Grants for Public And State Controlled Institutions Of Higher Education

Music Drives Us is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that strives to inspire New England’s musicians of tomorrow by supporting their music opportunities today. Since 2006, Music Drives Us has donated millions in grants to hundreds of individuals, organizations, and schools throughout New England – empowering them to better teach the next generation of musicians. Now, in partnership with the State of Vermont, Music Drives Us is thrilled to provide grants to schools across the Green Mountain State to support their music programs, up to $100,000! Public and approved independent schools located in Vermont are welcome to apply below. Applications will be accepted from April 15 - May 13, 2024.

This funding opportunity supports innovative bioscience research projects in Delaware that have the potential for significant economic impact, targeting researchers and businesses in the developmental stage.

EPoC – Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept o Supports proof of concept research towards establishing a new Delaware-based business by the end of the grant period. o Up to $75,000 for 1 year . Proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF document at the link provided on the CAT website https://cat.dbi.udel.edu. Please note that submission and award processes have changed.Proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF document at the link provided on the CAT website https://cat.dbi.udel.edu. Please note that submission and award processes have changed.

iHIT – Ideas – High-return, Innovative, Transformative o Supports ideas in bioscience research that are in the development stage and promise to have a high economic return for innovative and transformative research projects. o This mechanism intends to support applicants to develop novel lines of multidisciplinary research different from their ongoing research. o Up to $75,000 for 1 year.Proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF document at the link provided on the CAT website https://cat.dbi.udel.edu. Please note that submission and award processes have changed.

The FY25 Education Grant Program supports a wide array of teacher-led classroom and school-wide initiatives. Education grants are distributed annually each fall with a special reception for awardees in November. Eligible applicants include Public, MSDE approved nonpublic, or Middle States Accredited schools serving pre-K through 12th grade on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. Successful applications typically show broad support from school leadership, creativity in addressing challenges, a robust evaluation plan, potential for replication, sustainability prospects, and a direct connection to student success and well-being. Note that capital expenditures, field trips, previously funded programs at the same school, and costs associated with fundraising, playground equipment, faculty compensation, or office equipment are generally not funded. Special consideration is given to necessary equipment purchases and field trips that are integral to a larger educational project. Grant renewed every year.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to educators in Klamath, Lake, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties for environmental and wildlife education programs aimed at children in grades K-6 and other youth under 18.

The NIST-Hawaii Partnership in Plastic Pollution Research is seeking applications from eligible applicants to establish an institutional award, as described in the Department of Commerce Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual, Chapter 6.A.2 (20 April 2021), for activities to partner on the nations priority plastic pollution research with efforts focusing on the Hawaiian Island region. Eligible applicants should describe how they can host and interact with at least three NIST scientists with office, laboratory and other appropriate facilities to perform multi-disciplinary plastic pollution research with the intent to establish a long-term partnership between NIST and the recipient, as discussed in Section I.1. The proposal should also include a description of administrative, research and outreach/educational support that would be offered by the applicant in the partnership to achieve world-class research in the field of plastic pollution.

This funding opportunity supports U.S. higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and Tribal Nations in developing advanced algorithms to analyze large datasets for improved threat detection and assessment.

This application is part of the provisions under the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004), its implementing regulations, and the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia. It is the formal agreement between local school boards and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to ensure compliance and implementation of federal and state laws concerning special education. The plan outlines the requirements for local educational agencies (LEAs) to receive state and Eligibility is limited to local educational agencies (LEAs), state-operated programs, and the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. Compliance with IDEA and Virginia special education regulations is mandatory.federal funds for educating children with disabilities, necessitating approval from various educational and state bodies. Applications must be submitted electronically via the OMEGA system. Approval from local school boards, the State Special Education Advisory Committee, and respective educational bodies is required.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Joint Office of Energy and Transportation: Communities Taking Charge Accelerator, Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunity AnnouncementThis Funding Opportunity Announcement aims to help everyone ride and drive electric, foster public and private relationships, build interdisciplinary teams, advance the American blueprint for transportation decarbonization, and promote managed charging. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), through the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), is issuing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – Joint Office of Energy and Transportation: Communities Taking Charge Accelerator, Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunity Announcement”. Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act1, more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in modernizing and upgrading American infrastructure to enhance U.S. competitiveness, driving the creation of good-paying union jobs, tackling the climate crisis, and securing environmental justice and economic opportunity for disadvantaged communities2. The BIL appropriates more than $62 billion to the Department of Energy (DOE)3 to invest in American manufacturing and workers; expand access to energy efficiency and clean energy; deliver reliable, clean, and affordable power to more Americans; and demonstrate and deploy the clean-energy technologies of tomorrow through clean energy demonstrations. DOE’s BIL investments will support efforts to build a clean and equitable energy economy that achieves a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035, and to put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 20504 to benefit all Americans. The BIL includes a historic $7.5 billion dedicated investment to build out a national network of Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers. As part of this investment, the BIL includes $300 million to establish a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to study, plan, coordinate, and implement issues of joint concern between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The Communities Taking Charge Accelerator FOA and related activities align with the Joint Office mission to provide a modernized and interagency approach to support the deployment of zeroemission, convenient, accessible, and equitable transportation infrastructure. The activities to be funded under this FOA support BIL section Title VIII, Division J, Federal Highway Administration - Highway Infrastructure Program.

