News – Page 22 – Western Nevada Development District

WNDD Economic Recovery Update – August 2021

August 3, 2021/in CARES Act, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Economic Development, News/by JM@dmin

CEDS Priority Projects Identified

The Summer 2021 edition of the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD)’s Economic Recovery Update shares how WNDD’s Economic Recovery & Resiliency Plan is moving into the action phase. Plus, it details how the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Update has identified the region’s top infrastructure projects and workforce programs that promote economic recovery, community resiliency and job growth in top-paying industries. The update also shares information on the Economic Development Administration’s unprecedented $3 billion economic development initiative under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Part of a CARES Act Supplemental Award for the U.S., the Update aims to support the revitalization, expansion, and improvement of distressed communities’ infrastructure with a comprehensive goal to attract industry, encourage business retention, growth and recruitment, and generate sustainable private-sector jobs and investments.

This monthly newsletter is part of WNDD’s effort to identify and develop strategies to create and build a more resilient economy in our region, plus the latest in available grant opportunities.

Read the Update!

EDA Announces American Rescue Plan Programs

July 28, 2021/in Coronavirus, COVID-19, Economic Development, News, Resiliency/by JM@dmin

$3 Billion in Funding Immediately Available to Communities Across the Country

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced six programs, collectively called Investing in America’s Communities, that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will execute to equitably invest the $3 billion it received from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

This is the largest economic development initiative from the Department of Commerce in decades and will help communities across the country impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

In this morning’s White House press conference, Secretary Raimondo said all grant awards will be evaluated “through an equity lens.” The return on the EDA investments will be measured through job creation, she added.

WNDD staff will keep membership posted as more information on Rescue Plan grant distribution becomes available through the EDA and how CEDS-supported projects can be aligned with these investment categories.

Investing in America’s Communities includes:

1. Build Back Better Regional Challenge ($1 billion) will capitalize on American ingenuity and American workers by providing a transformational investment to regions across the country to revitalize their economies.

2. Good Jobs Challenge ($500 million) is designed to help get Americans back in good-paying jobs. The program will develop and strengthen regional workforce training systems and sector-based partnerships with a focus on programs targeted at women, people of color and historically underserved communities.

3. Economic Adjustment Assistance ($500 million) grants will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through projects tailored to meet local needs.

4. Indigenous Communities ($100 million) program will work hand-in-hand with Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities to develop and execute economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future.

5. Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ($750 million) program will focus on revitalizing the hard-hit travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries and accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on these sectors.

6. Statewide Planning, Research and Networks ($90 million) grants include funding for state planning efforts as well as grants to build Communities of Practice to extend technical assistance to support EDA’s work with grantees.

Additionally, EDA is making a Coal Communities Commitment, allocating $300 million to ensure support for these communities as they recover from the pandemic and create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector.

The EDA and the American Rescue Plan Funding Opportunities are providing informational webinars which will be held on July 27, 2021 and July 29, 2021.

EDA American Rescue Plan Programs

Five for Friday: Grant Opportunities July 2, 2021

July 2, 2021/in CEDs, News/by JM@dmin

Collected by the Western Nevada Development District

Economic development grants and loans can help revitalize and build sustainability in urban, rural, and tribal communities. Strategic investments help support local economies, create jobs, and attract private investments to better residents’ lives. Every first Friday, the Western Nevada Development District will share our Five for Friday; grant programs from a variety of sources that can help kickstart a business, raise up a neighborhood or integrate the arts into the community.

Federal Funding for Rural Communities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America. This resource matrix organizes funding opportunities identified in stimulus bills and other federal resources that can help support rural America. Opportunities are categorized by customer and assistance type.

Federal Rural Resource Guide

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) is intended to help rural communities identify and maximize local assets and connect to networks and industry clusters within their region. The new grant encourages a regional, innovation-driven approach to economic development. RISE grant funds can be used to build or support business incubators, provide worker training, or re-train workers for higher paying jobs. Grant ceiling is $10 million

USDA Launches Grant Program to Help Expand Regional Economies and Create High-Wage Jobs in Distressed Rural Communities | USDA

Application deadline: August 2, 2021.

