Five for Friday: June 21, 2024

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Five for Friday: Grant Opportunities and More!

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 rural housing, environmental justice, infrastructure, and more.

Grant Opportunities & More

Rehabilitation Grants for Rural Housing (HPG)

The USDA’s HPG program provides grants to qualified organizations to repair or rehabilitate homes, rental properties or co-ops occupied by low- and very-low-income residents in rural areas.

Eligible applicants are organizations which include most State or local governmental entities, federally recognized Indian tribes, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations.

Applicants provide grants or low-interest loans to repair or rehabilitate housing for low- and very-low-income families. Rental property owners may also receive assistance if they agree to make units available to low- and very-low-income families.

Eligible expenses include:
• Repairing or replacing electrical wiring, foundations, roofs, insulation, heating systems and water/waste disposal systems
• Handicap accessibility features
• Labor and materials
• Administrative expenses

Pre-application Letters Due: July 29, 2024

More Info

Begin Process: Contact Nevada State Office

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants

The EPA’s new Community Change Grants program funds environmental and climate justice activities 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.

The entities eligible to apply under this NOFO are:
• A partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs)
• A partnership between a CBO and one of the following:
o a Federally-Recognized Tribe
o a local government
o an institution of higher education
The activities to be performed under the grants may generally fall under the following categories:
• Climate resiliency and adaptation
• Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events
• Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation investments in low- and zero-emission technologies and related infrastructure
• Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Reducing indoor toxins and indoor air pollution
• Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes
Award Range: $1 million to $20 million

Application Deadline: November 21, 2024

NOFO

FAQs

EV and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grants

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) will strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in urban and rural areas where people live and work located 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)
2. Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program)

Eligible applicants include:

• States or political subdivision of States
• Metropolitan planning organizations
• Unit of local governments
• Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, including port authorities
• Indian Tribes
• Authorities, agencies, or instrumentalities or entities owned by, one or more entities listed above
• Group of entities listed above
• State or local authorities with ownership of publicly accessible transportation facilities
(applies to Community Program only)

Award Floor: $500,000

Application Deadline: August 28, 2024

NOFO

Building Climate Smart Humanities Organizations

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Office of Challenge Program strengthens the institutional base of the humanities by funding operational assessments and strategic planning efforts to sustain and protect historical, cultural, educational, intellectual, and physical assets from the risks of climate change. Projects will result in a climate action, resilience, or adaptation plan including detailed assessments, measurable actions, and expected outcomes. Proposals must address how strategic planning for climate change will increase the organization’s resilience and support its work in the humanities over the long term. Projects are financed through a combination of federal matching funds and gifts raised from third-party, non-federal sources.

Eligible applicants include:
• County governments
• State governments
• Special district governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• City or township governments
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education

Award Ceiling: $300,000

Application Deadline: September 18, 2024

More Info

Get Your Non-Profit Noticed

With billions of Google searches happening every day, nonprofits around the world use the Google Ad Grant Program to connect with people looking to learn more about their cause. To help people digitally reach and engage their organization’s supporters, Google can provide a (free) helping hand. Through the Google Ad Grant program, qualifying nonprofits can receive up to $10,000 per month in free advertising spend on the Google Search Network. This in-kind donation allows nonprofits to promote their brand, programs, volunteer opportunities, and fundraisers online using the Google Ads platform.

More Info

 

 

 

Honoring American Heroes

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Carson City Based Real American Flags Honoring Veterans

WNDD’s own, Chris Brandon and McKenna Anderson, recently toured RealAmericanFlag.com, a manufacturing facility based in Carson City, Nevada. The manufacturer, a subsidiary of North Bay Rehabilitation Services, is a proud supplier to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for American Veterans’ burial flags. Their flags are made entirely from products and materials that are certified “Made in America.”

The local plant uses upland cotton grown and picked in states such as Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oklahoma and the Carolinas. The cotton is then woven in mills located in Texas, Georgia and South Carolina.

The woven cloth goes on to a finishing plant in South Carolina and Georgia to be dyed vibrant Old Glory Red, Old Glory Blue and White. The same cotton and processes are applied in the manufacturing of the thread used to sew the flags as well.

Production at the Carson City facility is done by local workers. Employees take great pride in flag manufacturing to ensure products are of the highest quality, and every flag is inspected.

