Five for Friday: September 6, 2024
Curated by: The Western Nevada Development District…
This edition of Five for Friday focuses on opportunities for economic development around the region in the areas of recreation, public transportation, rail safety, connecting communities, and Brownfields Grants.
Grant Opportunities & More
Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC)
The RERC planning assistance program helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their main streets. The RERC program was formed in 2019 and is partnership between EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization, USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Denali Commission.
The RERC planning assistance process involves developing a local steering committee in each partner community and pairing them with a team of federal agency partners and consultants, who then work over several months. The team supports the steering committee to identify the community’s vision, goals, and actions they wish to take to boost outdoor recreation, revitalize their main streets and promote equitable access to the outdoors for residents and visitors alike.
Application Deadline: October 16, 2024
Public Transportation on Indian Reservations
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of more than $9 million in competitive grants for its FY 2024 Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (Tribal Transit) Program. The program is open to federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, groups, or communities as identified by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. Eligible activities include planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal transit services in rural areas.
Past awards have ranged from $25,000 to over $1,000,000. Public transportation includes regular, continuing shared-ride surface transportation services open to the public or open to a segment of the public defined by age, disability, or low income.
Types of Projects Include:
• Capital investment for start-ups, replacement, or expansion needs
• Operating assistance
• Planning projects up to $50,000
Application Deadline: November 13, 2024
Get the Lowdown on Railroad Crossing Grants
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is accepting applications for its Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program and Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grant Program.
RCE Grant Program: dedicated to improving railroad crossing safety and efficiency, investing in projects that construct grade separations, upgrade safety devices at crossings, or close at-grade crossings where roads and train tracks intersect.
R&E Grant Program: assists with operating costs for eligible projects that will establish service on new routes, restore service on routes that formerly had intercity passenger operations, and enhance service on existing routes.
FRA hosted webinars on these grant opportunities to discuss application requirements, share best practices and tips, and provide information about the grant evaluation process and timeline are available.
RCE Grant Application Deadline: September 23, 2024
R&E Grant Application Deadline: September 30, 2024
Closing Soon: Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program
More than $600 million is available for capital construction and community planning grants through the third round of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The Program focuses on improving access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, nature, and recreation; fostering equitable development and restoration; and providing technical assistance to further these goals.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2024
Webinar Registration and Recordings
EPA Opens Applications for FY 25 Brownfields Grants
The EPA has announced the FY 25 Brownfields Grant program as well as important webinars related to these funding opportunities. EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization is soliciting applications from eligible entities for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and Cleanup Grant funding. These Brownfields Grants allow more vacant and abandoned properties to be turned into community assets that will attract jobs and promote economic revitalization in communities.
The EPA will provide two guideline outreach webinars to assist applicants with understanding the Narrative ranking criteria for the FY 2025 Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup Grant Guidelines.
There is no need to preregister for either webinar.
Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 9:00 am PT
This webinar will focus on the FY 2025 Narrative ranking criteria for entities applying for:
• Community-wide Assessment Grant Funding
• Assessment Coalition Grant Funding
• Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes Funding
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 9:00 am PT
This webinar will focus on the FY 2025 Narrative ranking criteria for entities applying for:
• RLF Grant Funding
• Cleanup Grant Funding
Application Deadline: November 14, 2024
Webinar: Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 9:00 am PT
