Five for Friday: July 7, 2023
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 energy, grant assistance, technology and innovation hubs, and conservation.
Grant Opportunities & More
US DOT Announces Three Grant Programs for Major Surface Transportation Projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is now taking applications for up to $5.575 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for projects of regional or national significance. This funding supports three major discretionary grant programs that involve surface transportation projects designed to strengthen supply chains, spur economic development, and improve safety and daily life.
Available funding includes:
• $1.8 billion for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) Program:
The Mega program supports large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. Eligible projects could include highway, bridge, freight, port, passenger rail, and public transportation projects of national or regional significance.
• $3.1 billion for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Program:
The INFRA program awards competitive grants to multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, accessibility, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.
• $675 million for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) Program:
The Rural program supports projects that improve and expand our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas in order to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life.
Eligible projects for Rural grants include highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that improve freight, safety, and provide or increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the rural area economy.
Application Deadline: August 21, 2023
National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) Program
Rebuilding America (INFRA) Program
Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) Program
PACE Program Delivers Clean Energy to Rural Communities
With $1 billion in funding, the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program helps make clean, affordable, and reliable energy accessible to the people of rural America. Under PACE, USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will forgive up to 60 percent of loans for renewable energy projects that use wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, or biomass, as well as for renewable energy storage projects.
PACE funding makes it more affordable for rural Americans to use clean, reliable energy to heat and cool their homes, run their businesses, and power their cars, schools, and hospitals.
Eligible entities include:
- Corporations, states, and territories, along with their subdivisions and agencies
- Municipalities
- Utility districts
- Cooperatives
- Nonprofits
- Indian Tribes
- Limited Liability Companies or other for-profit entities
Letters of Interest and Applications Open: July 10, 2023
HUD Program Supports Main Street Affordable Housing
The HOPE VI Main Street Program provides grants to communities smaller than 50,000 in population to assist in the renovation of a historic, traditional central business district, or “Main Street” area by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. The obsolete building space property may be publicly or privately owned. Eligible applicants under this NOFO are county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments. The local government, whose jurisdiction includes the Main Street area, is the only entity that is eligible to receive an award.
Funding of up to $1 million per project is available.
Application Deadline: October 12, 2023
Funding Available for In-Demand Nevada STEM Training Programs
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Science Innovation and Technology has opened its eighth round of funding for STEM Workforce Challenge Grants. The purpose of these grants is 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 that lead to full-time jobs in STEM industries. Funding must be used for capital or programmatic expenses to start or expand a STEM program.
Eligible applicants are 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.
Application Deadline: August 28, 2023
STEM Workforce Challenge Grant Round XIII
Funding for Conservation, Outdoors and Military Veterans
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are helping shape the future of the outdoors through donations and grant-making. Community giving priorities align with their mission to focus on projects that make a difference in conserving the outdoors and inspiring the next generation of conservation stewards.
Grants support supports:
- Conserving fish and wildlife: Initiatives that ensure the health of our precious fish and wildlife resources including habitat improvement and restoration, water quality and species health.
- Introducing new audiences to the outdoors: Programs that foster passion in the next generation including youth and family outdoor adventures, outdoor skills training and multicultural outreach.
- Protecting hunting and fishing heritage: Projects that protect our hunting and fishing heritage including second amendment rights, outdoor recreational access and conservation advocacy.
- Military and veterans: Initiatives that care for our military and veterans in honor of their service to our country and our freedom, particularly programs that help military and veterans enjoy the outdoors.
Grants to eligible organizations can total up to $100,000.
Application Deadline: Ongoing
