Broadband Technical Assistance Applications Now Being Accepted!

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$20 million in Technical Assistance Funding Available

The newly announced Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) has been published in the Federal Register. The $20 million available for BTA is made possible by funding the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) received in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

BTA refers to activities that support broadband expansion into rural areas and may include:

• Project planning and community engagement
• Financial sustainability
• Environmental compliance
• Construction planning and engineering
• Accessing federal resources
• Data collection and reporting

The RUS is accepting applications from broadband technical assistance providers, recipients, and entities proposing projects that would support the growth or expansion of a broadband cooperative that would serve rural communities.

Application Deadline: June 20, 2023

BTA Program

BTA Funding Announcement

USDA Offers New Funding to Promote the Expansion of High-Speed Internet in Rural Areas

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$20 million in Technical Assistance Funding is Available to Plan High-Speed Internet Projects in Rural Communities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the $20 million Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) grant program to deliver broadband technical assistance resources for rural communities, and to support the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives.

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

Grant awards range from $50,000, to the maximum award amount of $1 million.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal entities
• State or local governments, including agencies and subdivisions, among others
• Territories or possessions of the United States
• Institutions of higher education (including 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) IRS status
• Cooperatives or mutual organizations
• Corporations
• Limited Liability Companies or Limited Liability Partnerships

BTA Funding Opportunity Announcement Webinar: May 8, 2023, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM PT

BTA Funding Opportunity Announcement Webinar for Tribes and Tribal Entities: May 18, 2023, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM PT

Broadband Technical Assistance Program

Webinar Registration: May 8, 2023

Webinar Registration: May 18, 2023

In the News: Mineral County

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Thriving Communities Program USDOT

Congratulations to Mineral County and community partners Walker River Paiute Tribe and Mineral County School District for their successful application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Thriving Communities Program.

The County is working to implement a shared community revitalization plan by merging the community capacity needs for the Babbitt Industrial Park site with the infrastructure needs of the town of Hawthorne. Thriving Communities Program support will help to advance local storm water infrastructure improvements to repair roadways from flooding events and improve community walkability.

Through the Thriving Communities Program, USDOT selects and funds Capacity Builder teams to provide deep-dive technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to under-resourced and disadvantaged communities across the U.S.

The goal is to assist communities with the technical tools and organizational capacity to comprehensively plan for and deliver quality infrastructure projects and community development projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive.

The FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program opportunity for Capacity Builders and communities is expected to open in summer 2023. USDOT will update the Thriving Communities Program website with more information when it is available.

Thriving Communities Program

Five for Friday: March 31, 2023

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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, placemaking, infrastructure, and the arts.

Grant Opportunities & More

USDA’s Community Connect Grants Reopen

The Community Connect provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist. Eligible applicants include:

• State and local governments
• Federally recognized Tribes
• Nonprofits
• For-profit corporations
• Limited liability companies

Funds may be used for the construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, spectrum, land or buildings used to deploy broadband service for all residential and business customers located within the Proposed Funded Service Area and/or all participating essential community facilities (such as public schools, fire stations, public libraries, and public safety stations).

Application Deadline: June 20, 2023

Community Connect Grant

Placemaking Grants and Technical Assistance for Rural Communities

The National Endowment for the Arts seeks rural communities of 50,000 people or less to apply for the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) program which funds technical assistance to support rural communities with placemaking. Selected applicants emerge from CIRD programs with greater capacity and a wealth of resources to lead their community through current and future community design challenges. Design strategies may include:

• Historic preservation and adaptive reuse of community buildings
• Designing quality affordable housing that supports livable, equitable communities
• Creating public or civic spaces that support and integrate cultural expression and local identity
• Developing recreational trails for mobility, active transportation, and economic development
• Designing spaces and places that improve access to healthy food and local food systems
• Integrating cultural identity into the built environment to drive heritage tourism

For questions, contact: cird@ruralhome.org

Application Deadline: April 21, 2023

CIRD Program Info

Submit Application

Want Better Internet? Share your Opinion

The High Speed NV Initiative is a project of the Governor’s Office of Science Innovation and Technology with the goal to ensure that all Nevadans have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. Citizen listening sessions are being conducted through April in all 17 counties. Discussion topics range from access to affordable and reliable internet, to cybersecurity and digital skills training.

Find Listening Dates & Take Survey

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program has $5 billion in appropriated funds available over the next 5 years. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians; bicyclists; public transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users; motorists; and commercial vehicle operators.

