Grants for Small businesses - Science and Technology

The Clackamas County Public Health Division (CCPHD) Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) is offering a grant opportunity to independently owned convenience stores in Clackamas County, Oregon. The program's core mission is to mitigate the adverse public health effects of tobacco by incentivizing retailers to cease tobacco sales and transition to a business model that actively supports community health. This initiative aligns with broader public health goals of reducing tobacco use and promoting healthier environments, reflecting a strategic priority to leverage economic incentives for positive health outcomes within the community. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are independently operated convenience stores located in Clackamas County that are not part of a corporate franchise. These stores must hold a valid Oregon Tobacco Retail License and actively sell tobacco products as of the application deadline. The impact goal is to transform these retailers into pillars of community health by fostering environments that offer healthier product choices and reduce access to tobacco. This change is expected to lead to improved public health indicators within Clackamas County, particularly concerning tobacco-related illnesses and youth access. The program prioritizes supporting the transitioning retailers through various mechanisms. In addition to grant funding of up to $20,000, TPEP offers ongoing technical assistance from LivelihoodNW for business plan development, assistance with becoming authorized to accept SNAP and WIC benefits, connections to local producers for new product categories, professionally designed promotional materials, and earned media/community outreach. These comprehensive support services are designed to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the new, healthy business models. Expected outcomes include retailers experiencing increased profits from higher mark-up products, an expanded customer base, savings on tobacco licenses, and enhanced public perception. Measurable results will likely involve a reduction in tobacco sales outlets in Clackamas County, an increase in the availability of healthy food options in participating stores, and heightened community awareness of the benefits of healthy retail. The theory of change posits that by empowering individual retailers with financial incentives and robust support, a ripple effect will occur, positively influencing community health and inspiring other businesses to consider similar transitions.

