Grants for County governments - State

This funding opportunity provides financial support to government agencies and nonprofit organizations for urban forestry projects that benefit disadvantaged communities in Ohio by enhancing tree canopies and improving environmental quality.

The Green Transportation Capital Grant Program, administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation, aims to fund cost-effective capital projects for transit authorities. Its core mission is to reduce the carbon intensity of Washington's transportation system, aligning with broader climate action efforts supported by the state's Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA's strategic priority is to decrease climate pollution, create jobs, and enhance public health, making this grant a direct mechanism to achieve these goals by investing in sustainable transportation solutions. The primary beneficiaries of this program are transit agencies within Washington state, including various city, county, metropolitan, public, unincorporated, regional, and special purpose district transit systems. The impact goals are centered on transforming public transportation infrastructure to be more environmentally friendly. This includes the electrification of transit vehicle fleets and the development of necessary supporting infrastructure, such as charging and fueling stations, and associated electrical system upgrades. The program prioritizes capital projects that directly contribute to fleet electrification and the transition to zero-emission transportation. Eligible projects encompass the acquisition of battery and fuel cell-operated electric vehicles, modification of facilities for electrification or hydrogen refueling, and the construction of new facilities that primarily support electrified fleets. Additionally, it covers essential upgrades to electrical transmission and distribution systems, in-house staff managing capital construction, and property rights acquisition for these projects. The expected outcomes and measurable results include a significant reduction in carbon emissions from the Washington transportation sector, directly contributing to the state's climate goals. Historically, the program has awarded between $12 million and $50 million per biennium, indicating a substantial investment in achieving these outcomes. The project period for most applications is two years (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027), with construction projects potentially extending to four years, allowing for tangible progress in transitioning to green transportation.

Draft program proposals are available on the program website.  This will be updated once final criteria are adopted.

This grant provides funding for research institutions, energy organizations, and technology developers to create open-source tools that improve climate resilience and wildfire risk management in California's electricity sector.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to county and municipal law enforcement agencies in Illinois to purchase laptops for transitioning from paper to electronic crash report submissions.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist or extremist attacks for security enhancements and preparedness initiatives.

The LOCAL program provides Washington municipalities with a cost-effective way to finance equipment and/or real estate projects. Participants will benefit from the current program rating of Moody’s Aa1, low fees and expenses, technical assistance, and access to the tax-exempt bond market. The LOCAL Program allows participants access to the national tax-exempt market through a competitive bid process, regardless of the size of their financing contract • By pooling with the State’s Aa1 rated COP issuances, LOCAL participants are able to take advantage of the State’s very low tax-exempt interest rates

This initiative provides funding to organizations that deliver essential health screenings and services to underserved communities of color in Illinois, aiming to reduce health disparities and improve access to care.

The Multipurpose Drainage Management grant program, offered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), aims to provide financial assistance for projects and practices that control water volume and rates. This program aligns with the broader mission of protecting infrastructure, improving water quality, and delivering related public benefits, while also mitigating climate change impacts. It serves as a competitive grant opportunity, with $900,000 available in FY24, to support multipurpose drainage management activities. The program's core objective is to reduce critical pollution in source areas, thereby decreasing erosion and sedimentation, lessening peak flows and flooding, and enhancing water quality. Simultaneously, it seeks to preserve drainage system efficiency and lower maintenance requirements for priority Chapter 103E drainage systems. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are Chapter 103E drainage authorities, including County, Joint County Boards, or Watershed Districts, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The program strongly encourages partnerships between these entities to apply for and utilize the grant funds effectively. Local governments, such as counties, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and SWCDs, are also eligible if they are operating under current State-approved and locally adopted water management plans. Municipalities can qualify if they have an approved water plan or adopted a comprehensive watershed management plan. Counties in the seven-county metropolitan area are eligible if they have adopted a county groundwater plan or a county comprehensive plan approved by the Metropolitan Council. The impact goals are centered on comprehensive water resource management, aiming for widespread environmental and infrastructural improvements across Minnesota. The grant program prioritizes a range of activities, including structural and non-structural practices and projects, project support, and grant management and reporting. Technical and engineering assistance is considered an essential component of eligible activities, to be factored into the total project or practice cost. The focus is explicitly on multipurpose drainage management practices that target specific pollution sources. By doing so, the program aims to address multiple environmental challenges simultaneously, such as reducing the physical degradation of land through erosion, preventing widespread water damage from flooding, and improving the overall ecological health of water bodies. This integrated approach ensures that interventions are holistic and yield compounded benefits. Expected outcomes from the funded projects include a measurable reduction in erosion and sedimentation, which will contribute to clearer waterways and healthier aquatic ecosystems. A decrease in peak flows and flooding is anticipated, leading to enhanced protection for infrastructure and agricultural lands, thereby reducing economic losses associated with water damage. Critically, the program expects a tangible improvement in water quality, which has direct public health and environmental benefits. Furthermore, by improving drainage system efficiency and reducing maintenance needs for Chapter 103E drainage systems, the program aims to create more sustainable and cost-effective water management solutions for the long term. These measurable results collectively support the strategic priorities of BWSR in fostering responsible water stewardship and resilience against climate change impacts.

