Grants for Small Businesses

The Douglas Community Fund offers competitive grants specifically aimed at supporting medical and other various needs within Douglas County. With its origins in funding a regional medical facility, the fund places a high priority on the medical needs of the community. Grants range from $2,000 to $10,000, with some reaching $15,000-$20,000. Applicants are notified of their status in late March to early April. This grant program does not support multiyear funding requests. Grant renewed every year. Grant annual opening/ closing deadline: December 1st to January 16th

This program provides financial support to registered apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania to help employers recruit and develop talent by covering costs for apprentices.

This grant provides financial support to licensed child care program owners in high-needs counties to expand their facilities by increasing capacity or relocating, thereby improving child care availability in their communities.

This program funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 22907. The purpose of the CRISI Program is to invest in a wide range of projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors. This program invests in railroad infrastructure projects that improve safety, support economic vitality (including through opportunities for small businesses), create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, increase capacity and supply chain resilience, apply innovative technology, and explicitly address climate change, gender equity and racial equity. The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for the competitive CRISI Program provided in Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, division L, title I, Public Law 117–328 (2023 Appropriation), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, division F, title I, Public Law 118–42 (2024 Appropriation) and the 2023 and 2024 advance appropriation in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, division J, title II, Public Law 117–58 (2021).

The Rural program is dedicated to enhancing surface transportation infrastructure within rural communities, with $780 million allocated for this purpose. It supports highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that improve freight, safety, and access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities critical to a rural area's economy. This program recognizes the unique challenges faced by smaller communities in accessing funding and aims to support projects that address these needs directly. The submission deadline is May 6, 2024.

The Federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Grant Program provides annual matching federal grants to support the purchase, installation, repair/upgrade, operation, and maintenance of recreational vessel marine sanitation facilities (pumpout facilities) and pumpout vessels in Connecticut. The program aims to improve water quality by increasing the availability of proper waste handling facilities for boaters, thereby reducing the discharge of poorly treated or untreated sanitary wastes into Long Island Sound and its harbors. Eligible applicants include public and private marinas, yacht clubs, boatyards, municipal and state-owned facilities, and pumpout vessel programs. Grants cover up to 75% of project costs, requiring a 25% match from grantees. Approximately $1 million is available annually. Grant renewed every year.

This funding opportunity assists communities in developing a portfolio of ready sites to attract and support growing businesses, with loans available specifically for private developers.

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC), serving as an advisory body to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, aims to fund scientific research that tests the effectiveness of the California Forest Practice Rules and associated regulations. This includes addressing natural resource issues such as watershed science, wildlife concerns, and wildfire hazard. Proposals are sought that focus on one or more of EMC's Research Themes and Critical Monitoring Questions, particularly those that contribute to understanding and enhancing wildfire resilience and response to climate change across California's forestlands. Projects must directly relate to management activities on private timberlands in the state, although those on public lands may qualify if they demonstrate relevance to non-federal timberland activities.

Launched in 2024, the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation's Working Grant Program aims to support individuals in the beef industry, including ranching, beef production, or related areas supporting the beef value chain, who wish to start or grow their businesses. Financial assistance is provided to overcome barriers like equipment purchase, operational expenses, infrastructure building, or labor hiring. Eligibility is determined based on operation in economically depressed areas in Texas or Oklahoma, disadvantaged status, and difficulty in obtaining conventional financing. Grants are not guaranteed even if all eligibility requirements are met, and the foundation retains the discretion in funding decisions. Grant renewed every year. Grant Fall annual opening/closing deadline: November 1st to November 30th

Administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, this grant focuses on utility improvements necessary for the support of value-added agriculture businesses. It offers financial assistance for water and wastewater line improvements, as well as electrical and gas supply enhancements to accommodate the unique needs of agriculture businesses aiming for development or expansion. Grants are available up to $350,000 or 80% of the utility project cost, with a commitment to supporting projects that bolster the infrastructure required for sustainable agriculture growth and efficiency. Rolling application. Deadline is 04/01/2025 unless funds are depleted earlier

This grant program, overseen by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in consultation with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), is dedicated to supporting infrastructure improvements for roadways and bridges. It aims to facilitate the development or expansion of new or existing value-added agriculture businesses by enhancing access and transportation infrastructure. Political subdivisions are invited to apply for funding to undertake corridor improvements on county and township roadways and improvements to bridges that provide access to value-added agriculture businesses. The program commits to awarding grants up to $1,250,000 or 80% of the project cost, prioritizing projects that demonstrate significant potential for economic impact on the agriculture sector. Rolling application. Deadline is 04/01/2025 unless funds are depleted earlier