The company employs veterans, as well as individuals who have moderate to severe disabilities. Currently, some 70% of the staff is severely disabled.

Applications for a flag for a deceased Veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces, and public purchases of flags are available online. Tours of the facility at 715 Industrial Park Dr., Carson City, NV can be made by calling: 707.585.1991.

About North Bay Industries

Parent company, North Bay Rehabilitation Services, also known as North Bay Industries (NBI), is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing employment opportunities and non-vocational programs including housing to people with disabilities.

Through various partnerships with Commercial Businesses and the Federal Government, NBI is able to provide employment opportunities to people with disabilities in the areas of: landscape maintenance, custodial services, mess attendant services, contract packaging, assembly and flag manufacturing.

Additionally, NBI is a certified HUD management agency. Currently, they manage 61 housing units in Marin and Sonoma County.

RealAmericanFlag.com

North Bay Industries

Five for Friday: June 7, 2024

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Five for Friday: Grant Opportunities and More!

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 Brownfields technical assistance, transit development, community facilities, USDA/EDA Resource Guides and STEM grants.

Grant Opportunities & More

Free Technical Assistance for Property Assessment and Revitalization

EPA’s Brownfields program sparks Community-serving projects in historically underserved neighborhoods. Under EPA’s Targeted Brownfields Assessment program, EPA assists communities to assess potentially contaminated properties and safely facilitate their redevelopment. Available at no cost to local governments, quasi-governmental agencies and tribes, information gathered from Targeted Brownfields Assessments gives prospective purchasers a better understanding of potential contamination issues at brownfields in their communities. EPA will characterize a brownfield to determine the nature and extent of the contamination. Results are provided to the community to assist them in redevelopment planning.

More Info

Fact Sheet

Funding Announced for Transit-Oriented Development Planning

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of nearly $10.5 million in competitive grant funds for agencies to plan transit-adjacent development. FTA’s Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development supports planning and investment near transit hubs to promote sustainable, livable, and equitable communities, with a focus on projects that plan for affordable housing. Planning funded through the program must examine ways to improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.

Application Deadline: July 22, 2024

More Info

NOFO

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grants

USDA Rural Development provides Technical Assistance and Training grants to eligible public bodies and private, nonprofit organizations (such as states, counties, cities, townships, incorporated towns, villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Tribes located on Federal or state reservations) to provide technical assistance and/or training in support of essential community facilities programs. In turn, this technical assistance and training helps grantees identify and plan for community facility needs in their area. Once these needs are pinpointed, the grantee can find additional public and private financial resources.

Funds may be used to:

• Assist communities in identifying and planning for community facility needs
• Identify resources to finance community facility needs from public and private sources
• Prepare reports and surveys necessary to request financial assistance to
develop community facilities
• Prepare applications for financial assistance from Rural Development
• Improve administrative and financial operations management
• Assist with other areas of need identified by the Secretary of Agriculture

Maximum Award: $150,000

Application Deadline: July 8, 2024

More Info

Fact Sheet

USDA and EDA Update Resources in Joint Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities

USDA Rural Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) updated resources in the joint guide originally released in 2022 to help rural communities build strategies to boost local economic development. Both agencies made several key updates to ensure communities can access new webpages and resources. The resource guide outlines programs and services that can be used to advance community and economic development in rural communities through four focus areas.

These include:

• Planning and technical assistance
• Infrastructure and broadband expansion
• Entrepreneurship and business assistance
• Workforce development and livability

Resource Guide

STEM Grants for Workforce Development Partnerships

Nevada’s STEM Workforce Challenge Grants provide funding to spark the creation of lasting partnerships between industry and workforce training providers resulting in sustainable training programs that provide in-demand, industry recognized STEM skills to training recipients and lead to full-time jobs in STEM industries. These grants are available for Nevada’s Community Colleges or State College, private career colleges located in Nevada that provide technical training, Chambers of Commerce, organizations that specialize in workforce training, Regional Development Authorities, STEM-related businesses, employee associations, and city and county governments.

Total Available Funding: $425,000

Workforce Challenge Webinar: July 18, 2024 at 10:00 am PT

Application Deadline Round XV: August 26, 2024

Webinar

Office of Science, Innovation & Technology Grants

Five for Friday: April 19, 2024

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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 housing, energy and more.