The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) offers Planning Grants to counties for producing 95% complete construction plans and specifications for full courthouse restoration projects. The grant aims to restore courthouses to their historic period while also meeting current standards for safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency. Eligible counties can use these documents to apply for future restoration funding, gaining up to 10 additional points for being "shovel ready."Counties with approved plans are encouraged to apply for restoration funding in subsequent cycles, maximizing preservation efforts.

Hydrogen can serve as a zero-carbon energy carrier and act as a potential replacement for fossil fuels in hard-to-electrify applications, particularly for the transportation, industrial, and electricity generation sectors. For the purposes of this solicitation, clean hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced from water using eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Public Utilities Code 399.12, or produced from these eligible renewable energy resources. To achieve sustainable wide-scale deployment, hydrogen must be produced cleanly at increased scale and reduced cost. This solicitation aims to reduce the cost burden of clean hydrogen production through large-scale, centralized production coupled with storage, delivery, and pre-determined offtakers to support a comprehensive hydrogen value chain. Expected outcomes include the development and deployment of low-carbon, cost-competitive hydrogen production from renewable energy sources and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors.   The 2022 California Air Resources Board (CARB) Scoping Plan estimates that by 2045, demand for low-carbon hydrogen increases nearly two-fold the current levels of fossil hydrogen – or a 1,700-fold increase in existing low-carbon hydrogen supply – especially to support emerging end uses such as heavy-duty vehicles, power generation, industrial process heat, and synthetic fuels for aviation. Hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy resources or produced directly from renewable energy resources can provide low-carbon energy and act as an alternative to fossil gas, helping meet California's GHG reduction goals of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045.     

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is launching the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This program is designed to foster the development and growth of clean energy contractor businesses, directly aligning with the broader goals of the Energy Transition Act, also known as the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The program's mission is rooted in strengthening Illinois's clean energy sector by empowering small and emerging businesses to participate more fully in the clean energy economy, which is a key strategic priority for the state in transitioning towards a more sustainable and equitable energy future. The target beneficiaries of the program are clean energy contractor businesses, particularly focusing on those who can benefit from enhanced capacity building. The program aims to help these businesses grow their operations and secure opportunities within the clean energy market. Key impact goals include increasing the number of certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and other relevant certified vendors, improving their ability to bid on state and private business opportunities, and connecting them with vital financial and programmatic support. The theory of change suggests that by providing targeted support to these contractors, the state can accelerate the adoption of clean energy and create a more inclusive and robust clean energy workforce. The program prioritizes several key areas to achieve its objectives. These include providing one-on-one business coaching tailored to participant needs, offering operational support grants for upfront project and pre-development costs (not exceeding $1,000,000 annually per grant), and delivering technical assistance and training. A significant focus is also placed on assisting businesses in developing comprehensive 5-year business strategies, facilitating connections to financial development assistance like zero-interest and low-interest loans from the Climate Bank, and integrating them into established programs such as the Illinois Power Agency’s Illinois Shines Program and Solar for All Programs. Expected outcomes and measurable results include participant contractors successfully applying for State and private business opportunities, achieving various certifications, and preparing competitive bids for Requests for Proposals. The program anticipates participants becoming listed in relevant directories and databases, actively connecting with and participating in state-sponsored clean energy initiatives, and accessing financial development assistance. Performance will be measured through metrics reviewed monthly during business coaching sessions, aimed at achieving specific growth goals. Ultimately, the program seeks to build the overall capacity of clean energy contractor businesses, contributing to job creation and economic development within the clean energy sector across Northern, Central, and Southern Illinois.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities and non-profit organizations in New York State for planning and zoning projects that promote sustainable development, environmental protection, and affordable housing.