This grant provides funding to small businesses to accelerate the development of advanced catalytic technologies that support the transition to sustainable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The FY24 PRARP TrRA is intended to support studies that will make transformative and advanced contributions to reduce risk of or prevent the development of AD/ADRD. Risk reduction considering TBI and/or military service is of particular interest to the program. The work should significantly accelerate efforts in AD/ADRD research and demonstrate significant impact toward improving patient care and/or quality of life. To meet the intent of the funding opportunity, applications must robustly address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in prevention and risk reduction. The proposed research may include, but is not limited to, exploring questions in the following areas: Identification of risk factors (environmental, genetic, epigenetic, lifestyle, etc.). Identification and implementation of strategies to reduce AD/ADRD risk and prevent cognitive problems following TBI and/or military service. Understanding the role of social determinants of health in risk reduction. Informational (not descriptive) epidemiology to understand environmental and other factors that contribute to development of AD/ADRD. All applications submitted to this funding opportunity must clearly indicate how the project addresses a critical unmet need, explain how the research will be representative of the population it intends to benefit, and demonstrate cultural competence. Culturally competent research factors the cultural background and diversity of the intended beneficiaries of the research outcomes when developing research ideas, conducting research, and implementing the research findings. Cultural competency in research is critical in reducing health disparities and enhancing the quality and impact of research by ensuring inclusivity, understanding, and responsiveness to the needs of diverse populations. Key elements of this award mechanism include: Research should be robust: The FY24 PRARP TrRA mechanism is geared toward supporting robust, well-designed research projects that provide significant impact on the AD/ADRD field, persons living with dementia, and their families, care-partners/caregivers. Inclusion of collaborative Community partner approaches is strongly encouraged for all projects and is required for all projects involving clinical research. Use of animal models must be fully justified for relevance to human health. Non-incremental advancement: Research projects should leverage existing knowledge to accelerate ideas, strengthen evidence, and move the field forward. Therefore, preliminary data are required. Projects proposing incremental advances that do not significantly propel the field do not meet the intent of this mechanism. Feedback to the Community: Applicants are expected to articulate a plan for relaying the results and outcomes of the research supported by this mechanism must be relayed back to the research/Community(ies) to allow for continued knowledge building. Optimizing research impact through Community collaboration: Research funded by the FY24 PRARP should be responsive to the needs of people living with AD/ADRD. Community collaboration is required for clinical research projects and encouraged for preclinical studies. Establishment and utilization of effective and equitable collaborations and partnerships with members of the AD/ADRD lived experience, family, and care partner communities, which will be referred to as Community(ies) in the remainder of the Funding Opportunity, maximizes the translational and impact potential of the proposed research. Collaborative research approaches feature shared responsibility and ownership for the research project to ensure non-tokenistic involvement of Community members within the research team. Collaborative research approaches such as Community-based participatory research, participatory action research, and integrated knowledge transition generate partnerships between scientific researchers and Community members to create knowledge useable by both sets of stakeholders. Recognizing the strengths of each partner, scientific researchers and Community members must collaborate and contribute their expertise equitably on all aspects of the project, which may include needs assessment, planning, research intervention design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. Research results are jointly interpreted, disseminated, fed back to affected communities, and may be translated into interventions or policy. These methods are critically important for Community-level interventions and can also augment the potential impact of a research program on people living with dementia, their families, and/or their care partners. These collaborative relationships are often established through integrating Community members into research teams as co-researchers, advisors, and consultants. Some examples for Community collaborations include: Lived Experience Consultation: The research team includes at least one project advisor with AD/ADRD experience who will integrate with the research team to provide consultation throughout the planning, implementation, and dissemination of the research project. Lived experience consultants (LECs) may include individuals with AD/ADRD, their family members, care partners, or others as appropriate. Partnership with a Community-Based Organization: The research team establishes partnerships with at least one Community-based organization that provides consultation throughout the planning, implementation, and dissemination of the research project. Community-based organizations may include advocacy groups, service providers, policymakers, or other formal organizational stakeholders. Community Advisory Board (CAB) Utilization: A CAB is composed of multiple Community stakeholders and can take many forms, from a board of LECs to a coalition of Community-based organizations or any combination thereof. As with LECs and organizational partners, the CAB provides consultation throughout the planning, implementation, and dissemination of the research project. Career Initiation or Transition (CIT) Partnership Option: The FY24 PRARP encourages applications that include meaningful and productive collaborations between two principal investigators. To promote enhanced research capacity within the AD/ADRD field, the FY24 TrRA includes an option for a CIT Principal Investigator (PI) to partner with an experienced to jointly address a research question. The CIT PI must have nominal, if any, research support in the field and may be either one of the following: The Career Initiation PI must be an early-career researcher, at least 3 years post their terminal degree but no more than 7 years into their independent position. Both PIs may have similar or disparate expertise, but each PI is expected to bring distinct and complimentary contributions to the application. The Career Transition PI must be an investigator (at any stage) who is new to the military health, TBI, or AD/ADRD field(s). New to the field is defined as having only nominal, if any, publications in the field. The other partnering investigator must have complimentary experience (as evidenced by publications) in military health, TBI, and/or AD/ADRD field(s). The CIT is structured to accommodate two PIs. One PI will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for most of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The other will be identified as a Partnering PI. Either PI can be the CIT PI. Both PIs should contribute significantly to the development of the proposed research project, including the Project Narrative, Statement of Work (SOW), and other required components. Both PIs may have experience in similar or disparate scientific disciplines, but each PI is expected to bring distinct and complimentary contributions to the application. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named to an individual award within the recipient organization(s). For individual submission requirements for the Initiating and Partnering PI, refer to Section II.D.2, Content and Form of the Application Submission.