Grant Opportunities & More

Be on the Lookout: CEDS Update Survey and Project Forms – WNDD Members ONLY

Western Nevada Development District members will be invited to submit projects for regional support in the 2024 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Update. Also, we are seeking your input through a MailChimp survey to add updates to the existing CEDS.

Western Nevada Development District Members will be asked to participate in this simple two part process:

Projects:

Members will be invited to submit projects for regional support in the 2024 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Update. New projects or updates to existing projects already in the CEDS need to be turned in by May 3, 2024.

Survey:

Members will be asked to complete a simple survey to aid WNDD in creating the 2024 CEDS Update.

The 2020-2025 CEDS is a locally based, regionally driven economic development planning process and document that successfully engages the region’s community leaders, private sector partners, and stakeholders. The result creates an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy and to qualify the region for additional assistance from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (EDA).

Areas of focus are:

• Workforce Development Infrastructure (sewer, water, energy, broadband)
• Transportation
• Quality of life
• Attainable Housing

Organizations are welcome to submit projects based on; community/regional needs, current community plans, and projects that support the CEDS goals.

This process can help bring money into our communities and create job opportunities.

HUD Grants Available for Manufactured Housing

Cooperatives, nonprofit entities, CDFIs, and governments are eligible applicants for HUD grants that may be used to acquire manufactured housing, community land, repair and replace manufactured housing units, make infrastructure improvements, and provide technical assistance. Applications for the Preservation & Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) program, which will provide $225 million for the benefit of low-income individuals.

Application Deadline: June 5, 2024

NOFO

HUD PRICE

More on HUD and Manufactured Housing:

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to support manufactured housing
• HUD webinars on manufactured housing

CDBG

HUD Webinars

Cultural and Community Resilience Grants Program Touts Preservation and Access

The Cultural and Community Resilience program supports community-based efforts to address the impacts of climate change and COVID-19 by safeguarding cultural resources and fostering cultural resilience through identifying, documenting, and/or collecting cultural heritage and community experiences. The program prioritizes projects from disadvantaged communities in the United States or its jurisdictions.

Project activities may take many forms, including but not limited to:

• Collaborative planning to identify cultural and historical resources
• Documentation of cultural and historical resources through digital means
• Recording oral histories
• Preserving Traditional Knowledge, practices, or technologies, and memories of elders and community, including in languages other than English; or
• Establishing shared resources and protocols for rapid response collecting

Maximum Award: $150,000

Application Deadline: May 21, 2024

NOFO

More Info and Recorded Webinar

Nonprofits can Spread their Good Word through Google Ad Program

With billions of Google searches happening every day, nonprofits around the world use the Google Ad Grant program to connect with people looking to learn more about their cause. To help people digitally reach and engage their organization’s supporters, Google can provide a (free) helping hand. Through the Google Ad Grant program, qualifying nonprofits can receive up to $10,000 per month in free advertising to spend on the Google Search Network. This in-kind donation allows nonprofits to promote their brand, programs, volunteer opportunities, and fundraisers online using the Google Ads platform.

Application Info

How to Blog

Local Government Energy Program: Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy

This funding opportunity will support eligible local governments and Tribes to implement projects that provide direct community benefits, spark additional investments, meet community-identified priorities, and build local capacity. Community benefits may include creation of local economic opportunities for workers, workforce measures and agreements, community revitalization, lowered energy burdens, increased access to renewable energy, improved air quality, increased public participation in energy decision-making processes, and improved quality of life for local residents. Projects may span a range of geographic scopes and wide variety of technology areas including, but not limited to building efficiency and/or electrification, electric transportation, energy infrastructure upgrades, microgrid development and deployment, renewable energy, resilience hubs, and workforce development.

Award Amount: $900k to $3.6M

Application Deadline: May 31, 2024

Application Info

FAQs

Five for Friday: April 5, 2024

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Curated by WNDD…

The latest information on economic development impacting your community.

Thank You to Our 2024 Sponsors

The 2024 Western Nevada Development District’s Summit “Show Me More Money” provided more than 90 attendees with an in-depth look at the benefits of Brownfields, the Nevada Tech Hub impact, building coalition partnerships while breaking down silos, and opportunities available to rural Nevada.