The Child Care Capital Program (CCCP) will award grants to eligible child care providers to expand existing child care centers or build new ones. The program will be overseen by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).The CCCP will provide reimbursement grants for the design, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, equipment and other capital assets for existing or proposed state-licensed, not-for-profit or for-profit child day care centers and registered school-age child care programs. The facility must be intended to be used as a child care program for at least eight years. Projects must be shovel-ready, demonstrate the ability to be licensed and fully operational within six months of completing construction and worth at least $500,000.

The INFRA program, part of the MPDG, allocates $2.7 billion towards competitive grants for significant multimodal freight and highway projects that aim to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight and people movement across rural and urban areas. It focuses on projects that enhance economic benefits, reduce congestion, increase resiliency, and improve critical freight movements. The program encourages applications that address supply chain bottlenecks and are of national or regional significance. The application deadline is May 6, 2024.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) invites FY 2023 NIST SBIR Phase I awardees to submit Phase II research applications under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Only FY 2023 NIST SBIR Phase I awardees are eligible to submit applications in response to this NOFO for Phase II of their projects. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was originally established in 1982 by the Small Business Innovation Development Act (P.L. 97-219), codified at 15 U.S.C. § 638. The SBIR Program was then expanded and extended by the Small Business Research and Development (R&D) Enhancement Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-564), and received subsequent reauthorization and extensions, the most recent of which extends the SBIR program through 2025. (P.L. 117-183). Eleven Federal agencies implement SBIR by setting aside a portion of their extramural research and development budget each year to fund research applications from small science and technology-based firms. The statutory purpose of the SBIR Program is to strengthen the role of innovative small business concerns (SBCs) in Federally-funded research or research and development (R/R&D). Specific program goals are to: (1) stimulate technological innovation; (2) use small businesses to meet Federal R/R&D needs; (3) foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses and by women-owned small businesses in technological innovation; and (4) increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal R/R&D, thereby increasing competition, productivity, and economic growth.

This grant provides funding opportunities for a wide range of organizations, including universities and businesses, to advance manufacturing technologies, with a particular encouragement for participation from historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions.