The Tier 1 Local Projects under the 2023 Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant aim to support conservation-oriented, shovel-ready projects that benefit specific communities. These projects must be publicly accessible and demonstrate economic benefits through improved quality of life, public health outcomes, and eco-tourism. Eligible applicants include Tribes, Pueblos, Nations, municipalities, counties, public schools, colleges, soil and water conservation districts, and land grant associations. Nonprofits are not eligible. Projects must be completed within 24 months, with grants awarded up front and applications accepted on a rolling basis starting July 1, 2023 until funds are expended or June 30th 2024 (for FY24)

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers the Farmland Preservation Grant program to purchase development rights on farmland so that it remains available for agriculture into the future. The program is part of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and was expanded by the Legislature in 2005 to include significant farmland preservation. Funding supports acquisition of conservation easements and related incidental costs, along with eligible enhancement and restoration that improve agricultural viability, and stewardship planning. Typical projects acquire easements on farmland threatened by development. Enhancement and restoration elements may not exceed one half of total acquisition costs including match, and farm stewardship plans may not exceed 10,000 dollars. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, nonprofit nature conservancy corporations or associations, and the State Conservation Commission. Ineligible activities include short term rights under 25 years, acquisition of land already owned by government, property obtained through condemnation, consumable supplies except for a one time application as part of restoration, elements not considered fixtures or capital items, cleanup of illegal activities, indoor facilities, operating or overhead expenses, purchase of maintenance equipment or supplies, restoration conducted before grant agreement, and transfer of development rights. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the state’s process. Grant limits are not otherwise specified. Further details are available from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

The program prioritizes Projects that benefit vulnerable and LMI populations as well as those located inside the Most Impacted and Distressed area (MID) or documented to impact the MID. Per the grant requirements program funds must benefit the MID and 50 percent of the program funds are required to benefit LMI persons. Additionally, for CDBG-MIT funds to be used as the non-federal cost share local match, the Project must be a HUD eligible activity and must meet a HUD national objective, per CDBG-MIT rules and regulations. Similarly, the Project must fully comply with all applicable federal rules and regulations, to include Davis Bacon and related acts, Section 3, Section 504, procurement, environmental review, and all other CDBG-MIT, cross-cutting, state and local applicable statutes, rules, and regulations. Jurisdictions within the MID that do not meet the allocation requirements are still eligible to submit Projects towards a 20 percent set aside. Applicants will then be required to submit Project applications which will be reviewed against eligibility thresholds to ensure they meet program requirements. The following Jurisdictions will be eligible to apply towards the 20 percent set aside:o City of Agoura Hillso City of Andersono City of Calabasaso City of Chicoo City of Gridleyo City of Lakeporto City of Los Angeleso City of Orovilleo City of Shasta Lakeo City of Westlake Villageo Tribal Entities located within the MID  

Research and input from economic development experts indicate that there is a shortage of large sites that can be successfully developed in the desired 1-2year time frame. DCEO intends to offer incentives to encourage infrastructure investment in large industrial sites, in order to make such sites viable alternatives for large economic development projects. A grant provided through this opportunity will support site readiness planning activities and infrastructure investments needed to prepare industrial property to support investment to Winnebago County and new job opportunities in the industrial sector. Mandatory requirements: • Minimum developable acreage: 200 • Eligible entities: Government entity located in Winnebago County that has a documented agreement with a private entity that meets the following requirements: o Reflects that the applicant has authority to perform work on at least 200 contiguous acres of land in Winnebago County o Reflects that the private entity has an executed REV agreement o Reflects that the applicant intends to support the private entity's REV agreement through the project described in the applicant’s application • Current zoning: Industrial

This program provides financial support to rural volunteer fire departments to improve their wildland fire suppression capabilities and enhance firefighter safety through the purchase of essential equipment.

This grant provides funding to organizations and institutions to develop a comprehensive maritime strategy for Michigan that promotes sustainability, equity, and environmental justice in the state's shipping and boating sectors.

This program provides $200 million in competitive funding to improve broadband access in underserved areas lacking reliable internet service of at least 25/3 Mbps.