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Federal Funding Opportunities


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

Broadband

Broadband Technical Assistance
The Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) program provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training.

How Can Funds be Used
Funds can be used to promote broadband expansion in eligible rural areas and include activities such as project planning, community engagement, operations, financial sustainability, environmental compliance, construction and engineering planning, accessing federal resources, and data collection and reporting.

Deadline: August 20, 2024


Community, Economic Development and Housing

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 Housing Preservation Grant
What does this program do?
It provides grants to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by low- and very-low-income rural citizens. USDA will award a total of $12,200,000 in Housing Preservation Grant Program funding for the repair and rehabilitation of rural housing units.
$2,200,000 of this funding is for organizations to help people repair homes they own or rent that were damaged in a calendar year 2022 Presidentially declared disaster areas ($50,000 maximum award).

Deadline: July 29, 2024


NEA Our Town, FY 2025
Our Town is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, we support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Successful Our Town projects demonstrate a specific role for arts, culture, and design as part of strategies for strengthening local communities, ultimately centering equity and laying the groundwork for long-term systems change tailored to community needs and opportunities. All applications are submitted by one organization and require one partner organization. The applicant/partner pair must include 1) a nonprofit organization and 2) a local government or quasi-government entity. Cost share/matching grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount. The Arts Endowment’s support of a project may start on July 1, 2025, or any time thereafter. A grant period of up to two years is allowed.

Deadline: August 1, 2024


Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program  
The purpose of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction (LHR) grant program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing populations. In addition, there is Healthy Homes Supplemental funding available that is intended to enhance the lead-based paint hazard control activities by comprehensively identifying and addressing other housing hazards that affect occupant health.

Deadline: August 19, 2024


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Public Safety

COPS Safer Outcomes Program
The Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement program seeks to promote safe outcomes during police encounters with persons in crisis through relevant training. Supported training programs must address one or more of the following areas of focus.

  1. De-escalation tactics and alternatives to use of force
  2. Safely responding to an individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health or suicidal crisis
  3. Safe encounters with individuals with disabilities
  4. Successfully participating on a crisis intervention team
  5. Making referrals to community-based services and support

Awards under this solicitation will be made to law enforcement agencies seeking to implement training and related supports on this topic. Training is supported for law enforcement officers, support personnel employed by law enforcement agencies, and mental health professionals working on crisis intervention teams as employees of a law enforcement agency or under a legal agreement with a law enforcement agency.

Deadline: July 23, 2024


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Transportation

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program
The SS4A program supports the development of a comprehensive safety action plan (referred to as an “Action Plan”) that identifies the most significant roadway safety concerns in a community and the implementation of projects and strategies to address roadway safety issues. Action Plans are the foundation of the SS4A grant program.

SS4A requires an eligible Action Plan be in place before applying to implement projects and strategies.

The SS4A program provides funding for two types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants.

Planning and Demonstration Grants 
Provide Federal funds to develop, complete, or supplement an Action Plan. The goal of an Action Plan is to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a locality, Tribal area, or region.

Implementation Grants 
Provide Federal funds to implement projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan to address a roadway safety problem. Eligible projects and strategies can be infrastructural, behavioral, and/or operational activities.

The program has 3 deadlines defined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, which is dependent on the grant type, they are:

  • Planning and Demonstration Grants (first deadline): April 4, 2024
  • Implementation Grants: May 16, 2024
  • Planning and Demonstration Grants (second deadline): August 29, 2024

Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program
The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.

SMART is a two-stage program. Stage 1 (up to $2,000,000 dollars and 18 months) grants are open for any eligible entity to apply. Recipients of Stage 1 grants will be eligible to expand their projects through Stage 2 grants (up to $15,000,000 and 36 months). Applicants must have received a Stage 1 grant to apply to Stage 2. 

A SMART grant may be used to carry out a project that demonstrates at least one of the following:  

  • Coordinated Automation
  • Connected Vehicles
  • Intelligent, Sensor-Based Infrastructure
  • Systems Integration
  • Commerce Delivery and Logistics
  • Leveraging Use of Innovative Aviation Technology
  • Smart Grid
  • Smart Technology
  • Traffic Signals 

Match
Cost sharing or matching is not required for Stage I: Planning and Prototyping.

Deadline: July 12, 2024


US DOT Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a competitive grant program to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).

CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles. This program provides two funding categories of grants: (1) Community Charging and Alternative Fueling Grants (Community Program); and (2) Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program).

Match
Awardees must provide at least 20 percent of the total project cost (not 20 percent of the Federal share) as a matching share.

Deadline: August 28, 2024


Enhancing Mobility Innovation
The Enhancing Mobility Innovation program advances a vision of mobility for all – safe, reliable, equitable, and accessible services that support complete trips. The program promotes technology projects that focus on the traveler experience and encourage people to get on board, such as integrated fare payment systems and user-friendly software for demand-response public transportation.