The Job Training and Economic Development - Teachers Apprenticeship Program aims to provide targeted job training and development opportunities through a state-funded grant. Eligible entities are encouraged to apply for funding to establish or enhance apprenticeship programs for teachers. This opportunity supports efforts to develop the educational workforce and improve economic opportunities within the community. The program is anticipated to award 4 grants, with a total funding amount of $2,000,000 available. Grants will be awarded ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. Applications are accepted from the announcement date until the specified closing date. Technical assistance sessions are available for prospective applicants. These are not mandatory but are offered to provide additional support. The session is scheduled for 03/28/2024 at 1:00 PM, and registration can be completed online.

The Leonard and Renee Minsky Fund for Arts Education aims to enhance arts education by enabling professional artists to collaborate with teachers in developing arts programs for grades 3-5 in public schools within Penobscot and Washington counties. This grant supports projects that integrate visual and/or performing arts into the curriculum, aligning with Maine Learning Results standards. Eligible applicants include schools meeting these criteria, with a focus on collaborative proposals involving arts teachers. Applications are accepted via email and must adhere to specific budgetary requirements, primarily allocating funds to professional artists' fees. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual opening/closing deadlines: September 15th to December 16th

The U.S. Embassy to Papua New Guinea of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition to submit a statement of interested to implement the Civil Society Partnership Program: Building Organizational Capacity program focusing on empowering non-profits and civil society organizations in Papua New Guinea. This Program will emphasize holistic interventions that address fundamental inequalities and empower vulnerable groups, paving the way for a more peaceful and prosperous nation. By investing in the leadership development and public engagement capacity of these organizations, this program aims to drive positive social change and create a more equitable and thriving future for all Papua New Guineans.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Vienna of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to increase understanding of the United States and strengthen support for the transatlantic relationship and our common goals among young, emerging voices in Austrians. Please follow all instructions below. Although Austrians especially the younger generations tend to be eager consumers of American technology and popular culture, and view Americas economic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit as world class, there is skepticism toward U.S. global leadership, including the impression that the United States acts unilaterally on the world stage, concern about the stability of democracy, societal divides, and polarization in the United States. U.S. Embassy Vienna invites proposals for a Youth and Education Exchange to be carried out between September 2024 and December 2025. In times of increasing discord and mis- and disinformation, this program promises to contribute to coming generations of Austrian leaders understanding of the United States. Priority Region: None Program Objectives: This exchange program will focus on U.S. culture, shared values, disinformation, DEIA, and the contemporary American political and media landscape. The goal is to reinforce the power of shared democratic values, provide a first-hand look at the U.S. political process and the role of civil society, and enhance people-to-people ties between young Austrians and Americans. The program will reduce stereotypes and produce informed young Austrians who can act as citizen ambassadors, thus benefiting the Austrian-American relationship in the years ahead. As this will be a cooperative agreement, U.S. Embassy Vienna will have substantial involvement in this effort including participant selection and approval of the program structure and content of the U.S. component. The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy is providing maximum flexibility for applicant organizations to offer program models that effectively meet the overall goals of the program. In addition to those listed above, required elements of the program are as follows: - Participants should learn about the essential elements of contemporary American life, in particular leadership, civil society, community engagement, and politics and how these elements inter-relate. Participants should have the opportunity to experience these elements in a local U.S. community through interactive, hands-on training, which might include, for example: formal presentations, meetings with stakeholders, discussions, and cultural or social events. - Participants should have interaction with policy experts, media professionals, civil society representatives, and academics and students in both countries. - The program should include elements for post-program engagement with the Austrian participants that include mentoring and supporting participants as alumni of this program. - The recipient will identify specific and measurable outputs and outcomes based on the project specifications provided in the solicitation. Additional program goals include: - Promote future Austrian leaders awareness of the American political process and the resilience of U.S. democracy. - Encourage identification of the United States as a destination for future academic, business, or other partnerships, and ongoing education. - Foster professional and personal ties with participants and U.S. citizens in the local community. - Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Austria. Participants and Audiences: Target audience and participants are 10-15 Austrian university students and young professionals, between age 21 and 28 and residing permanently in Austria, with demonstrated leadership capacity to participate in a tailored and compact hybrid (with a virtual pre-program phase) program in Austria and the United States, focusing on education and leadership. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 12 to 24 months Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $150,000 Total available funding: $150,000 (pending availability of funds) Type of Funding: FY24 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated program start date: September 15, 2024 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements and some FAAs are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (Substantial Involvement). U.S. Embassy Vienna will have substantial involvement including participant selection and approval of the program structure and content of the U.S. component. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 24 months or less. Optional: The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations Public and private educational institutions For-profit organizations CANNOT apply. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching U.S. Embassy Vienna encourages cost-sharing, which may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition, but a very competitive application will include cost sharing that allows for more participants. The recipient of an assistance award must maintain written records to support all allowable costs which are claimed as its contribution to cost participation, as well as costs to be paid by the federal government. Such records are subject to audit. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. For the following sections please see the attached A2A FY24 NOFO Youth and Education Exchange document D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: [email protected] H. OTHER INFORMATION

