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 land reuse, business development, veterans services, community grants and transportation.

Grant Opportunities & More

Webinar: Crafting Community Outreach for Land Reuse Projects

The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) and the Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice (CCEEJ) are hosting a webinar entitled “Game Changers: Crafting Community Outreach MVPs (Most Valuable Plans).”

Community engagement is a cornerstone for success in any brownfield reuse project. A strong community engagement strategy will mobilize and empower marginalized communities, inspire informed decision-making and sustainable development, mitigate conflict, increase accountability, and foster long-term stewardship.

Workshop Highlights:

• Importance of Community Engagement: Learn why involving the community is crucial for project success and sustainability
• Step-by-Step Plan Development: Walk through a detailed, step-by-step process for creating a robust community outreach plan
• Case Study, Resources, and Takeaways: Learn from successfully implemented community outreach strategies in redevelopment projects and access materials and tools to continue this type of engagement

Webinar: Wednesday, November 20, 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm

CCEEJ Info

Webinar Registration

USDA Rural Business Development Grants (RBDGs)

The RBDG supports targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities that promote the development and expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross annual revenues.

RBDG funding is separated into either enterprise or opportunity-type grant activities.

Enterprise Grants Include:

• Training and technical assistance, including project planning, business counseling, market research, feasibility studies, and product or service improvements
• Buying or developing land, easements, or rights of way, including access streets and parking areas
• Constructing or renovating buildings, and buying machinery and equipment
• Supporting rural business incubators and community economic development

Opportunity Grants Include:

• Business support centers
• Technology-based economic development
• Leadership and entrepreneur training
• Feasibility studies, business plans, and long-term strategic planning, and other eligible activities

Eligible Entities:

• Municipalities
• Non-profits
• Tribes
• Institutes of higher education

Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000. There is no cost-sharing requirement.

Grant Resource Manual

Veterans Business Resource Fair

Join the Nevada Veterans Business Outreach Center (NVVBOC) in Reno located at 1041 S. Virginia Street for their Veterans Business Resource Fair and Military Spouse Pathway to Business event. This is a unique opportunity designed to empower veterans and military spouses on their entrepreneurial journey. This event features the Military Spouse Pathway to Business program, an immersive course that introduces military spouses to the essentials of entrepreneurship.

There will also be a resource fair where veteran and military spouse businesses can connect with valuable resources and network with other local veteran entrepreneurs.

The NVVBOC is dedicated to veteran empowerment and entrepreneurial excellence.

Veterans Fair: November 19, 2024, 11:00 am to 3:30 pm

Registration

Walmart Spark Good Program Grants

Applications are now being accepted for the next round of Walmart Spark Good Local Grants. The grants range from $250 to $5,000 and are awarded through an open application process to eligible organizations operating locally and directly benefiting the service area of the facility from when they are requesting funding. All organizations interested in applying for a Spark Good Local Grant must have a Spark Good account on Walmart.com/nonprofits and be verified by Walmart’s third-party verification partner, Deed. Only authorized users of the organization’s Spark Good account may apply.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2024

More Info

FAQs

FY 2025 RAISE Grants Now Open

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs.

Eligible Projects Include:

• Highway, bridge, or other road projects
• Public transportation projects
• Port infrastructure investments
• Intermodal projects
• Various planning projects

For capital projects located in urban areas, the minimum award is $5 million. For capital projects located in rural areas, the minimum award is $1 million. Planning projects do NOT have a minimum award size. The maximum grant award is $25 million.

Application Deadline: January 30, 2025

More Info

Applications

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

REAP Grant Program

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

NOFO

More Info

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

Webinar

More Info

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

Apply Now!

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

More Info