Special thanks to the City of Fallon for rolling out the red carpet as the Summit kicked off with a special tour at the Frey Ranch Distillery followed by an enjoyable evening of food and fun at the Historic Oats Park Art Center. A shout out to all our panelists and lead speakers/moderators: Eileen Christiansen, Principal, BEC Environmental; Philip Childers, Brownfields Client Manager, Converse Consultants; Dr. Fred Steinmann, Director, UNR-UCED; Glen Martel, CEO, Nevada Builders Alliance and Shari Davis, Director, Rural Economic and Community Development, GOED.

The Summit would not have been possible without these great sponsors:

Platinum
Nevada Builders Alliance

Gold
City of Fallon
Converse Consultants

Silver
RailPros

Copper
Roman DBDR

Quartz
BEC Environmental, Inc.
RNDC

Special Thanks
Frey Ranch

Grants to Strengthen Rural Cooperatives and Expand Access to New and Better Markets

The USDA is making the $5.8 million in grants available under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program to start, improve or expand rural cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses that will help improve economic conditions in rural areas.

Nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for grants to provide technical and cooperative development assistance to individuals and rural businesses.

USDA is particularly interested in applications that will:

• Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities
• Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD funded projects
• Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
The maximum award is $200,000.

Stakeholder Announcement

RCDG Program

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Grants Help Everyone Live More Artful Lives

Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. Challenge America features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000. Grants require a cost share/match of $10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions. Total project costs must be at least $20,000 or greater.

Challenge America supports projects in many artistic disciplines including Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Arts, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Projects must extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. Projects may include, but are not limited to: arts programming, including the commissioning or presentation of artists or artwork; marketing and promotional activities; special events and organizational planning.

Application Deadline: April 30, 2024

More Info

Tribal Energy Funding Opportunities

The Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations, to:

• Install clean energy generating system(s) and/or energy efficiency measure(s) for Tribal buildings
• Deploy community-scale clean energy generating system(s) or community energy storage on Tribal lands
• Install integrated energy system(s) for autonomous operation (independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid) to power a single or multiple essential Tribal buildings during emergency situations or for Tribal community resilience
• Provide electric power to Tribal Building(s), which otherwise would be unelectrified

Grants range from $100,000 to $5 million depending on project area.

Application Deadline: May 30, 2024

Recorded Webinar

Funding Announcement

FHWA Announces Nearly $45 Million in Available Funds to Improve Bicyclist and Pedestrian Connectivity and Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has opened applications for up to $44.5 million in funding for projects that will strengthen safety and improve bicycling, walking and access to public transit in communities across the country. The new Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), will award competitive grants to help communities plan, design, or construct safe and connected active transportation networks such as sidewalks, bikeways, and trails that connect destinations such as schools, workplaces, residences, businesses, recreation areas and medical facilities within a community or metropolitan region. Grants will also be provided for projects used for trails, pedestrian facilities, bikeways and other routes that serve as backbones to connect two or more communities, metropolitan regions or states. The funding is available for states, local and Tribal governments, as well as metropolitan and regional planning organizations, and applicants can apply for more than one grant. .

Applications Due: June 17, 2024

More Info

April 9 Webinar

April 10 Webinar

Five for Friday: March 8, 2024

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Information Impacting Your Community

Curated by WNDD…

DOE Clean Energy and Manufacturing Workforce Training and Technical Assistance Awards

The Department of Energy (DOE) has recently released a $24 million funding opportunity for clean energy and manufacturing workforce training programs. The DOE is seeking applications from union training programs (including labor-management training programs), community colleges, trade schools, and other job training programs to establish new industrial training and assessment centers, as part of the broader Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) network. The funds can support a wide range of training programs, from micro-credentials to Registered Apprenticeships, and the funds may be used for a range of eligible costs.

Planning awards up to $200,000, execution awards up to $2 million

NOFO and Application Process

U.S. DOT Announces $1.25 Billion for Communities to Improve Roadway Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has opened the process for cities, towns, counties, Tribal governments and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to apply for $1.256 billion in funding for local projects that improve roadway safety. The funds are from the competitive grant program, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A). SS4A funds will help communities in the development of road safety action plans and improve unsafe roadway corridors by implementing effective interventions. Additionally, these funds can be utilized to test out safety features such as separated bicycle lanes or curb extensions at intersections.