To implement a project aimed at advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities by supporting initiatives that make decision-making structures and processes in fragile, conflict, or crisis-affected contexts more reflective of and responsive to the needs and perspectives of partner states to ensure strategic trade control systems meet international standards and by engaging on bilateral, regional and multilateral levels with foreign governments to aid in the establishment of independent capabilities to regulate transfers of weapons of mass destruction, WMD-related items, conventional arms, and related dual-use items, and to detect, interdict, investigate, and prosecute illicit transfers of such items.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) invites applications from not-for-profit and for-profit providers for the development and operation of Community Based Residential Programs (CBRP) for individuals under Community Supervision. The CBRP is a housing initiative to assist parolees under the jurisdiction of DOCCS to attain stability in the community while providing for individual case needs and community safety. CBRPs provide food, counseling, and other services such as substance abuse treatment, educational/vocational training, mental health and social services to residents either directly or through referral to credentialed providers. (Note: a CBRP is not to be confused with Substance Use Residential Treatment Programs). To be eligible for an award, programs must have a current and valid Certificate of Occupancy (COO). For initial award, applicants must have the demonstrated ability to start the program on October 1, 2022, or upon approval by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC). An approved site visit may be required by DOCCS within 10-days of a tentative contract award notification by the Commissioner.The components of this RFA are as follows:A CBRP provides a structured setting and services for a period of up to 120-days, withextensions available upon approval of DOCCS’ Re-Entry Contract Manager, to thefollowing client groups:Client Group A: Newly released parolees from state or local correctional facilities who do not have an acceptable residence.Client Group B: Parolees who require increased supervision and structure in order to change behavior patterns which, given case circumstances, may otherwise lead to re-incarceration; and/orrequire removal from their current living environment due to crisis situations or need for temporary housing.Client Group C: Parolees with mental health, physical and/or medical concerns.Client Group D: Parolees who have a history of sex offense(s) and/or arson.Many of the parolees have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, unemployment, health concerns, and substandard housing. They are released from state or local incarceration after convictions for offenses for which they continue to serve a sentence that was imposed by a local County Court. They generally are returning to the communities where they were residing at the time of their arrest.DOCCS reserves the right to award more than one contract for a Catchment Area based on the need for residential programs that include Client Group D. DOCCS seeks to establish Community Based Residential Programs throughout New York State under the following general provisions and designated Catchment areas as listed in RFA 2021-02.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support civil society in the Western Balkans to hold governments accountable and transparent by promoting greater public participation with a focus on environmental issues. The United Nations Environmental Programme held a Western Balkans Forum in late 2022 that concluded the region is heavily impacted by climate and pollution issues. Corruption and inconsistent implementation of regulations further exacerbate the situation. These environmental issues may be highly detrimental to communities in these countries, impacting the health of individuals and putting their rights to safe living conditions and access to natural resources at risk. For instance, a 2022 study from the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy cited instances of increased pollution in regions proximate to new development projects, which degraded air quality and local water sources, causing potential health risks to local communities including respiratory infections and autoimmune diseases. Activists have recounted how local politicians use fear of economic crisis to demotivate citizens from speaking out against industrial pollution. The lack of local good governance in tackling environmental challenges has catalyzed public discontent and distrust. There is a need for citizen advocacy to hold local 2 leaders accountable to environmental regulations, and to protect against egregious environmental damage. To address some of these issues and leverage civil society’s activism, DRL/GP is seeking proposals that promote greater public participation and ensure government transparency and accountability. The project will focus on environmental governance processes in Western Balkan countries with high levels of international economic influence. The program aims to: (1) support local communities and/or organizations to mobilize to advance good governance principles and their intersection with local environmental laws and regulations; (2) engage independent media and community members in monitoring and documenting cases of noncompliance with environmental policies; and (3) create a diverse network of reform advocates collaborating to build accountability for implementing current laws and development of rightsrespecting policies.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to invest in a five-year cooperative agreement titled GH Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Activity to support countries in achieving desired improvements in health and development outcomes.The GH SBC Activity will build upon current USAID investments in SBC research and programming, including both global and bilateral projects, to guide integration of SBC evidence and theory in development programming, support generation and use of new learning, strengthen local technical and organizational capacity, and drive local leadership of SBC programming for better, broader, and more sustainable results. The project will fulfill a global leadership function within SBC, working through new and existing partnerships to create opportunities for locally-driven, innovative, and cost-effective SBC programs; systematic integration of SBC best practices within public and private health systems; and generating, synthesizing, and catalyzing the application of evidence-based and theory-informed SBC in diverse program settings to accelerate achievement of global health and development goals.The strategic objective of the project is to increase implementation of theory-informed, evidence-based, locally-led SBC programming. While focused primarily on health, the project may address SBC needs in other sectors, with particular attention to areas of potential complementarity such as environmental conservation, agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Within the health sector, the project will maintain a substantive but non-exclusive focus on family planning, reproductive health (FP/RH) and reproductive empowerment; malaria; and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), with attention to emerging pandemic threats and other infectious diseases. Considerations of USAID priorities such as localization, gender integration, youth engagement/integration, health systems strengthening, the inclusion of LGBTQI+ people, the inclusion of people with physical and cognitive disabilities, engaging the voices, skills, and experiences of allincluding marginalized and underrepresented groups such as racial, ethnic, and Indigenous communities and climate change, will be a focus across the project.Please see the Full GH Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Activity RFA under the "Related Documents" tab.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is making up to $2 million in State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) funding available under the Direct Entry Pre-Apprenticeship Programs (DEPA) Request for Applications (RFA). The purpose of the RFA is to: 1. Provide funding for DEPA programs to support approximately 300 participants; and2. Support entry into NYS Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs for underrepresented populations including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.NYSDOL is particularly interested in supporting DEPA programs that provide participants with training and exposure to various trades and offer opportunities for entry into RA training programs. Targeted industries include, but are not limited to, Building and Construction, Manufacturing, and Information Technology (IT).Although grantmaking activities will transition from the Grants Gateway to the Statewide Financial System (SFS) on January 16, 2024, applications for this funding opportunity will continue to be accepted through Grants Gateway until the submission deadline date of March 29, 2024.Note: With the transition of grantmaking activities from the Grants Gateway to SFS, prequalification will be unavailable from December 15, 2023 through January 16, 2024. After January 16, 2024, organizations will prequalify in SFS. If an organization is prequalified at the time of the cutover, their prequalification status will move over to SFS. Additional information regarding prequalification can be found at https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS.