News – Page 2 – Western Nevada Development District

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

RCE Grant

R&E Grant Program

Webinars

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

RCP Program

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

Webinar: Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 9:00 am PT 

Reconnecting Communities Institute

Five for Friday: August 9, 2024

August 9, 2024/in Brownfields, Economic Development, Grants, News/by JM@dmin

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 reconnecting communities, Brownfield programming, water and wastewater, and American Indian housing.

Grant Opportunities & More

USDOT: More than $600 million Available for Projects that Reconnect Communities

The Reconnect Communities Pilot Program will fund locally driven projects such as interstate capacities, highway removals, Complete Streets, and Main Street revitalization.

Two Funding Types:

1. Capital Projects: May fund both reconnecting-focused projects and smaller projects focused on reducing environmental harm and improving access in disadvantaged communities.

Projects May Address:
Removal of a dividing facility
Enhance community connectivity
Improved access by building or improving Complete Streets

2. Community Planning: These grants provide funds for planning activities to support future construction projects and allow for innovative community planning to address localized transportation challenges.

Potential applicants who are interested in pursuing a reconnecting type project but are not prepared to submit funding requests within 90 days can submit a request for technical assistance through the Reconnecting Communities Institute.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

More Info and Registration

Brownfield Curious Webinar

The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) and Groundwork USA will spotlight brownfields expert Danielle Getsinger of Adaapta in this second installment of the Brownfield Curious series. Danielle and CCLR will break down the stages of the process and guide webinar attendees through the entire land revitalization journey—from the planning to the celebratory ribbon cutting.

The Webinar Will Explore:

• Stages of the land reuse process and key stakeholders for each stage
• Common brownfield challenges and how to navigate them
• Types of funding and technical assistance available
• How to advocate for revitalization projects

Webinar: August 13, 2024 at 11:00 am PT

USDA Water and Environmental Programs Webinar

The USDA will host a workshop for potential applicants and existing grantees of technical assistance and revolving fund grant programs.

Participants will learn more about the application process, grantees responsibilities, indirect costs, civil rights requirements, environmental requirements, and other program details.

Who Should Attend? Qualified private nonprofits, federally recognized tribes, public bodies and academic institutions that meet the eligibility requirements of the following grant programs:

Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants
Solid Waste Management Grants
Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grants
Revolving Funds for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects Grants

Webinar: August 22, 2024, from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm PT

Webinar Registration

National Rural Water Association Water and Wastewater Project Loans

The Rural Water Loan Fund (RWLF) is program is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of small water and wastewater utilities through low-cost loans for short-term repair costs, small capital projects, or pre-development costs associated with larger projects. The RWLF was established through a grant from USDA. Loans are offered at below market interest rate (currently 3%) and a maximum repayment period of 10 years.

Eligible Projects:

• Pre-development (planning) costs for infrastructure projects
• Replacement equipment, system upgrades, maintenance and small capital
projects
• Energy efficiency projects to lower costs and improve system sustainability
• Disaster recovery or other emergency loans

Application Deadline: Open

Indian Housing Block Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers grants to develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing in safe and healthy environments on American Indian reservations, in other American Indian areas, and to carry out other affordable housing activities that benefit low-income families.

HUD will give priority to projects that spur construction and rehabilitation, while considering need and administrative capacity. HUD strongly encourages new affordable housing construction projects that will increase the number of housing units available for low-income Indian families and help address the housing shortage in Indian Country. Additionally, HUD encourages housing rehabilitation projects that will increase the useful life of existing affordable housing units and alleviate substandard housing conditions.

Application Deadline: August 29, 2024

In the News: Humboldt County/NV 95-80 RDA Brownfields Grant Community Meeting

August 1, 2024/in Brownfields, Economic Development, Grants, News/by JM@dmin

Community Meeting Explored Brownfields Program and $500K Award

Humboldt County and the Nevada 95-80 Regional Development Authority hosted an EPA Brownfields Grant Community Meeting on Wednesday, July 24th at the Winnemucca Convention Center.

Presenters included U.S. EPA Region 9 representative Lisa Hanusiak, Ruben Ramos-Avina of the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, and Tracy Johnston of Converse Consultants.

The purpose of the meeting was to share information about the County’s Brownfields Program. Humboldt County was awarded a $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant in 2023. The award is being used to conduct environmental site assessments and prepare any cleanup and reuse plans for the Brownfields sites, along with funding community outreach activities, which are being coordinated by the Western Nevada Development District. The program covers the Nevada 95-80 region of both Humboldt and Pershing counties.

About Brownfields

Brownfields are vacant properties or underutilized properties that may have environmental concerns related to previous industrial or commercial activities on those properties. Brownfields programs also boost the local economy by creating jobs, improving the value of adjacent property and increasing general tax revenues.

Five for Friday: July 26, 2024

July 26, 2024/in Economic Development, Grants, News/by JM@dmin

Five for Friday: Grant Opportunities and More!

