles, design and implement health, wellness and resiliency programs that prepare responders for incident response, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.
Deadline: December 20, 2024
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
This program helps prevent damage or restore households and businesses’ access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Funding can improve the natural environment and encourage manufacturers and other businesses to locate or expand operations.
Deadline: Applications Accepted Year-Round
US Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Programs
Programs range from studies only that are 100% federally funded to construction projects with a project limit of up to $10M of federal funding on a 65/35 cost share. Programs include:
- Commercial Navigation
- Flood Risk Management
- Ecosystem Restoration
- Emergency Response
- Recreation
- Federal Real Estate Management
- Regulatory Program and Permit
Deadline: Applications Accepted Year-Round
Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach Grant
The program provides $39 million in funding to support a national initiative aimed at reducing food waste in households, expanding markets for compost, and increasing public knowledge about composting practices.
- Available Funding:
- Project 1: Develop and Implement a National Consumer Wasted Food Reduction Campaign ($30 million to $34,094,000).
- Project 2: Expand the Market and Sales of Compost ($5 million to $9,094,000 combined).
- Project 3: Increase Education and Outreach to Households on Composting.
Eligible applicants must form coalitions that combine expertise in social marketing, media, campaign implementation, and evaluation to deliver all three projects.
Applications must address all three projects outlined by the EPA.
Deadline: December 20, 2024
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities
The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities offers $58 million in competitive funding to support local waste management improvement projects across the U.S. These projects aim to enhance municipal recycling systems, reduce contamination, and improve materials recovery infrastructure. Funding is available for eligible activities including the expansion of recycling programs, upgrades to material recovery facilities, construction of composting sites, and education outreach as a minor component of larger projects.
- Eligible Activities: The grant can fund projects that improve recycling access, purchase sorting and waste metering equipment, and upgrade composting facilities.
- Funding Levels: Award amounts range from $500,000 to $5,000,000, with a minimum of one award per EPA Region.
- Program Tracks: Track 1 is dedicated to benefiting disadvantaged communities, while Track 2 supports projects for all other communities. Approximately 40% of the total funding will be reserved for disadvantaged communities.
Applicants are encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by November 15, 2024, although it is optional. Full applications are due through grants.gov by December 20, 2024.
Deadline: December 20, 2024
Solid Waste Management Grants
This program reduces or eliminates pollution of water resources by providing funding for organizations that provide technical assistance or training to improve the planning and management of solid waste sites.
Review program guidelines and requirements in full: Download the 2024 Solid Waste Management Application Guide
Eligible Applicants
Rural areas and towns with a population of 10,000 or less — check eligible addresses
Special consideration may be given for projects serving:
- An area with fewer than 5,500 or fewer than 2,500 people;
- Regional, multi-state or national areas; or
- Lower-income populations.
Eligible Projects
- Evaluate current landfill conditions to identify threats to water resources.
- Provide technical assistance or training to enhance the operation and maintenance of active landfills.
- Provide technical assistance or training to help communities reduce the amount of solid waste coming into a landfill.
- Provide technical assistance or training to prepare for closure and future use of a landfill site.
Match
Matching funds are not required for this grant. However, applicant and in-kind contributions are encouraged.
Deadline: December 31, 2024
Local Infrastructure Hub
The Local Infrastructure Hub is a national program that was created to inform cities of federal infrastructure funding opportunities along with other resources to help cities successfully apply for funding.
GRANTS.GOV
Grants.gov is a centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. In addition, the website currently handles grant application submissions to many federal agencies.
GrantFinder
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