Grants for County governments - Business and Commerce

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, municipalities, Tribal Nations, and individual artists in Tompkins County to create professional public arts events that engage diverse communities and address local cultural needs.

The Outdoor Equity Fund is currently open for the 2023 grant cycle, with a total of $1.7 million awarded to 54 programs in 16 counties. This funding will provide outdoor experiences for approximately 20,000 kids. The grant cycle is open on a rolling basis until funds are expended, and additional funding is available for this cycle. The fund aims to support transformative outdoor experiences that foster stewardship and respect for lands, waters, and cultural heritage. Potential applicants are encouraged to complete their applications early as multiple rounds of reviews are anticipated. In previous years, the Outdoor Equity Fund has awarded over $800,000 to 48 organizations in order to get 12,391 kids outside through 2023. In 2021, the fund supported 57 recipients who will collectively engage more than 22,000 young New Mexicans in outdoor activities through 2022. In its inaugural year in 2020, the fund awarded over $270,000 to 25 applicants across the state. The Outdoor Equity Fund seeks to address the disparity in access to outdoor experiences for underrepresented youth and aims to provide opportunities for these individuals to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of New Mexico.

The Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program offers progressive courses with one-on-one coaching to help clean energy contractors to develop a business plan. It provides operational support grants, tailored business coaching, mentorship, access to Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program services, assistance with certifications and vendor status, support in preparing bids, networking opportunities, and access to financial development assistance programs, including zero-interest and low-interest loans.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that aim to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs within the building and construction trades, specifically targeting historically underserved populations in Pennsylvania.

The Community Impact Grants program, offered by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, is designed to award grants from unrestricted funds to improve policies and practices within the Greater Dubuque community. The core mission of this program is to achieve the greatest possible impact through strategic investments. This aligns with the Foundation's broader goal of fostering positive change and strengthening the region by supporting initiatives that address critical community needs and enhance overall well-being. The program primarily targets nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, churches, schools, or government organizations that provide services in Clayton, Clinton, and Dubuque counties. Organizations without 501(c)3 status are encouraged to find a qualifying fiscal sponsor. The overarching impact goal is to support capacity-building efforts among these nonprofits, thereby empowering them to deliver more effective and sustainable services to the community. This focus on capacity building aims to create a stronger, more resilient network of organizations serving the region. Project proposals for Community Impact Grants can focus on a variety of areas, demonstrating the program's broad priorities. These include community programming, individual and team leadership development, organization-wide planning and development, equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, network development, communications, evaluation and learning planning, and digital and physical security. These diverse focus areas reflect the Foundation's strategic commitment to addressing a wide range of needs that contribute to a healthy and thriving community. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the emphasis on capacity-building efforts and the various project focus areas imply expected outcomes such as enhanced organizational effectiveness, improved leadership capabilities, more inclusive practices, stronger community networks, better communication strategies, and increased ability to assess and learn from program impacts. By supporting these areas, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque operates on a theory of change that by strengthening the infrastructure and capabilities of local nonprofits, it will ultimately lead to a more impactful and sustainable benefit for the residents of Clayton, Clinton, and Dubuque counties.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is offering the Trade Show Assistance Grants program to support Vermont-based agricultural and forestry businesses in expanding their market reach. These grants are designed to offset the costs of participating in trade shows that connect businesses with wholesale buyers and open new domestic and international markets. The program provides matching grants for up to five trade shows within the eligible period, allowing businesses to request between $2,000 and $5,000 in reimbursements for shows held between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. However, businesses cannot apply for funding to support attendance at trade shows they have participated in five or more times previously. Eligibility requirements include being registered with the Vermont Secretary of State and operational for at least one year, having headquarters or principal operations within Vermont, maintaining at least three wholesale accounts, and ensuring products meet the Vermont Local Definition as outlined in Act 129. Trade shows must target out-of-state buyers and operate in a business-to-business format. Shows that are direct-to-consumer are not eligible, although exceptions are made for regional or international trade shows held in Vermont. Applicants must also demonstrate a 1:1 cash match for their budget, as the grant will reimburse up to 50% of eligible costs. Approved expenses for reimbursement include travel and accommodation costs, booth design and fees, marketing materials, shipping, and other associated costs. The application process is open until January 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM, with notifications of awards expected by mid-February 2025. Applicants can include up to five trade shows in their marketing plans and are encouraged to carefully align their proposals with the program's requirements. To apply, businesses must register in WebGrants if they have not done so previously, review the WebGrants Application Guide, and submit their applications through the platform. The submission period runs from December 6, 2024, to January 20, 2025. Detailed instructions are provided in the Request for Applications, available on the program’s website. Businesses are encouraged to prepare their applications early to ensure timely submission and maximize their chances of securing support for their trade show activities.