Enhancing Mobility Innovation projects fall under two categories:

  • Accelerate innovative mobility: Concept development and/or demonstration projects that improve mobility and enhance the rider experience with a focus on innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions.
  • Software solutions: Projects that develop software solutions that facilitate integrated demand-response public transportation that dispatches transit vehicles through riders’ mobile devices or other technology.

The program seeks targeted projects of national significance that:

  • Support innovation in mobility that meets evolving needs of transit riders
  • Advance equitable and climate-smart transportation
  • Improve public transportation service
  • Advance the vision of carefree mobility for all

Eligible Activities
Eligible activities include all activities leading to the development and/or testing of new approaches and tools for improving mobility. This notice solicits applications in two topical areas:

  • Projects that develop novel operational concepts and/or demonstrate innovations that improve mobility and enhance the rider experience, focused on innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions, or other innovative solutions.
    • Eligible activities may include all activities leading to uncovering the next iteration of promising technologies, practices and strategies that accelerate innovations in mobility for transit, including, but not limited to, technology scanning and feasibility analysis, engagement and outreach, planning, acquiring essential equipment or services, project implementation, modeling forecast of climate and equity impacts of proposed novel concepts, and evaluating project results.
  • Projects that develop software to facilitate demand-response public transportation that dispatches transit vehicles through riders’ mobile devices or other advanced means.
    • Eligible activities may include establishing user needs; defining system requirements; development, validation and verification of the software; modeling and simulation; and/or pilot implementation, with a software solution.

Deadline: August 30, 2024


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Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer, Electrical Infrastructure and Water Resources

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


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Other Opportunities

Waste Analysis and Strategies for Transportation End-uses
The research and development (R&D) activities to be funded under this FOA will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving the innovation that can lead to the deployment of clean energy technologies, which are critical for climate protection. Specifically, this FOA will aid communities with resource and energy recovery strategies associated with their organic waste streams. Organic waste streams represent major sources of fugitive methane emissions, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants. The White House set a goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030. By developing strategies that can prevent the landfilling of these wastes, one of the major sources of fugitive methane can be mitigated. Holistic waste management strategies can also benefit communities by reducing other impacts associated with waste collection and processing infrastructure including reducing truck traffic, odors, litter, and other air, water, and health impacts.

Topic Area 1 is focused specifically on helping communities beyond a conceptualization phase by supporting more in-depth feasibility or scoping analysis. Oftentimes, staff and organizational capacity in communities (particularly in rural, remote, Tribal, or smaller communities) is limited. While technical assistance programs can accomplish some of these objectives, direct financial assistance can close this capacity gap.

Topic Area 2 is targeted towards communities that have previously completed feasibility analysis and are seeking funding to further refine their project concept. Municipal and non-profit staff capacity and availability of funding often makes detailed design work out of reach for many communities and this topic aims to close that gap. Projects selected under Topic Area 2 will have an opportunity to construct and operate their designed pilot facility based on the down-select process described in the FOA.

Deadline: August 14, 2024


Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support
The Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support programming provides financial assistance grants for projects that support underserved and small-acreage forest landowner participation in emerging private markets for climate mitigation and forest resilience. The Inflation Reduction Act provides the Forest Service $450 million for Forest Landowner Support opportunities to:

  • Provide cost share payments to underserved forest landowners for implementing climate mitigation or forest resilience practices on their land.
  • Support the participation of underserved forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience.
  • Support the participation of forest landowners who own less than 2,500 acres of forest land in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience.
  • Provide payments to private forest landowners in priority landscapes for implementing key forestry practices that measurably increase carbon sequestration and storage.

There are three tracks based on proposed budgets for this program which are:

  • Track A: Budgets greater than or equal to $2 million and less than $25 million
  • Track B: Budgets less than $2 million
  • Track C: Budgets greater than $5 million and less than $50 million

Deadline: August 21, 2024


Environment and Climate Justice Community Change Grants
The EPA’s new Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges.

These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input.

Local governments are eligible to apply as part of a partnership with a community-based non-profit organization (CBO).

There will be two tracks of funding under this opportunity. Track I will fund approximately 150 large, transformational community-driven investment grants of $10 million – $20 million. Track II will fund approximately 20 meaningful engagement grants of $1 million – $3 million. Grants cannot exceed 3-years in duration.

Match
No cost-sharing or matching is required as a condition of eligibility under this NOFO. 

Tips on How to Apply
View the recording of the December 7, 2023 webinar

Deadline: November 21, 2024


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Grant Resources

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
​The Iowa League of Cities is excited to announce our partnership with Praetorian Digital’s EfficientGov, an information service that tracks innovative solutions to fiscal and operational challenges facing cities and towns across the country. EfficientGov provides local government leaders with unlimited access to information and tools that help reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of government.




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