The following activities are eligible for the SS4A program:

• Develop or update a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan)
• Conduct planning, design, and development activities in support of an Action Plan
• Carry out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan

Grants can range from $100,000 up to $2.5 million.

Application Deadline: July 10, 2023

SS4A Program Info

SS4A Application

Nevada Arts Council: Folklife Community Grants

The Nevada Arts Council Grants Program reflects a significant commitment by the State of Nevada to support the creation of art and access to the arts for its citizens. Nevada Arts Council grants support the efforts of nonprofit arts and community organizations, public institutions, and individual artists to make cultural activities and experiences widely available to those who live in or visit Nevada.

The Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Folklife Community Grant (FLC) supports programs with folk artists and culture bearers presented by small community organizations. Eligible projects focus on the transmission or presentation of folk arts or traditions that are practiced, valued, and shared within culturally specific communities in Nevada. Funds also support Nevada’s individual artists, dance, opera and theatre companies, symphonies, orchestras, choral groups, and local arts councils statewide.

Application Deadline: June 1, 2023

Folklife Grant Fact Sheet

Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants

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Register for Upcoming REAP Webinars!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has announced two virtual events that will provide updates on funding available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers can also apply for new energy-efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.

Eligible borrowers include rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Businesses must be in rural areas with populations of 50,000 or fewer. Agricultural producers can be in rural or nonrural areas.

The webinars will be held over Zoom and will be led by USDA staff.

Upcoming Webinars

IRA REAP Stakeholder Call: March 31, 2023, at 11:30 AM PT
IRA REAP Training Webinar: April 4, 2023, at 11:30 AM PT

Webinar Registration: March 31, 2023

Webinar Registration: April 4, 2023

REAP Stakeholder Announcement

Community Connect Grant Program Now Open

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Register for Informative Broadband Webinars Today!

A new funding window has opened for the USDA’s Community Connect Grant Program. The Community Connect Program provides financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that will provide, on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis, broadband service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and public safety benefits.

The USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is hosting two webinars to provide information about the Community Connect Program and will cover the recently published Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

This webinar will include:
• A brief overview of the Community Connect Program
• The current NOFO
• A walkthrough of the application process
• Next steps and important dates
• An opportunity to ask questions about the NOFO

The USDA will present this webinar twice. Attendees should select the date that works best for their schedule. The webinars will include the same information at each session.

Webinar: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM PT

Webinar: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM PT

Webinar Registration: March 28th

Webinar Registration: April 11th

Five for Friday: March 17, 2023

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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 infrastructure, capacity building, climate change and public safety.

Grant Opportunities & More

Applications Open for First Round of $2.5 Billion Program to Build EV Charging in Communities & Neighborhoods Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, offers up to $700 million from Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities.

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

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law divides the CFI Program into two distinct grant funding categories, and requires that 50% of the funding over five years is made available for each:

• The Community Program will provide $1.25 billion to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure, and hydrogen, propane, or natural gas fueling infrastructure in communities. Infrastructure may be located on any public road or in other publicly accessible locations such as parking facilities at public buildings, public schools, and public parks, or in publicly accessible parking facilities owned or managed by a private entity.

• The Corridor Program will provide $1.25 billion to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors (AFCs).

Eligible applicants and projects for both categories are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Application Deadline: May 30, 2023

CFI NOFO

EDA Pilot Program Helps Build Up Distressed Communities

The U.S Economic Development Administration is requesting the public’s input on the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete Pilot Program).

The program is an economic development initiative that will provide grant funding to distressed communities across the country to create and connect workers to good jobs and support long-term comprehensive economic development by helping to reduce the high, prime-age (25 to 54 years of age) employment gap.

This new authority allows EDA to:
• Target persistently economically distressed areas to support long-term, comprehensive and sustainable economic development and job creation/placement
• Award grants to support development or implementation of an eligible recipient’s Recompete Plan

RFI Deadline: March 27, 2023

Recompete Pilot Program

Humanities Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Office of Challenge Programs is accepting applications for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants: Capital Projects.

Capital Projects support the purchase, design, construction, restoration, or renovation of facilities for humanities activities. This includes costs related to planning as well as the purchase and installation of related moveable and permanently affixed equipment for exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting collections (whether on exhibit or in storage), and for critical building systems, such as electrical, heating ventilation and air conditioning, security, life safety, lighting, utilities, telecommunications, and energy management.

Projects are financed through a combination of federal matching funds and related fundraising from nonfederal third parties. Proposals must enhance the institution’s long-term impact on the humanities and build on careful strategic planning.