The 2024 Texas Rural Woman Grant, offered by Texas Woman's University, aims to foster economic development in rural Texas by empowering woman-owned small businesses to undertake innovative projects. This grant aligns with the university's mission to support women entrepreneurs and stimulate economic growth in underserved areas of the state. The program seeks to address the unique challenges faced by rural businesses, contributing to the overall economic well-being of Texas communities. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are existing rural, woman-owned small businesses in Texas. These businesses must be at least 51% directly owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizen women who also reside in Texas. The grant focuses on for-profit corporations, partnerships, LLPs, LLCs, or sole proprietorships located and operated within eligible rural Texas counties. The impact goal is to encourage and enable these businesses to undertake new and innovative projects, thereby creating greater economic development activity in rural Texas. The grant prioritizes projects that involve the purchase of machinery, equipment, or technology; farm implements or machinery; the addition or acquisition of new inventory or raw materials; the purchase and installation of fixtures or display units; property improvements that will result in increased sales and revenue; and marketing or advertising campaigns. Any other business-related activity deemed aligned with the program's purpose by the Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) is also eligible. This focus ensures that funding directly supports tangible growth and operational enhancements for the recipient businesses. The expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful implementation of new projects by ten woman-owned businesses, each receiving a $5,000 grant. Recipients are required to complete a small business training course, engage in three hours of small business advising/mentoring, and submit an approved business plan with three years of financials. These requirements are designed to not only provide immediate financial support but also equip business owners with the knowledge and resources for sustainable long-term success and growth, leading to increased sales and revenue for their businesses.

This program provides funding for research institutions and organizations to develop advanced techniques for improving the performance and reliability of quantum computing systems, specifically targeting applications in national defense.

The National Science Foundation's Directorates for Engineering (ENG), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Mathematical Physical Sciences (MPS), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) are coordinating efforts to create fundamental understanding that will enablecontinued effective use of an essential common resource, the electromagnetic spectrum. Existing approaches to spectrum management and regulationhave struggled with the ever-increasing demands for spectrum created by continual emergence of new scientific, military, and commercial applications, powered by steady advances in wireless technologies. Development of fundamentally new models and paradigms of spectrum access and management, along with enabling technologies, is needed before it becomes too costly to accommodate new innovations and essential services, or too late to sustain the digital transformation and growth of key industries and public services. This program seeks to develop the intellectual capital enabling the U.S. to smoothly and quickly transition to effective new ways of using and managing the radio and optical spectrum after the end of the current spectrum era of long-term exclusive-use license auctions, thereby sustaining and advancing the social, economic, scientific, and U.S. national leadership benefits derived from the electromagnetic spectrum.

The FY24 LCRP Idea Development Award mechanism promotes new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This award supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths and suffering from lung cancer. Research applications only in the area of mesothelioma will not be accepted. Applications should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale.New Investigators: The FY24 LCRP Idea Development Award mechanism encourages applications from independent investigators in the early stages of their careers (i.e., within 10 years of their first faculty appointment or equivalent). The New Investigator category is designed to allow applicants early in their faculty appointments to compete for funding separately from established investigators. Applications from New Investigators and Established Investigators will be peer and programmatically reviewed separately. Principal Investigators (PIs) using the New Investigator category are strongly encouraged to strengthen their applications by collaborating with investigators experienced in lung cancer research and/or possessing other relevant expertise. It is the responsibility of the applicant to describe how the included collaboration will augment the PIs expertise to best address the research question. All applicants for the New Investigator category must meet specific eligibility criteria as described in Section II.C, Eligibility Information.Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.Key elements of this award are as follows:Innovation: Research deemed innovative may introduce a new paradigm, challenge current paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other uniquely creative qualities.Impact: Research that has high potential impact may lead to major advancements and significantly accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths and suffering from lung cancer.It is the responsibility of the PI to clearly and explicitly articulate the projects innovation and its potential impact on lung cancer and its relevance to Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries. The projects impact to both lung cancer research and to patients with lung cancer should be articulated, even if clinical impact is not an immediate outcome. Applications that demonstrate exceptional scientific merit but lack innovation and high potential impact do not meet the intent of the Idea Development Award.