Implementation Grant Deadlines: May 16, 2024

Planning and Demonstration Grant Deadlines: April 4, 2024; May 16, 2024; August 29, 2024

NOFO

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants

A new funding window has opened for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. The DLT Program provides financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that will help rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other – and the world – overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. The USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is hosting two webinars to provide information about the DLT Program and will cover the recently published DLT NOSA (Notice of Solicitation).

This webinar will include:
• A brief overview of the DLT Program
• An overview of the current NOSA
• A walkthrough of the application process
• Next steps and important dates
• An opportunity to ask questions about the NOSA
Webinar Dates and Times

Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 10:00 am to 11:30 am PT
Wednesday March 27, 2024, 10:00 am to 11:30 am PT

DLT NOSA

Registration, Recordings and More

More on Traffic Safety: State Grant Opportunities

The Nevada Department of Public Safety is offering grant funds dedicated to non-infrastructure safety-related improvement projects (e.g., education, enforcement, equipment, etc.).

The FY25 grant opportunities are 5 p.m. March 15, 2024.

Grant funds are provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) for education, enforcement of traffic laws, and adoption of safe driving behaviors that support the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The Office of Traffic Safety is interested in proposals that address the following:
• Speeding and aggressive driving
• Impaired driving, riding, or walking
• Distracted driving
• Pedestrian, bicyclist, and/or motorcycle safety
• Preventing roadside deaths or injuries of first responders or in work zones
• Protecting passengers and children during vehicle operation
• Protecting children and others from risks related to being left unattended in a vehicle
• Community based traffic safety programs
• Traffic safety studies and improved data collection
• Public health partnerships and Emergency Management Services (EMS)
• New drivers, older drivers, and/or programs that reach underserved communities
Applications Due: March 15, 2024

More Info

WNDD Summit: “Show Me More Money”

March 25 and 26, 2024

The 2024 WNDD Summit will take off where “Show Me the Money” left off last year. This year’s event, dubbed “Show Me More Money,” will provide attendees with a more in depth look at navigating grant opportunities, building a successful grant application, fostering partnerships and more.

Guests include elected officials, sponsors and speakers. Expect presentations from area experts, exciting local tour, fun, food and entertainment!

Monday, March 25
Tour
3:00 to 5:00 pm

Frey Ranch Distillery Tour and Tasting

Board of Directors Dinner
6:00 to 9:00 pm

Elevated Dining Experience at the Historic Oats Park Art Center 151 E. Park Street, Fallon

Antique Bar, Cultural Exhibits
and Entertainment

Enjoy a fabulous meal and a special signature drink handcrafted with Frey Ranch Whiskey

Tuesday, March 26
Summit
9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Fallon Convention Center 100 Campus Way, Fallon

Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks

Presentations and Panel Discussions:

  • Nevada Lithium/EV Materials Loop Tech Hub Impact
  • Brownfields Grants Impact on Economic Development
  • And, more…

2024 WNDD Summit Flyer

Register Today!

Book Your Room Today!

Quality Inn
1051 W Williams Ave., Fallon
Government Rate of $107 plus tax
To get your guaranteed rate, call hotel direct at:

775.428.0300

Group Name: WNDD Summit

Five for Friday: February 23, 2024

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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 broadband, grant assistance, water infrastructure and agriculture.

Grant Opportunities & More

Last Chance! Book Your Room Today!

Room Block Thru February 25th

Comfort Inn and Suites
1830 W Williams Ave., Fallon
Government Rate of $107 plus tax

To get your room guaranteed rate, book with Crystal Schultz at the Comfort Inn and Suites before February 25. You will need to book individually and with your credit card.

Email:
Crystal.CIFallon@gmail.com

Room Rate Guaranteed for Emails received by February 25th

ReConnect Program Webinar March 6: Notice of Funding Opportunity Round 5

The ReConnect Loan and Grant Program provides funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. The application window for the fifth round of funding will open on March 22, 2024. Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service, this webinar will provide information about the ReConnect Program and will cover the recently published Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Round 5.