This program provides coaching and community support for fundraisers of color at small nonprofits in Sacramento and Yolo counties, focusing on those addressing health and racial disparities.

This grant provides funding for community organizations and local governments to engage in environmental outreach, education, and restoration projects aimed at improving water quality and ecological health in the Jones Falls watershed of Maryland.

This track of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program provides approximately $1 million for grants aimed at purchasing equipment necessary for the middle of the food supply chain activities in Vermont. The grants range from $30,000 to $100,000 with no match requirement. Applications for this track are set to open in late August 2024 and close in early October 2024, with grant activities beginning in early 2025.

Grantees will be required to accomplish the following within the Grant Activity Period: Convene a standing committee of community members and stakeholders tosupport development of new SLP structure and strategic framework. Model equity practices and principles in the development of new SLP mission,vision, programming, and services. Identify and retain a dedicated staff member to lead new SLP and provide mentorship to that individual. Identify and maintain an accessible public office space for the new SLP. Create and implement a realistic operating budget for new SLP, with appropriate portion of grant funds going directly to support new SLP. Supply anticipated outcomes for a one-year grant and outline any next steps anticipated to occur beyond the grant activity period to fulfill the goals of the grant program. 

The Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development in New York is offering a matching grant of $10,000 to $100,000 for a duration of 3 years to not-for-profit organizations, schools, governmental agencies, businesses, and landowners for the development of tourism events and attractions, with a focus on increasing visibility and visitor numbers.

The Funds for the Newest New Yorkers is a collaborative initiative between government and philanthropic organizations, managed by The New York Community Trust, aimed at supporting innovative efforts to improve the lives of migrants who have recently arrived in New York City. This program aligns with the broader mission of ensuring that new arrivals thrive and contribute to a stronger city, recognizing the positive impact immigrants have on New York City. The grant is designed to enhance and fill gaps in existing government programs and funding, rather than replace them. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are newly arrived migrants in New York City. The program's impact goals are focused on facilitating their integration and stability within the city. This includes connecting them to essential services like work, school, legal assistance, public benefits, housing, and general support for city life. The program also aims to build the capacity of service providers to meet the increasing demand for these critical services. The program prioritizes proposals that offer services in three key areas: Case Management, Legal Services, and Community-Based Social Services. For Case Management, the focus is on providing support within shelters (both City-run and nonprofit-run) to connect migrants with necessary resources. Legal Services aim to increase the capacity of providers to assist with benefits applications, work authorization, deportation defense, and achieving lawful status. Community-Based Social Services are designed to help community groups provide or connect newcomers with public education, workforce development, job opportunities, English classes, and other services that aid in their integration. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved efficiency and speed in migrants' path to stability, evidenced by successful connections to shelter, case management, and social services. The program also seeks to foster partnerships between organizations with complementary expertise, and to fund projects that can be adopted and scaled by the government for long-term impact. Prioritization will be given to projects that deliver services with cultural and linguistic sensitivity, and that leverage the existing strengths and experience of organizations. Grants are expected to range from $75,000 to $250,000 per year for up to two years, with larger grants awarded to projects that include a strong, coordinated case management component along with legal and/or community-based social services.

This grant provides funding to early-career researchers focused on developing and applying Earth system models to address urgent climate challenges and promote diversity and inclusion in climate science.