07 March 2024 Update: Please see instructions for full proposal instructions and general submission instructions within the attached documents to this announcement.****CURRENTLY ACCEPTING WHITE PAPER SUBMISSIONS ONLY - DEADLINE FOR WHITE PAPER SUBMISSIONS is 12 DEC 2023*********The pre-proposal (a.k.a. white paper) form and submission instructions is available at the hyperlink below:https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/docs/dwfp/FY24_DWFP_Form.pdf.Applicants should follow the instructions in the pre-proposal form to complete both the form and a separate project summary slide (quad chart). The pre-proposal form and quad chart are submitted as two separate files and also as one combined file, for a total of 3 PDF files. Submissions are due to the AFPMB Webmaster no later than December 12, 2023 (11:59pm EDT). Late submissions will not be considered.Full details are available at related documents tab see downloadable PDF file entitled "BAA Version 1 dated 19 Oct 2023". Note: This document references 3 pages for a white paper/preproposal submission however this should instead reference 3 PDF files make up a preproposal/white paper submission.The U. S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground Edgewood Contracting Division, Fort Detrick, invites applications for funding opportunities for the Fiscal Year 2024 Deployed War Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program, renewable for up to 3 years, administered by the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB). The AFPMB is soliciting pre-proposals for original, innovative research designed to develop new interventions to protect deployed U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) personnel from medically relevant pests, including arthropod disease vectors of mosquito-borne arboviruses and tick-borne pathogens, as well as fly-borne bacterial pathogens. The DWFP Program supports the development of: new toxicants or the adaptation of existing toxicants to medically relevant pests; new insecticide application techniques; new personal protection tools that prevent human-vector contact; new decision support tools; and new vector surveillance tools that focus on improving vector control outcomes. The proposed research should: support the Advanced Technology Development of new insecticides, or improved formulations of existing insecticides for vector control, new technology or enhanced modalities of personal protection from biting arthropods, or improved efficacy and sustainability of equipment for application of pesticides (for more information, see Budget Activity 3 in the DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 2B, Chapter 5); be product-oriented, consisting of advanced research related to a particular technology or new capability, field evaluation of products, or research directed towards the development of an existing prototype product for commercialization; include semi-field or field evaluation of prototype products; be applicable for both military and civilian uses, including military operational environments with limited logistical support; focus on multiple target vectors; and outline a strategy for subsequent registration by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the development of products containing a pesticide(s).The program does not support: basic research; vector pathogen research; clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic or vaccine research in humans; testing to measure acute oral, dermal and/or inhalation toxicity; EPA registration costs; testing and evaluation of products previously registered with the EPA, unless they are being developed for a new use; testing and evaluation of commercial products, unless they are tested in comparison with prototype products; or manufacturing, packaging and production costs.Up to $4,500,000 may be awarded in FY24, with future years subject to the availability of funds. The total proposed cost cannot exceed $975,000, i.e. a maximum of $325,000 per year for up to 3 years, inclusive of all direct and indirect costs. Funding is intended to be provided during August-October 2024. Projects will be selected on the basis of peer-reviewed scientific merit and programmatic relevance. Pre-proposals will be accepted from investigators who are employed by or affiliated with an eligible institution. Eligible institutions include for-profit, non-profit, public, and private organizations. Examples include universities, hospitals, laboratories, companies, and agencies of local, state government. Federal Agencies may also respond to this request; however, federal submissions will be processed in accordance with applicable regulations. Funding for federal agencies is provided subject to an appropriate interagency agreement.The estimated timeline for the FY24 DWFP Program is as follows: December 12, 2023 Deadline for pre-proposal submissions Mid-January 2024 Invitation to submit full proposals Mid-March 2024 Deadline for full proposal submissions Late April/early May 2024 Notification of full proposal selections August/September 2024 Awards funded

This grant provides funding to research institutions for collaborative clinical trials focused on innovative prostate cancer treatments, particularly targeting high-risk populations, including military personnel and veterans.

The Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC) is the largest business plan competition in the country, designed to advance innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona. Its mission aligns with supporting early-stage ventures in scaling their operations. The program is specifically structured to identify and nurture promising startups, providing them with the resources and guidance necessary to grow and succeed within the state's innovation ecosystem. The primary goal is to foster a vibrant technology and entrepreneurial landscape in Arizona, contributing to economic development and job creation. The target beneficiaries of the AIC are early-stage technology companies and startups based in Arizona. The program aims to support ventures that demonstrate potential for innovation and commercialization, helping them overcome common challenges associated with early-stage development, such as securing funding and gaining market traction. The impact goals include increasing the number of successful technology companies in Arizona, enhancing the state's reputation as a hub for innovation, and ultimately generating significant economic value through new businesses and advanced technologies. The AIC prioritizes ventures that are innovative and have a clear path to commercialization, focusing on sectors that can drive economic growth and technological advancement in Arizona. The program offers a two-tiered support system: semifinalists gain access to Venture Raise, a twelve-week hybrid accelerator designed to prepare startups for funding. This initial phase focuses on refining business models, pitch development, and investor readiness. Following Venture Raise, ten finalists are awarded $100,000 and enter Venture Scale, a six-month accelerator. This advanced phase provides customized support and one-on-one matching with ACA Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, focusing on strategic growth, market penetration, and long-term sustainability. The expected outcomes include a higher success rate for participating startups, increased investment in Arizona's technology sector, and the creation of high-quality jobs. Measurable results are tied to the number of companies funded, the amount of follow-on investment secured by participants, and the sustained growth of businesses emerging from the program. The Arizona Commerce Authority's strategic priority through the AIC is to build a robust and competitive innovation economy. Their theory of change posits that by providing targeted financial awards, comprehensive accelerator programs, and expert mentorship, early-stage ventures can significantly de-risk their growth trajectory and achieve commercial success. This, in turn, creates a virtuous cycle of innovation, attracting further talent and investment to the state and solidifying Arizona's position as a leader in technology and entrepreneurship.

The FY24 PRMRP Clinical Trial Award supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the treatment or management of a disease or condition addressed in one of the congressionally directed FY24 PRMRP Topic Areas and FY24 PRMRP Strategic Goals. Clinical trials may be designed to evaluate promising new products, pharmacologic agents (drugs or biologics), devices, clinical guidance, and/or emerging approaches and technologies. Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept trials (e.g., pilot, first in human, phase 0) to demonstrate the feasibility or inform the design of more advanced trials through large-scale phase 1 to phase 3 trials to determine efficacy in relevant patient populations.Applications from investigators within the military Services and applications involving multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, the military Services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other federal government agencies are highly encouraged. These relationships can leverage knowledge, infrastructure, and access to unique clinical populations that the collaborators bring to the research effort, ultimately advancing research that is of significance to Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. If the proposed research relies on access to unique resources or databases, the application must describe the access at the time of submission and include a plan for maintaining access as needed throughout the proposed research.CDMRP encourages research on health areas and conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately, or differently from men, including studies analyzing sex as a biological variable. Such research should relate anticipated project findings to improvements in women's health outcomes and/or advancing knowledge for women's health.Funding from this award mechanism must support a clinical trial. A clinical trial is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Part 46.102 (45 CFR 46.102) as a research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include a placebo or another control) to evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or behavioral health-related outcomes. Studies that do not seek to measure safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcome(s) of an intervention are not considered clinical trials.

This funding opportunity is designed for researchers and teams focused on improving our understanding of snow accumulation and ice flow dynamics in glaciers across the Northern Hemisphere, with an emphasis on airborne and ground-based observations, modeling, and data synthesis.

This program provides funding for community organizations and local governments to acquire technology devices to help bridge the digital divide for those facing affordability challenges.

This funding opportunity is designed to support research institutions and organizations in developing innovative energetic materials and methods to enhance the Army's capabilities in weapon systems and multi-domain operations.

CAL FIRE's Wood Products and Bioenergy team seeks to maintain and enhance the wood products infrastructure of California to promote healthy resilient forests throughout the state by supporting a diverse set of business development and workforce development projects.  ; Eligible business development projects include facilities, operations, and professional services that support the restoration of healthy, resilient forests.   Eligible workforce development projects include universities, colleges, government and community organizations, and businesses that aim to increase workforce capacity in the fields of logging, fuels treatment, transportation, manufacturing, or other support services that bolster the development of a resilient forest sector workforce.   Research and development projects related to both business and workforce development will also be considered. Check out the Wood Products website and subscribe for updates.     