This webinar will include:

  • A brief overview of the ReConnect Program
  • The current Funding Opportunity Announcement
  • A summary of changes from NOFO 4 to NOFO 5
  • Next steps and important dates
  • An opportunity to ask questions about the NOFO

Webinar: March 6, 2024, 10:00 to 11:30 am PT

Register

ReConnect Program

New Database Web Site Tracks Grant and Assistance Programs

The White House released a new database which tracks federal financial assistance programs. This website allows visitors to explore Federal financial assistance programs across categories, agencies, eligible applicants, and more. Over the past several years, financial assistance has routinely accounted for over $3 trillion of spending and constitutes a high proportion of Federal programs.

Start Your Search

EPA’s Water Technical Assistance Ensures Equitable Access to Water Infrastructure Funding

EPA’s free Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) services support communities to identify water challenges, develop plans, build capacity, and develop application materials to access water infrastructure funding. To implement WaterTA, EPA collaborates with states, Tribes, territories, community partners, and other key stakeholders. EPA WaterTA aims to assist communities with applications for federal funding, quality infrastructure, and reliable water services. If your community is facing water infrastructure challenges, and could benefit from support, explore this option.

WaterTA Program

Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants

Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) competitive grants initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs.

Projects may target areas of:
• food access
• education
• business
• start-up costs for new farmer
Grants can cover planning activities such as developing assessments of community needs within the local food system or identifying how food is grown, distributed, or marketed and what existing needs related to food access, nutrition, education, conservation, and economic development can be addressed.

The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $75,000 and the estimated funding ceiling is $350,000.

Application Deadline: April 9, 2024

UAIP Grants

Webinar Recordings

FAQs

Five for Friday: February 9, 2024

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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 grant information, networking, safe streets, business grants, and rural airport improvements.

Grant Opportunities & More

WNDD Summit: “Show Me More Money!”

The 2024 WNDD Summit will take off where “Show Me the Money” left off last year. This year’s event, dubbed “Show Me More Money,” will provide attendees with a more in depth look at navigating grant opportunities, building a successful grant application, fostering partnerships and more.

Expect presentations from area experts, exciting local tours, fun, food and entertainment!

Tentative Events – More Information Coming Soon!
March 25th

Tours
Naval Air Station Fallon Base Tour and Brief
Frey Ranch Distillery Tour and Tasting

Elevated Dining Experience
Catered Dinner, Antique Bar, Cultural Exhibits and Entertainment at the Historic Oats Park Art Center.
Enjoy a fabulous meal and a special signature drink handcrafted with Frey Ranch Whiskey.

March 26th
Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks
Presentations, Q and A sessions, Nevada Lithium/EV Materials Loop Tech Hub Impact Discussions

Room Block by February 25th
Government Rate of $107 plus tax
Comfort Inn and Suites
1830 W Williams Ave.
Fallon, NV

Reno Hosts FY 2024 ReConnect Program NOFO 5 Workshop

The ReConnect Program provides funds in the form of loans, grants and combination loan/grants for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.

USDA is hosting an in-person workshop in Reno, Nevada on February 27th thru 29th. The workshop will cover important information for ReConnect Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 5 applicants including an overview of each component of a complete application, live demonstrations, office hours, and more.

More Info

Conference Registration

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

US DOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program has $5 billion in appropriated funds available over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Over $3 billion is still available for future funding rounds.

The next NOFO is expected to be released later this month. These funds will help communities in the development of road safety action plans and improve unsafe roadway corridors by implementing effective interventions. Additionally, these funds can be utilized to test safety features such as separated bicycle lanes or curb extensions at intersections.

Safe Streets Grant Program

Grant Funds to Boost Rural Business

USDA Rural Development offers this versatile program to support business opportunities or business enterprise projects in eligible rural areas. Uses may include establishing business support centers, financing job training or leadership development programs, the repair or modernization of buildings, creating feasibility studies, the purchase of equipment to lease to small or emerging businesses, and much more. There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement.

There are two types of Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) projects, Opportunity grants and Enterprise grants. Opportunity type grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total RBDG annual funding. Enterprise type grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application.

Contact your local office for assistance.