To support outstanding graduate students from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences, over the transition from predoctoral to postdoctoral research training.. This phased award program will facilitate completion of graduate PhD or dual degree clinician scientist programs (F99) and progression to mentored postdoctoral positions in dental, oral and craniofacial research (K00).

To obtain a copy of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) please go to the ARPA-E website at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. To apply to this FOA, Applicants must register with and submit application materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Registration.aspx). For detailed guidance on using ARPA-E eXCHANGE, please refer to the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx). ARPA-E will not review or consider concept papers submitted through other means. For problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE, email [email protected] (with FOA name and number in the subject line). Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email [email protected]. Agency Overview: The Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358), as further amended by the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260) to: (A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that (i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; (iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; (iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and (B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies. ARPA-E issues this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. 16538. The FOA and any awards made under this FOA are subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 910. ARPA-E funds research on and the development of transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/. ARPA-E funds transformational research. Existing energy technologies generally progress on established learning curves where refinements to a technology and the economies of scale that accrue as manufacturing and distribution develop drive down the cost/performance metric in a gradual fashion. This continual improvement of a technology is important to its increased commercial deployment and is appropriately the focus of the private sector or the applied technology offices within DOE. By contrast, ARPA-E supports transformative research that has the potential to create fundamentally new learning curves. ARPA-E technology projects typically start with cost/performance estimates well above the level of an incumbent technology. Given the high risk inherent in these projects, many will fail to progress, but some may succeed in generating a new learning curve with a projected cost/performance metric that is significantly lower than that of the incumbent technology. ARPA-E funds technology with the potential to be disruptive in the marketplace. The mere creation of a new learning curve does not ensure market penetration. Rather, the ultimate value of a technology is determined by the marketplace, and impactful technologies ultimately become disruptive that is, they are widely adopted and displace existing technologies from the marketplace or create entirely new markets. ARPA-E understands that definitive proof of market disruption takes time, particularly for energy technologies. Therefore, ARPA-E funds the development of technologies that, if technically successful, have clear disruptive potential, e.g., by demonstrating capability for manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale. ARPA-E funds applied research and development. The Office of Management and Budget defines applied research as an original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledgedirected primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective and defines experimental development as creative and systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or processes or improving existing products or processes. (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere. Projects focused on early-stage R for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy (http://fossil.energy.gov/), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (http://energy.gov/oe/office-electricity-delivery-and-energy-reliability). Applicants interested in receiving financial assistance for basic research (defined by the Office of Management and Budget as experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts) should contact the DOEs Office of Science (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere. Projects focused on early-stage R for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy (http://fossil.energy.gov/), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (http://energy.gov/oe/office-electricity-delivery-and-energy-reliability). Program Overview: The Creating Hardened And Durable fusion first Wall Incorporating Centralized Knowledge (CHADWICK) program will pursue discovery and testing of novel, first-wall materials that will maintain design performance over the target 40-year design lifetime of a fusion power plant. In most fusion power systems, the fusion reactions are physically contained by the first wall. The first wall bears the mechanical load and protects the components from the extreme heat and highly energetic charged and neutral particles. The safety and structural performance of the first wall are compromised over time by significant exposure to high-energy (;gt;1 million electron volts (MeV)) neutrons and heat flux as much as 10 megawatts per square meter (MW/m2)). As fusion energy advances towards commercial deployment, the lifetime and maintainability of first-wall materials will become a major challenge for the commercial viability of fusion power plants with high neutron flux. Thermal effects on materials are relatively well understood. However, the combination of heat plus an intense neutron environment can generate many nonlinear effects that are difficult to predict. Radiation most commonly damages a material by driving atomic displacements and the transmuting of isotopes within the material structure. Some transmutation events encourage the development of activation product gasses, such as hydrogen and helium, which encourage wall swelling. The combination of stresses caused by atomic dislocations, swelling, and thermal contraction and expansion drive material hardening and embrittlement, ultimately promoting premature cracking and failure. The most common descriptor for radiation damage is displacements per atom (dpa). These displacements can cause irradiation embrittlement leading to the loss of ductility in a material after exposure to radiation. Fusion power plant first-wall materials are anticipated to experience ;gt;50 dpa over the desired 40-year operational period. Radiation damage has been observed to harden and embrittle first-wall materials at levels as low as 5 dpa. The goal of the CHADWICK program is the discovery, development, and production of new materials that can maintain the following metrics in a fusion first-wall environment: Room temperature ductility after 50 dpa of irradiation damage and helium generation; Sufficiently high thermal conductivity to remove up to 10 MW/m2 of heat; Activation below 10,000 Sieverts per hour (Sv/hr) to enable remote handling; Swelling below 1% to maintain dimensional stability; and Tritium retention and plasma erosion lower than current state-of-the-art (SoA) materials. SoA materials under consideration for fusion first-wall applications are currently limited to reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) steels and tungsten.7 Both materials suffer from irradiation and helium embrittlement issues that make fusion power plants prohibitively expensive to qualify and operate. New materials that are highly resistant or functionally immune to irradiation embrittlement up to 50 dpa can increase the lifetime of the first wall by a factor of 10. These materials are envisioned to be essential to the deployment of sustained and economical fusion energy. To view the FOA in its entirety, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

This program provides funding to foster collaborations among researchers, data management experts, and libraries to improve the accessibility and sustainability of research data across various scientific fields.

