Five for Friday: Grant Opportunities Collected by the Western Nevada Development District
Economic development grants and loans can help revitalize and build sustainability in urban, rural, and tribal communities. Strategic investments help support local economies, create jobs, and attract private investments to better residents’ lives. Every first Friday, the Western Nevada Development District will share our Five for Friday; grant programs from a variety of sources that can help kickstart a business, raise up a neighborhood or build broadband connectivity.
Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge
USDA is making available up to $3 million in cooperative agreements under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC). Qualified entities can use the funds to help rural communities create plans to enhance capacity for broadband access; preserve cultural and historic structures; and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces. The grant program emphasizes partnerships and collaboration among public, private, and philanthropic and community partners. USDA is offering a Webinar on the grant program on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. Click here to register. Grant application deadline is July 26. Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge | Rural Development (usda.gov)
USDA Loan and Microenterprise Program
USDA Rural Development funding provides loans and grants to microenterprise development organizations to help them establish revolving loan programs to assist microenterprises and businesses with 10 or fewer full-time employees. Application Deadline: June 30, 2021. Click here for more information and to apply.
Building Broadband Infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is making available $288 million in grant funding to deploy broadband infrastructure. Grants will be awarded to partnerships between a state or political subdivisions of a state and providers of fixed broadband service. Projects should be designed to provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible service area with an emphasis on rural service. NTIA is holding a series of webinars on June 9 and 10 to inform the public about the program further. More information about the program, including requirements for grant applications, can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity
American Rescue Plan: Museums and Libraries Grants
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced a new funding opportunity for $15 million in support for museums, libraries, and Native American and Native Hawaiian communities. The federal investment will provide direct support to address community needs created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and in assisting with recovery. Projects may continue, enhance, or expand existing programs and services, or they may launch new ones to address emergent needs and unexpected hardships. Equal matching funds are required. Award amounts range from $10,000 – $50,000. The deadline for submitting applications is June 28, 2021, with award announcements anticipated in October 2021. A free informational webinar will be made available on-demand on the IMLS website.
A Community Thrives
This grantmaking and crowdfunding program of USA TODAY NETWORK with funding from the Gannett Foundation, invests in community-building initiatives across the country. The program is a way to share community improvement ideas on the national stage, gain support through donations and local connections. During the campaign, nonprofit organizations have the chance to raise funds for their charities on their official A Community Thrives challenge page. At the end of the crowdfunding period, the Gannett Foundation will award grants ranging from $2,500 to $100,000 to selected organizations. Deadline: nonprofit organizations and municipal programs such as libraries and schools are encouraged to apply between before June 30. Click here for more information on this opportunity.