Amendment 2 to the NASA ARMD Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2024 NRA has been posted on the NSPIRES web site. University Leadership Initiative (ULI) provides the opportunity for university teams to exercise technical and organizational leadership in proposing unique technical challenges in aeronautics, defining multi-disciplinary solutions, establishing peer review mechanisms, and applying innovative teaming strategies to strengthen the research impact.Research proposals are sought in six ULI topic areas in Appendix D.4.Topic 1: Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations (Strategic Thrust 1)Topic 2: Innovation in Commercial High-Speed Aircraft (Strategic Thrust 2)Topic 3: Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports (Strategic Thrust 3) Topic 4: Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles (Strategic Thrust 4)Topic 5: In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance (Strategic Thrust 5)Topic 6: Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation (Strategic Thrust 6)This NRA will utilize a two-step proposal submission and evaluation process. The initial step is a short mandatory Step-A proposal due May 29, 2024. Those offerors submitting the most highly rated Step-A proposals will be invited to submit a Step-B proposal. All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES at https://nspires.nasaprs.com.An Applicants Workshop will be held on Thursday Apr 3, 2024; 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET (https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop8).An interested partners list for this ULI is at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners. To be listed as an interested lead or partner, please send electronic mail to [email protected] with "ULI Partnerships" in the subject line and include the information required for the table in that web page.

This grant option, part of the Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program, aims to support early-stage research into innovative treatments and rehabilitative techniques for spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. The Tier 1 Pilot Project Grant does not require preliminary data but encourages it, reflecting early investment as researchers prepare to seek larger grants. The funding amount can reach up to $125,000 for a project duration of two years with an additional one-year no-cost extension.

The Legacy Business Recovery Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation to the City of Los Angeles, offers grants of up to $20,000 to eligible Legacy Businesses. This initiative is designed to provide crucial financial assistance to aid these businesses in their recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program's core mission aligns with broader efforts to support local economies and preserve established community businesses, recognizing their historical and cultural value. It underscores a commitment to helping businesses adapt, reopen, and sustain operations in a challenging economic landscape. The primary beneficiaries of this program are Legacy Businesses listed on the Legacy Business Registry, operating within Los Angeles city limits, and functioning from commercial, industrial, or manufacturing locations with a valid commercial lease. Home-based businesses are not eligible, and annual revenue cannot exceed $3 million. The impact goal is to facilitate the recovery and continued operation of these vital businesses, ensuring their survival and contribution to the local economy and community fabric. Businesses must demonstrate how the funds will be used for COVID-19 recovery expenses, with a focus on necessary expenditures. Funding priorities emphasize equitable distribution across finalists, with a particular focus on City of Los Angeles geographic diversity and low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Grant application submissions from businesses located in or owned by individuals in low- and moderate-income communities (50% and 80% of Area Median Income as defined by HUD) are more heavily weighted, as are businesses facing an imminent threat of displacement. This weighted selection process reflects a strategic priority to support businesses in areas with greater need and vulnerability, aligning with a theory of change that targeted investment can produce more equitable and impactful recovery outcomes. Expected outcomes include the sustained operation of Legacy Businesses, job retention, and economic stabilization within affected communities. Measurable results will be tied to how grant funds are utilized, with eligible uses encompassing employee payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, working capital for reopening or continued operations, adapting to new technologies, payment of outstanding business expenses incurred after March 3, 2021, adaptive business practices, and legal fees for lease negotiations. Grant amounts are tiered based on employee count: $10,000 for businesses with one to five employees and $20,000 for those with six or more. This structure ensures that assistance is tailored to the operational scale of the businesses, contributing to their effective recovery and resilience.

This announcement seeks revolutionary research ideas for topics not being addressed by ongoing BTO programs or other published solicitations. This publication constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016 and 2 CFR § 200.203. Any resultant award negotiations will follow all pertinent law and regulation, and any negotiations and/or awards for procurement contracts will use procedures under FAR 15.4, Contract Pricing, as specified in the BAA. BTO's mission is to develop capabilities that leverage the unique properties of biology - adaption, replication, resilience and complexity, to revolutionize how the United States defends the homeland and prepares and protects its Warfighters. Research in BTO creates biotechnological capabilities that provide tactical care and restore function to injured warfighters, increase operational resilience, develop novel functional materials, and detect and protect against threats to maintain force readiness.

This grant provides funding for organizations to develop projects that promote internet freedom, protect human rights online, and combat censorship and digital security threats.