Curated by: The Western Nevada Development District…

This edition of Five for Friday focuses on railroads, fish and wildlife, broadband, affordable energy and the Nevada Tech Hub.

Grant Opportunities & More

Grants to Strengthen Safety at Rail Crossings and Reduce Blocked Crossings

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a NOFO for the FY 2023-FY 2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant program making more than $1 billion in funding available. As the only competitive discretionary grant program dedicated to improving railroad crossing safety and efficiency, the RCE Program invests in projects that construct grade separations, upgrade safety devices at crossings, or close at-grade crossings where roads and train tracks intersect.

Eligible Projects:

• Grade separation or closure, including through the use of a bridge, embankment, tunnel, or combination
• Track relocation
• Improvement or installation of protective devices, signals, signs
• Measures to improve safety related to a separation, closure, or track relocation project
• Other means to improve the safety if related to the mobility of people and goods at highway-rail grade crossings (including technological solutions)
• Planning, environmental review, and design of an eligible project type

Application Deadline: September 23, 2024

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land. Since 1987, the program has helped more than 30,000 landowners to complete more than 50,000 projects, restoring more than six million acres of forest, prairie, wetland and stream habitat for wildlife.

All private landowners interested in restoring wildlife habitat on their land are eligible to participate. Current partners include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, recreational landowners, corporations, local governments and universities. Priority goes to projects judged likely to provide habitat for rare, threatened and endangered species.

Projects have a minimum duration of 10 years. In addition to private landowners, we partner with other federal agencies, state agencies and non-governmental organizations to complete projects on private lands. Participating landowners do not forfeit any property rights and are not required to allow public access.

Nevada Contact
Susan Abele
Email: Susan_Abele@fws.gov
Phone: 775.861.6346

Broadband Tech Assistance Webinar, Wednesday, July 31

The USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is hosting an “Ask Me Anything: BTA” Q&A session. The webinar will provide an opportunity for you to ask any questions about the Broadband Technical Assistance NOFO and application process that you may have. Broadband Technical Assistance provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training and supports the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives.

Slides, a transcript, and a recording of the webinar will be posted to the site after the session.

Webinar: Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 10 am to Noon PT

Webinar Registration

Reducing Energy Costs for Low Income Households

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides energy conservation measures in dwelling units occupied by families at or below 150% of the federal poverty income guidelines as established by the US Office of Management and Budget. For eligible homeowners and renters, there is no direct cost to participate in the program. Owners of eligible rental properties may be required to pay 50% of any capital improvement measures that are installed.

After a home energy assessment is performed by a trained energy auditor, a dwelling unit may qualify for some of these typical energy conservation measures:

• Air sealing
• Energy efficient light bulbs
• Insulation
• Low-flow shower heads
• Pipe wraps
• Solar screens
• Weather-stripping

WNDD Region Program Administrators:

• Community Services Agency (CSA):
Service Area: Washoe County
775.786.6023

• Rural Nevada Development Corporation (RNDC) Service Area: Mineral County and Pershing County
775.289.8519 or 866.404.5204 (Toll Free)

• Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA)Service Area: Carson City, Churchill County, Douglas County, Lyon County, and Storey County
775.887.1795 ext. 112

Types of Brownfields Grant Funding

ICYMI: Nevada one of 12 Tech Hub Awardees

On July 2, the U.S Department of Commerce announced $504 million in implementation grants for 12 Tech Hubs across the country. The funding will be used to scale up production of critical technologies, create jobs in innovative industries, strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security, and accelerate the growth of industries of the future.

The 12 Tech Hubs implementation awardees are:

• Elevate Quantum Tech Hub (CO,NM)
• Headwaters Hub (MT)
• Heartland BioWorks (IN)
• iFAB Tech Hub (IL)
• Nevada Tech Hub (NV)
• NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub (NY)
• ReGen Valley Tech Hub (NH)
• SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC, GA)
• South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub (FL)
• Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub (OH)
• Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy (OK)
• Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub (WI)

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo traveled to Reno, Nevada to formally announce $21 million in implementation funding for the Nevada Tech Hub. This Tech Hub is working to align and coordinate its innovation and economic development activities with established companies, startups, education, and workforce development organizations to enable the region to become a global lithium leader.

Five for Friday: July 12, 2024

July 12, 2024/in Economic Development, Grants, Industry, News, Uncategorized/by JM@dmin

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 Grants, charging and fueling infrastructure, nutrition, and regional events.

Grant Opportunities & More

FY25 EPA Brownfields Grant Types and Amounts Announced!

The EPA has just announced specifics for the agency’s FY25 Brownfields grants. Approximately $235 million will be available in the form of: Community Wide Assessment, Assessment Coalition, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grants this application cycle. Grants offered by the Brownfields Program may be used to address reuse strategies for vacant properties or underutilized properties that may have environmental concerns as well as sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and petroleum. EPA anticipates issuing the solicitations for funding in September 2024.