Application Deadline: May 17, 2023

NEH Grant

Environmental and Climate Justice Program

EPA is seeking public input on the new Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) program that will distribute $3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding through grants and technical assistance. This Request for Information (RFI) related to the ECJ Grant Program, requests comments on multiple aspects of the program including, but not limited to:

• ECJ Program Design
• Types of Projects to Fund
• Reducing Application Barriers
• Reporting and Oversight
• Technical Assistance

Response Deadline: April 10, 2023

Environmental and Climate Justice Program

RFI Response

Grants to Prevent Drowning and Save Lives

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission will award up to a total of $3.5 million in two-year grants to assist jurisdictions in reducing deaths and injuries from drowning and drain entrapment incidents in pools and spas. The “Pool Safely” Grant Program (PSGP) is a part of CPSC’s national campaign to make drowning and drain entrapment prevention a critical public safety priority.

Applicants must be a state, local government, Indian Tribe or U. S. Territory.

Application Deadline: April 30, 2023

PSGP Grant Program

PSGP FAQs

PSGP Flyer

Homeland Security Grant Webinars

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FEMA Grant to Provide $1.12 billion in Funding Support

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) invites all HSGP stakeholders (inclusive of the State Homeland Security Program, Urban Area Security Initiative, and Operation Stonegarden) to participate in one or more of the upcoming technical assistance webinars regarding a variety of policy changes associated with the fiscal year (FY) 2023 HSGP. The FY 2023 HSGP will provide $1.12 billion in funding support to state, local, and territorial governments for security-related activities to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to terrorist attacks.


• Tuesday, March 14th: 2-3pm ET – General FY 2023 HSGP Webinar
• Thursday, March 23rd: 2-3pm ET – Election Security National Priority Area
• Tuesday, March 28th: 2-3pm ET – Cybersecurity National Priority Area
• Thursday, April 6th: 2-3pm ET – Updated Controlled Equipment Policy
• Tuesday, April 11th: 2-3pm ET – Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) Implications for HSGP

Homeland Security Grant Program

Webinar: March 14th

Webinar: March 23rd

Webinar: March 28th

Webinar: April 6th

Webinar: April 11th

HUD Thriving Communities Program Links Transportation Projects and Housing

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The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance (TCTA) program is designed to support local governments receiving federal transportation infrastructure funds, directly or through state pass through grants.

TCTA can provide local government staff with skills and tools to enable them to address critical housing needs while supporting equitable economic development through community engagement.

Local governments will receive Technical Assistance that focuses on one or more of the following areas:

  1. Identifying and using vacant, abandoned, or underutilized government and/or private land located on or near transportation projects that is suitable for housing development.
  2. Preserving affordable housing and protecting residents and businesses from displacement as new infrastructure is deployed.
  3. Identifying and implementing regulatory and procedural reforms to reduce unnecessary barriers to location-efficient housing that impede housing production and increase development costs.
  4. Improving coordination among public entities (for example, local housing, transportation, planning, and community development departments) and between public entities and state recipients of infrastructure funding; transit authorities and other quasi-public entities; the private sector; and locally based organizations, to support a holistic and regional approach to housing and transportation.

Requests Reviewed as Received on Rolling Basis Starting: March 15, 2023

TCTA Program Info and Application

TAP Program Fact Sheet

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March 31st, 2023

8:30 am to 3:30 pm

The Western Nevada Development District, a US Economic Development Administration Economic Development District, and the University Center for Economic Development, part of the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, invites you to attend and participate in an annual evaluation and update workshop as part of the Western Nevada Development District’s current five-year 2020 through 2025 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. This strategic economic development planning workshop will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 and will be held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall in Fernley, Nevada.

Workshop participants will be given an opportunity to evaluate the existing strategic economic development vision, goals, actionable items and priority projects, assess existing local and regional socio-demographic, economic, and housing conditions, complete a revised Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis for the region, and select new priority projects for the coming year.

When:
Friday, March 31st, 2023
Breakfast: 8:30 am till 9:00 am
Lunch: TBD
Workshop: 9:00 am till 3:30 pm

Where:
City Council Chambers
City of Fernley City Hall
595 Silver Lace Boulevard
Fernley, NV

Cost: FREE
Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments included

RSVP by March 20, 2023
Fred Steinmann
Director of the University Center for Economic Development, UNR
775.784.1655
Fred@unr.edu

CEDS Workshop Flyer