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE)

Our Town

Our Town OUR TOWN | National Endowment for the Arts is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program. These grants support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes.

Successful Our Town projects ultimately lay the groundwork for systems changes that sustain the integration of arts, culture, and design into local strategies for strengthening communities. These projects require a partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity, with one of the partners being a cultural organization. Cost share/matching grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount.

Application deadline: August 5, 2021.

Our Town National Endowment for the Arts

Community Navigator Pilot Program The SBA

Community Navigator Pilot Program allocates grants to eligible organizations which promote awareness of and participation in SBA programs among small businesses in underserved communities. The program is designed to promote the use of SBA COVID relief programs and other SBA programs by small businesses owned and controlled by:

• Women
• Veterans
• Socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns as defined by section 8(a)(4)(A) of the Small Business Act, including economically disadvantaged minorities and other disadvantaged individuals

Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period.

Application deadline: July 23, 2021.

Community Navigator Pilot Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

Tribal Tourism Grant Program

The Department of Interior solicits proposals from federally recognized Tribes to receive grants to support Tribal tourism feasibility studies and/or Tribal tourism business plan development. The Program supports Tribes to increase capacity of Tribes to plan, develop and manage tourism and related infrastructure in support of economic development and the NATIVE Act.

Application deadline: August 6, 2021.

Tribal Tourism Grant Program

WNDD Webinar: Tips & Tactics to Land a Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration

June 16, 2021/in Economic Development, News, Resiliency/by JM@dmin

The Western Nevada Development District shared the big picture view of the grant opportunities, priorities and programs offered by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) in an informational webinar event that gave the low down for developing a competitive grant application for your organization.

The webinar features:

EDA Investment Priorities & Programs
EDA Grant Eligibility & Process
Life Cycle of a Successful Grant Application
The WNDD Competitive Advantage
And Special Guests!

Watch the Video!

Five for Friday: Grant Opportunities Collected by the Western Nevada Development District

June 4, 2021/in News, Uncategorized/by JM@dmin

Economic development grants and loans can help revitalize and build sustainability in urban, rural, and tribal communities. Strategic investments help support local economies, create jobs, and attract private investments to better residents’ lives. Every first Friday, the Western Nevada Development District will share our Five for Friday; grant programs from a variety of sources that can help kickstart a business, raise up a neighborhood or build broadband connectivity.

Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge

USDA is making available up to $3 million in cooperative agreements under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC). Qualified entities can use the funds to help rural communities create plans to enhance capacity for broadband access; preserve cultural and historic structures; and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces. The grant program emphasizes partnerships and collaboration among public, private, and philanthropic and community partners. USDA is offering a Webinar on the grant program on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. Click here to register. Grant application deadline is July 26. Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge | Rural Development (usda.gov)

USDA Loan and Microenterprise Program

USDA Rural Development funding provides loans and grants to microenterprise development organizations to help them establish revolving loan programs to assist microenterprises and businesses with 10 or fewer full-time employees. Application Deadline: June 30, 2021. Click here for more information and to apply.

Building Broadband Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is making available $288 million in grant funding to deploy broadband infrastructure. Grants will be awarded to partnerships between a state or political subdivisions of a state and providers of fixed broadband service. Projects should be designed to provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible service area with an emphasis on rural service. NTIA is holding a series of webinars on June 9 and 10 to inform the public about the program further. More information about the program, including requirements for grant applications, can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity

American Rescue Plan: Museums and Libraries Grants

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced a new funding opportunity for $15 million in support for museums, libraries, and Native American and Native Hawaiian communities. The federal investment will provide direct support to address community needs created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and in assisting with recovery. Projects may continue, enhance, or expand existing programs and services, or they may launch new ones to address emergent needs and unexpected hardships. Equal matching funds are required. Award amounts range from $10,000 – $50,000. The deadline for submitting applications is June 28, 2021, with award announcements anticipated in October 2021. A free informational webinar will be made available on-demand on the IMLS website.