Review EPA FY25 Resources

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants

The Federal Highway Administration is accepting applications for its Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. The CFI Round 2 NOFO offers up to $1.3 billion in funding for new applications and for previously submitted applications. The CFI Program is a competitive grant program to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to 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.

The Program provides two categories of grants:

1. Community Charging and Alternative Fueling Grants (Community Program)
2. Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program)

On June 6th, FHWA hosted a grant overview webinar, and on June 11th a webinar on reconsideration of Round 1 applications. These recordings are available to view below.

Application Deadline: August 28, 2024

More Info and Recorded Webinars

Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Grants

The USDA’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) provides loans, grants, and technical assistance resources to improve and support access to fresh, healthy, affordable food in urban and rural underserved communities. Applicants may apply for loans ranging from $500,000 to $5 million to implement healthy food projects. Funds may be used to support predevelopment, land acquisition, renovations, and equipment purchases. Applicants may also apply for grants up to $250,000 to implement healthy food projects. Funds may be used to support project management, equipment purchases, and construction.

Applications are open to:

• State, local, Tribal governments, and their agencies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Cooperative businesses
• For-profit businesses

Humboldt/Pershing Brownfields Grant Community Meeting July 24

Humboldt County and the 95-80 Regional Development Authority are hosting an EPA Brownfields Grant Community Meeting on Wednesday, July 24 at 6:00 pm at the Winnemucca Convention Center – East Hall, 50 W Winnemucca Blvd, Winnemucca, NV.

The purpose of the meeting is to share information about the county’s Brownfields Program. Humboldt County was awarded a $500,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant in 2023, which is being used to conduct environmental site assessments and prepare any cleanup and reuse plans for Brownfields sites, along with funding community outreach activities. The program covers the Nevada 95-80 region of both Humboldt and Pershing counties.

Brownfields are vacant properties or underutilized properties that may have environmental concerns related to previous industrial or commercial activities on those properties. Making our community better, welcoming, and pleasant, Brownfields programs also boost the local economy by creating jobs, improving the value of adjacent property, and increasing general tax revenues.

Broadband Technical Assistance for Rural Communities

The USDA’s Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) program provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training. Funds can be used to promote broadband expansion in eligible rural areas and includes activities such as project planning and community engagement, operations, financial sustainability, environmental compliance, construction and engineering planning, accessing federal resources, and data collection and reporting.

The USDA is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am PT to cover the following topics:

• An Overview of the Broadband Technical Assistance Program
• Fiscal Year 2024 Program Requirements
• How to Apply and Key Application Resources
• Important Dates and Next Steps
• Questions and Answer Period

Application Deadline: August 20, 2024

Webinar Registration

Congratulations UNR UCED and Nevada Tech Hub Consortium

July 9, 2024/in Economic Development, Grants, Industry, News/by JM@dmin

Nevada Tech Hub to Receive $21M

On July 2, 2024, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen joined representatives from the University of Nevada, Reno, Dragonfly Energy, and the Nevada Tech Hub consortium in Reno, Nevada to announce the Nevada Tech Hub as a national recipient of EDA’s Phase 2 Regional Technology and Innovation Hub program. Led by the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Tech Hub’s Phase 2 application, was awarded approximately $21 million over the next five years, including approximately $17.5 million for the Workforce Development Component Project and approximately $3.5 million for the Nevada Native Nations Center.

Only 12 of the 31 designated Tech Hubs were selected for funding. The application process involved over 70 consortium members spanning the public sector, private sector, and various non-profit and community-based organizations encompassing the full life cycle of the lithium loop: extraction, processing, advanced manufacturing and recycling.

The Nevada Tech Hub will leverage this award to support projects that are:
• Working with community colleges, state agencies, industry, and labor unions to bolster the region’s reservoir of skilled workers.
• Providing educational opportunities and wraparound support for students at the secondary and post-secondary levels.
• Promoting awareness of STEM-related occupations across Nevada’s lithium economy, increasing retention of Native students in STEM-related fields, and creating guided pathways to family-sustaining jobs in the growing Hub workforce.
• Supporting the administrative capacity and readiness of Nevada’s Native American and Indigenous communities.
• Creating and maintaining effective and equitable management and decision-making processes, advising on workforce development strategies, and facilitating connections to relevant experts and organizations.

The final grant amount will be finalized in the coming months.

Five for Friday: June 21, 2024

June 21, 2024/in Economic Development, Grants, Industry, News, Uncategorized/by JM@dmin

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

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

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

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

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.

Honoring American Heroes

June 19, 2024/in Economic Development, Industry, News/by JM@dmin

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

June 7, 2024/in Economic Development, News, Uncategorized/by JM@dmin

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.

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

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

Office of Science, Innovation & Technology Grants

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

Five for Friday: April 19, 2024

April 19, 2024/in Economic Development, News, Uncategorized/by JM@dmin

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

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