Application Deadline: February 28, 2024

Local Office

More Info

Matching Dollars Available for Rural Airport Improvements

The Fund for Aviation was reestablished by the 2023 legislature through AB58 at $1,000,000 per year. These funds must be used exclusively on federal projects at public-use airports within the state for the enlargement, improvement, or maintenance of rural airports, landing areas or air navigation facilities. The money appropriated through this legislation must be used by rural airports to match money that is available from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Nevada Aviation Technical Advisory Committee (NATAC) manages these funds and was formed as a forum for discussing planning and programming issues related to the Nevada Airport & Heliport System Plan (NAHSP), providing recommendations for the administration of the Fund for Aviation, (formerly the Aviation Trust Fund).

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ReConnect Program Webinar:Preparing to Apply

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ReConnect Program Webinar:
Preparing to Apply

Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), the webinar will provide information about the ReConnect Program and help prepare applicants ahead of the next Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

This webinar will include:

  • What applicants can do now to prepare for the next NOFO
  • Registration and system requirements
  • A high-level look at ReConnect Program eligibility requirement
  • Tips on using the Application System
  • An opportunity to ask RUS staff questions about the application preparation

Representatives will address as many questions as time permits during each session. Once the NOFO is published, RUS will host a NOFO Overview webinar to include an updated list of the most common.

ReConnect Program Round 5 Webinar

January 24, 2024
10:00 am to 11:30 pm PT

ReConnect Program

Webinar Registration

ReConnect Program Round 5 NOFO Coming Soon!

Five for Friday: January 12, 2024

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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 seed funding, energy, transportation, water quality and climate resiliency.

Grant Opportunities & More

America’s Seed Fund Week: January 23 to 25, 2024

America’s Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion each year in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization, through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. In a three-day virtual workshop, attendees can deepen their understanding of America’s Seed Fund, and have the valuable opportunity to connect directly with federal agency representatives who foster its competitive funding opportunities.

Register

America’s Seed Fund Resources

Energy Efficiency Grants for Ag Producers and Small Businesses

REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in areas of 50,000 or less for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. The upcoming deadline for the next REAP funding cycle is March 31. REAP provides Loan guarantees on loans up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs, grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, and combined grant and loan guarantee funding up to 75 percent of total eligible project cost.

Please register your interest in discussing your questions and interests in REAP Programs with State Coordinator Laura Chavez.

Register with Laura Chavez

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USDOT RAISE Program Assists Local Transportation Capital and Planning Projects

The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE Discretionary Grant program, provides a unique opportunity for the USDOT to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects. RAISE allows project sponsors at the State and local levels to obtain funding for multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to support through traditional DOT programs. RAISE can provide funding directly to any public entity, including municipalities, counties, port authorities, tribal governments, MPOs, or others in contrast to traditional Federal programs which provide funding to very specific groups of applicants (mostly State DOTs and transit agencies). Applicants may submit a total of three (3) project applications (planning and/or capital) for RAISE grants. The maximum award is $25 million and requires a 25 percent match.

Application Deadline: February 28, 2024 at 11:59:59 pm ET

RAISE Info

RAISE Webinar Series

Water Quality Protection Grants Protect Nevada’s Waterways

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) Nonpoint Source Program (NPS Program) provides grant funding to qualifying counties, conservation districts, higher education institutions, regional agencies, and nonprofit organizations to improve conditions of Nevada’s watersheds and protect against nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution. NPS water pollution occurs when rain, snowmelt and irrigation water flow over developed or disturbed land, carrying with it contaminants including oil, sediment, pesticides, bacteria and nutrients. This contaminated water makes its way into Nevada’s waterways either directly or through storm drains. Nonpoint source pollution continues to be a significant threat to Nevada’s waterways. Implementing water quality restoration projects and educating our citizens on how they can help will reduce that threat. The NPS Program is now soliciting proposals for the implementation of on-the-ground projects to mitigate nonpoint source pollution or efforts that lead to watershed plans that will allow activities to protect waters from nonpoint source pollution in the future.

Application Deadline: February 14, 2024

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EPA Grants Promote Climate Resilience and Climate Justice Projects

The EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Program’s Community Change Grants (Community Change Grants) aims to support environmental and climate justice activities that benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to respond to environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.

Community Change Grants