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

No funding opportunities at this time, please check back.


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


Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program
The overall purpose of the Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP) is to assist experienced nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modification repairs and renovations to meet the needs of low-income seniors. The goal of the home modification program is to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications to reduce older adults’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and to improve their functional abilities in their home. This will enable older adults to remain in their homes, that is, to “age in place,” rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities.

Deadline: November 19, 2024


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 


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Public Safety

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


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Transportation

No funding opportunities at this time, please check back.


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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

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


Community Change Grants Program
The Community Change Grants aim to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA by focusing on projects that benefit communities most impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments. The program builds community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges while advancing clean energy solutions.

Grant Tracks:

  • Track I: Community-Driven Investments for Change: $1.96 billion for 150 projects, ranging from $10-20 million each
  • Track II: Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance: $40 million for 20 projects, ranging from $1-3 million each

​Target Investment Areas:

  • Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities: $50 million for small, rural areas lacking fixed geographic boundaries

Application Process
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until November 21, 2024. If an application does not meet the NOFO requirements, there is an opportunity to resubmit. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to increase the likelihood of success.

Special Notes

  • Oral Presentations: Track I applicants may be invited to deliver oral presentations to EPA reviewers and provide an opportunity for direct engagement to explain community priorities and plans for long-term sustainability.
  • Cost-Share: No cost-sharing or matching funds are required under this NOFO.

Deadline: November 21, 2024


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


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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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