Five for Friday: January 12, 2024
Curated by: The Western Nevada Development District…
This edition of Five for Friday focuses on opportunities for economic development around the region in the areas of 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.
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.
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
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
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.