The City of Gig Harbor is offering 2025 Lodging Tax Grants to foster tourism and economic activity within its limits. This program is funded by a percentage of hotel/motel taxes collected from lodging establishments, with funds distributed by the Department of Revenue back to the City. These grants are specifically allocated for tourism-related capital facilities, non-event operations, and event marketing and operations, aligning with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Chapter 67.28, which details the use and reporting of tourism funds. The target beneficiaries for this program are non-profit organizations and municipalities that can demonstrate the ability to achieve specific tourism-related goals. The primary impact goals are to increase hotel/lodging occupancy within the City of Gig Harbor by generating overnight stays and to increase the number of visitors traveling more than 50 miles away to the city. All applicants are required to provide estimates on how their proposed activities will lead to these increases, including attracting visitors from other states or countries. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around maximizing tourism promotion and its economic impact. "Tourism" is defined as economic activity from tourists, encompassing sales of lodging, meals, tours, gifts, or souvenirs. "Tourism promotion" includes activities like advertising, publicizing, developing strategies to expand tourism, and operating special events and festivals designed to attract tourists. "Tourism-related facilities" are properties with a usable life of three or more years that support tourism, performing arts, or accommodate tourist activities. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee considers various factors when making recommendations, including the estimated available funds, proposal thoroughness, financial stability of the applicant, and projected economic impact, particularly on overnight stays. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to the grant program. Applicants must explicitly detail how their activities will result in increased overnight stays and an influx of visitors from over 50 miles away, or from outside the state/country. The City requires this data to be collected and provided in the lodging tax application. The Committee’s considerations, such as the projected economic impact and the applicant’s history of tourism promotion success, underscore the emphasis on tangible, positive results directly related to tourism growth and economic benefit for Gig Harbor.

The Oregon Community Foundation is offering a grant of $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that enhance economic vitality and workforce development in specified Oregon counties, with priority given to initiatives that improve prosperity, tax base, competitiveness, workforce skills, and image of the region, and can be used for equipment, facility upgrades, start-up costs, and other necessary services.

This grant provides funding to Recovery Residence Providers in Anne Arundel County to install fire suppression systems, ensuring safety and compliance with state certification requirements.

The Fairfield County's Community Foundation is offering the Greater Bridgeport Grant: Arts in the Service of Equity, a 3-year renewable grant opportunity. This initiative stems from the foundation's belief in the power of arts and culture to amplify community voice, change narratives, promote inclusivity, and transform communities. The grant specifically focuses on arts innovation for systems change in Greater Bridgeport, honoring the legacy of the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, which merged with Fairfield County's Community Foundation in 2008. With a total funding pool of $1 million, this grant will support up to three collaborative projects in Greater Bridgeport. Each selected project will receive general operating support over three years, with the largest portion of funding in the first year and smaller wind-down grants in subsequent years. This flexible funding approach allows collaborating organizations to allocate resources in ways that best support their project goals and objectives, aiming to leverage the arts to accelerate and catalyze social change within the community. The grant targets Arts and Culture-focused organizations within Greater Bridgeport whose work directly benefits residents of the eligible communities: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull. A strong emphasis is placed on impact for Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BiPoC) and low-to-moderate income communities. Competitive proposals must clearly articulate how their work addresses racial inequities in Fairfield County and demonstrate strong partnerships with defined roles and responsibilities. Grassroots, BiPoC-led organizations with systems-level change goals will receive preference, and organizations are encouraged to apply regardless of budget size. Expected outcomes include influencing economic, physical, and social change, with a clear, detailed connection between the project and key results areas. Proposals are required to have a clear three-year project plan/program design with an aligned budget, ensuring a strategic and measurable approach to achieving their social change objectives through artistic and cultural endeavors. This aligns with the foundation's strategic priority of fostering community transformation and addressing systemic inequities through innovative and impactful initiatives.

This program recognizes and honors young professionals under 40 in the Denver metro area who demonstrate exceptional leadership, community involvement, and significant career accomplishments.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and local entities in Bergen County, New Jersey, to promote and preserve local history through various programs and projects.

This funding opportunity supports community-based organizations in small to medium-sized U.S. cities that engage volunteers to assist newcomers with essential resettlement services.