The purpose of this NOFO is to fund research at one or more research Centers of Excellence (Centers or COEs, COE when singular) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Centers will conduct research projects on topics of strategic interest to HUD and produce research that provides evidence-based solutions to housing, community development, economic development, or built environment challenges in underserved communities. Applicants must clearly specify proposed research projects and how they fill key knowledge and evidence gaps, describe their capacity to successfully conduct the proposed research and disseminate their findings to policymakers and other key stakeholders, and detail plans for developing and sustaining a Center of Excellence.Through this NOFO, HUD is seeking HBCUs with demonstrated capacity to conduct rigorous and policy-relevant research, develop actionable policy recommendations, and share findings with policymakers, community organizations and other key stakeholders able to implement policy and programmatic solutions to challenges in underserved communities. We encourage applicants to propose building on their demonstrated experience to do something new and innovative. We encourage the submission of proposals that draw on novel research approaches, including big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence; community-engaged and participatory research; and novel partnerships such as academic consortia and collaboration with other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), other Institutions of Higher Education, community-based organizations, or other federal, state and local government agencies. Partners can include subrecipients. Competitive applications will include action and sustainability plans, creative partnerships and collaboration models, multidisciplinary and holistic methodologies, and new or enhanced theory of change models designed to achieve transformative outcomes.HUD anticipates awarding up to four awards ranging from $1 million to $4 million. Using the funds made available through this NOFO, recipients will undertake multiple research projects.Research Projects: The research projects proposed by the applicant must be on topics of strategic interest to HUD that address challenges related to housing, community development, economic development, or the built environment in underserved communities. These topics may be from HUDs 2022-26 Learning Agenda, which identifies HUDs priority learning and research questions, consistent with the Departmental objectives and goals described in HUDs 2022-26 Strategic Plan.Other topics of strategic interest to HUD include:equity issues in local housing markets, broadly defined to include production and preservation, rental and homeownership, tenant protections, fair housing, zoning and land use, property appraisals, and property taxation;promoting housing stability and preventing people from experiencing homelessness;improvements and innovations in building codes, planning methods and construction technologies to address housing and community development needs and improve environmental sustainability and climate resilience;green or energy-efficient practices in housing and carbon reduction strategies;disaster preparedness and disaster recovery;leveraging technology to address housing, community development, and economic development needs, improve the built environment, or create wealth-building opportunities in historically underserved communities;innovative solutions that allow residents of HUD-assisted rental housing and other low-income renters to access economic opportunities, quality education, affordable transportation, health care, essential services, green space, and cultural amenities;housing and community planning that addresses the needs of and engages underserved communities.HUD is particularly interested in research to both better understand and eliminate disparities in laws and policies, and in public and private institutions, that may deny equal housing and community-building opportunities to individuals and families in underserved communities, and support policy solutions to address these disparities and that can be applied to a wide variety of communities. Research should relate to a long-term goal (e.g., improving minority homeownership). Given the range of possible research topics, the research funded by this NOFO has the potential to address almost all of the goals and objectives in HUDs Strategic Plan.The proposed research should apply new and context-specific approaches and methods to studying challenges faced by underserved communities in urban or rural areas. Applicants should also describe how the proposed research would fill key knowledge and evidence gaps and how they plan to share findings with policymakers, community organizations and other key stakeholders able to implement policy and programmatic solutions to challenges in underserved communities. Applicants may wish to review previously approved published research to avoid duplication and illustrate what completed HUD research studies look like.Center of Excellence: The research Centers of Excellence (COEs) shall conduct rigorous and actionable research focused on housing, community development, economic development, and the built environment in underserved communities. COEs should take a multidisciplinary approach to the research and use innovative methods. Ultimately, the purpose of a COE will be to support evidence-based, data-driven, and community-informed policymaking and program improvements at the local, state, and national levels.The COE will serve as a platform for the formulation, analysis, and dissemination of innovative, evidence-based solutions to address problems confronting underserved communities. The COE will perform academic research, hold expert convenings, and conduct related activities designed to advance understanding of economic and social factors that affect communities, including housing, economic and workforce development, health and health care, education, civic engagement, public safety, and other dimensions of community health. Through academic programs, research projects, and thought leadership, the COE will help leaders across all levels of government, as well as the business and civic sectors, address critical issues that impact the social and economic well-being of the families and individuals who reside in underserved communities.Applicants are encouraged to consider and apply lessons from the experiences of and research produced at COEs at HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) funded through past HUD grants, as well as other university-based housing research centers.The awardee will be required to develop and submit a detailed plan for the development and long-term sustainability (beyond 5 years) of a Center of Excellence to continue the work started under this NOFO and serve as a leader in researching issues related to housing, community development, economic development, and the built environment in underserved communities. Eligible ActivitiesAwardees can use funds to conduct research projects on topics described in this NOFO and in their application that will contribute to the development of a sustainable research Center of Excellence. Funds can be used for a variety of research activities, including articulating research questions, establishing and implementing appropriate data analysis, communicating and sharing research findings, and producing informational tools and resources that improve practice.Center of Excellence does not refer to physical entities; HUD will not fund buildings or the rental and/or maintenance of office space. Funds may not be used for construction or other construction related activities, or for the purchase or lease of real property, or for the purchase of equipment.

This funding opportunity supports educational initiatives that enhance STEM programs from K-12 to postdoctoral levels, particularly for institutions and organizations that promote a diverse and skilled workforce aligned with the needs of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

This RFA implements program activities set forth in the Texas General Appropriations Act (GAA), Article VII-49, Rider 50, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session (2023). The GAA includes the following requirements: 1) the number of persons served by a qualifying entity in the program year must be no fewer than seven hundred (700) unique individuals; 2) the number of persons served by a qualifying entity who have obtained Regular Employment at or above one hundred and twenty-five percent (125%) of federal poverty income guidelines must be no less than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of individuals returned to the workforce; and 3) the number of employers who will commit to hiring individuals upon exit of the program must be no fewer than one hundred (100) employers.