Five for Friday: October 4, 2024
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 energy, entrepreneurship, workforce development, tourism and museums.
Grant Opportunities & More
USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loans & Grants (REAP)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s REAP 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 may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, such as:
• Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels)
• Geothermal for electric generation or direct use
• Hydropower below 30 megawatts
• Small and large wind generation
• Small and large solar generation
Funds may also be used for the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements, such as:
• High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC)
• Insulation
• Lighting
• Cooling or refrigeration units
• Doors and windows
• Electric, solar or gravity pumps for sprinkler pivots
• Switching from a diesel to electric irrigation motor
• Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment
REAP Grants range from $2,500 to $1 million
Energy Efficiency Grants range from $1,500 to $500,000
Applications Opened: October 1, 2024
Build to Scale Funding Aims to Boost Entrepreneur Ecosystems
The Build to Scale (B2S) program aims to increase the capacity of entrepreneurs in regions throughout the United States to demonstrate, deploy, and deliver new technologies by starting and growing new companies and creating and sustaining new, good jobs. Funding of up to $5 million is available for organizations that aid companies in developing, demonstrating, and deploying new, emerging, and critical technologies.
Eligible Applicants:
• A State
• An Indian tribe
• A city or other political subdivision of a State
• An entity whose application is supported by a State or a political subdivision of a State, and that is a nonprofit organization; or an institution of higher education
Application Deadline: October 28, 2024
Clean Energy Careers for All Program Will Award Nearly $3 Million for Workforce Development Programs
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offers funding for non-profit educational organizations, including engineering, scientific, and technical societies, to support programs that promote awareness and interest in clean energy careers among K–12 and university students, alumni and academic professionals, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
DOE will accept applications for new or expanded workforce development programs in key clean energy sectors including renewable energy, building energy efficiency, energy storage, advanced materials and manufacturing, electric vehicles, among others.
Eligible Programs:
• Facilitating work-based learning opportunities (like internships, apprenticeships, or other job-based experiences) with industry partners
• Providing career coaching and mentorship (including soft skills development)
• Enhancing education and curriculum development
• Providing career exposure (virtual exposure or in-person visits) to stakeholder groups at multiple levels of the clean energy workforce pipeline
Phase I awards are up to $300,000.
Webinar: October 16, 2024
Phase I Application Deadline: December 13, 2024
Helping Tribes Evaluate and Identify Viable Tourism Business Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Indian Economic Development offers a Tribal Tourism Grant program to support tribal economic development and fulfill the mission of the NATIVE Act by providing funding for tribes to conduct feasibility studies to help them make informed decisions about potential tourism projects.
Indian Affairs expects to select 10 to 15 projects which will receive between $75,000 to $150,000 each over 2 years. The grants are intended to support building Tribal capacity to plan, develop and manage tourism and related infrastructure in support of economic development to elevate the living standards of the community.
Application Deadline: October 25, 2024
Grant Funding for Local Museums
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America program supports museums of all sizes and disciplines in strategic, project-based efforts to serve the public through exhibitions, educational/interpretive programs, digital learning resources, professional development, community debate and dialogue, audience-focused studies, and/or collections management, curation, care, and conservation.
Project Categories:
• Lifelong Learning
• Community Engagement
• Collections Stewardship and Access
Successful applicants provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of the request. With IMLS funding, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe collected oral history interviews from tribal wisdom-keepers and developed digital stories to supplement museum displays and exhibits for its Pyramid Lake Museum/Visitor Center.
Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $250,000 and run for a period of up to three years.
Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