A Community Thrives

This grantmaking and crowdfunding program of USA TODAY NETWORK with funding from the Gannett Foundation, invests in community-building initiatives across the country. The program is a way to share community improvement ideas on the national stage, gain support through donations and local connections. During the campaign, nonprofit organizations have the chance to raise funds for their charities on their official A Community Thrives challenge page. At the end of the crowdfunding period, the Gannett Foundation will award grants ranging from $2,500 to $100,000 to selected organizations. Deadline: nonprofit organizations and municipal programs such as libraries and schools are encouraged to apply between before June 30. Click here for more information on this opportunity.

WNDD Economic Recovery Update – May 2021

May 28, 2021/in CARES Act, News, Uncategorized/by JM@dmin

The May 2021 edition of the Western Nevada Development District’s Economic Recovery & Resiliency Update features a variety of information you can use.

Here are key takeaways:

1. The WNDD’s Economic Recovery and Resiliency Council, with its associated team members, supported by WNDD staff, identified four broad target areas needing focus and attention to recover from COVID-19 and become more resilient to future economic shocks.

2. Nevada is beginning to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The booming housing market, the return of notable events in Reno, the Washoe County gaming win, projected statewide revenue projections, and increased traffic at the Reno Tahoe International Airport are a few metrics we analyzed across the state.

3. The WNDD Board of Directors will review an update to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and rankings of more than 30 projects related to the strategy at its June 28 meeting.

4. In May, the Department of Treasury announced its Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds guidelines. The stimulus money marks one of the most significant infusions of federal dollars into the state in history.

This monthly newsletter is part of WNDD’s effort to identify and develop strategies to create and build a more resilient economy in our region, plus the latest in available grant opportunities.

To read the full report.

Five for Friday Grant Opportunities – May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021/in CARES Act, Economic Development, News/by JM@dmin

Collected by the Western Nevada Development District

Economic development grants and loans can help revitalize and build sustainability in urban, rural, and tribal communities. Strategic investments help support local economies, create jobs, and attract private investments to better residents’ lives. Every other Friday, the Western Nevada Development District will share our Five for Friday; grant programs from a variety of sources that can help communities support local business, increase connectivity or provide affordable housing.

The Housing Assistance Council has flexible loan capital available to support preservation of USDA Section 515 properties, HUD-subsidized properties, and naturally occurring affordable housing in rural places. Eligible properties are existing affordable or mixed-income rental housing (with or without current income restrictions). Loans can be $50,000-$1.5 million, interest rates can be as low as 4.5%, and terms can be up to 180 months, with longer amortization periods based on project needs. Eligible borrowers include nonprofit organizations, for-profit developers, housing authorities, and tribal entities. For more information, see HAC’s website.

The Union Pacific Railroad’s Community Ties Giving Program provides Local Grants to nonprofit organizations that address the following categories: Safety, Workforce Development, and Community Spaces. Grants generally range from $2,500 to $25,000. Organizations interested in receiving a grant must complete an online survey to determine eligibility from June 1 through July 31, 2021, which is also the last day that eligible organizations may submit an online application. Visit the Union Pacific Foundation website for detailed information about the funding priorities and application process.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation strives to develop strong partnerships with non-profit organizations addressing issues fundamental to economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Current investment priorities are supporting economic mobility in the areas of affordable housing, small business development assisting indigenous or and minority entrepreneurs and neighborhood revitalization. Grant applications are being accepted May 31 through June 25, 2021. More information can be found at: Bank of America Charitable Foundation Philanthropic Strategy.

The FCC Rural Healthcare Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers in rural areas for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of healthcare. It offers a discount on telecommunication expenses and network equipment for healthcare facilities to increase connectivity and access to broadband in rural areas to provide and improve healthcare. The application deadline is June 1, 2021. Funding Details: The Rural Health Care Program – Rural Community Toolbox.

USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program grants help fund distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable. USDA plans to make $44.5 million available in fiscal year 2021. Of this amount, $10.2 million is intended for projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas. Eligible applicants include most state and local governmental entities, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses. Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov no later than June 4, 2021. More information: Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants | Rural Development (usda.gov) Or the local contact: Jim Park can be reached at: James.Park@USDA.gov

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