State Consumer Protection Grants

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations that provide financial education initiatives in Washington State, helping to improve financial literacy among residents.

This program provides low-income homeowners and multifamily property owners in Illinois with access to affordable solar panel installations, ensuring they save on electricity costs while promoting renewable energy use in underserved communities.

This grant provides financial assistance to Maui-based businesses impacted by the August 2023 wildfires, helping them cover essential expenses like rent, utilities, and inventory.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Louisiana to help them expand their international sales and export activities through reimbursements for various related expenses.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Vermont-based nonprofit organizations and government entities to promote consumer financial literacy and prevent fraud through educational initiatives.

This program provides financial assistance to eligible Maryland residents with low to moderate incomes for the installation of new solar energy systems at their primary homes.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources administers the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program to strengthen the local food system, enhance equitable access to locally produced food, and improve resilience to supply and distribution disruptions. The program connects farmers, fishermen, and local producers to markets and builds the infrastructure required to produce and distribute healthy food efficiently and safely. Eligible projects are capital in nature and may include equipment purchases, contracted labor for implementation, and planning and design costs directly tied to capital improvements. Projects must address systemic inequities and expand access to fresh local food while improving the resiliency of the Commonwealths food system. Maximum funding per applicant is 500,000 dollars in both agriculture and local food system tracks. Applicants may be individuals, for profit entities, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, or other governmental entities that can meet application requirements and enter into contracts with the department. The grant period runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, and projects must be located within Massachusetts with benefits to residents statewide. Applications are due May 2, 2024. Additional information is available from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) offers the GO TEXAN - Event Grants as part of the Marketing Enhancement Grant Assistance Program. These grants aim to support Associate-level GO TEXAN partners who organize public events such as festivals and farmers markets, promoting Texas-made products and businesses under the GO TEXAN program. Eligible events must focus on advertising expenses and can only include one event per applicant within the designated timeline. Applications are accepted until May 16, 2024, and the projects can run from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. Grant awards are determined based on the event’s adherence to GO TEXAN participation and program recognition, with funding available up to $20,000 depending on past participation and the extent of promotional activities.

The Specialty Crop Assistance program, administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), provides assistance for eligible expenses related to COVID-19 that benefit the production and distribution of Florida specialty crops. Eligible expenses include Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and facility adjustments for worker and product safety. The program is open to specialty crop growers, processors, and distributors. Funding is provided through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, with a minimum reimbursement of $565.00 and a maximum reimbursement of $300,000.00 over the life of the project. The program has a total fund availability of $2,735,124.99, and applications will be processed on a first come first served basis until funds are depleted. The last day to apply for assistance is September 1, 2025. To apply, organizations must register as a state vendor at www.myfloridamarketplace.com, provide a substitute W9 form to the Florida Department of Financial Services, register or login to the FDACS online portal, complete and upload the HR133 Assistance program application to the FDACS online portal, and upload proof of purchase such as invoices marked 'paid', cancelled checks, or other substantial documentation of costs to be reimbursed. Eligible items for reimbursement include various PPE items and facility adjustments for worker and product safety. For additional questions, applicants can contact Kimberly Murphy at (850) 617-7397 or email [email protected].

The CalMoneySmart program aims to enhance financial empowerment among unbanked and underbanked Californians by funding nonprofit organizations. Through financial education and empowerment services, it seeks to reduce disparities, improve financial literacy, and foster wealth-building opportunities. The program awards grantees up to $200K per year for two consecutive fiscal years to promote financial stability and security statewide. ; Grant funds may only be used for the following financial education and empowerment services for the targeted at-risk unbanked and underbanked populations: 1) Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to consumers, classroom or web-based financial education and empowerment content intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers achieve, identify, and access lower cost financial products and services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt. 2) Providing individualized, free financial coaching to unbanked and underbanked consumers. 3) Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to consumers, a financial product or service intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers identify and access responsible financial products and financial services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt. Every project funded with a grant from the Financial Empowerment Fund shall meet the following criteria: 1) Promote and enhance the economic security of consumers. 2) Adhere to the five principles of effective financial education described in the June 2017 report issued by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled “Effective financial education: Five principles and how to use them.” Grant awards will be announced for a two-year period covering two consecutive fiscal years. Funds for each fiscal year are disbursed separately and any unexpended funds must be returned to the DFPI. Disbursement of funding for the second fiscal year is contingent on submission of a satisfactory annual report. A mandatory in-person training for grantees will be held during the grant cycle. Final details will be included in the grant agreement.   Grantees may use no more than 15 percent of the grant to cover administrative (indirect) costs. Failure to comply shall render the Applicant ineligible for a grant during the subsequent fiscal year and until the noncompliance is corrected.  A grantee may subcontract services that it has agreed to provide under the grant agreement, so long as those services are conducted on behalf of the grantee. Subcontract arrangements must be clearly described in the scope of work and budget. Accepting grant funds with the intent of distributing those funds to other nonprofit organizations (for example, sub-grants or fiscal sponsorship) is not allowed. Grant funding may not be used for financial incentives for individuals. Prohibited incentives include, but are not limited to, match funding for savings accounts, participant stipends, or gift cards with a cash value. Grantees are required to submit preliminary and final annual reports, in a form and by a date specified by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, documenting: 1) The specific uses to which grant funds were allocated, 2) The number of individuals aided through use of the funds, 3) Quantitative results regarding the impact of grant funding, and 4) Any other information requested by the Commissioner. Failure to submit satisfactory reports shall render the Applicant ineligible for any DFPI grant during the subsequent fiscal year and until the required report is submitted. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) is offering grants under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. This program aims to transform the food system by increasing options, improving access, and creating new and better markets for small and mid-size producers. The core mission is to build a more diversified, distributed, and local food system to enhance its resilience and benefit consumers, producers, and rural communities. The RFSI program targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including agricultural producers and processors (or groups thereof), nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals. The primary impact goal is to strengthen the middle of the food supply chain in Pennsylvania. Expected outcomes include increased production capacities for food processors, improved storage for produce and grains, and enhanced aggregation points like food hubs and farmer cooperatives. Funding priorities are aligned with addressing critical gaps in Pennsylvania's middle food supply chain. Specifically, the program prioritizes projects that establish or enhance aggregation points, improve food processing infrastructure (including equipment upgrades and moves to licensed spaces), and expand storage facilities, particularly cold storage in urban areas and storage for identity-preserved grains and dry beans. The USDA also encourages projects that benefit underserved farmers and ranchers, new and beginning farmers, veteran producers, and businesses owned by socially disadvantaged individuals. The grant program offers Simplified Equipment-Only Grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, which do not require cost sharing or matching. These are fixed-price grants solely for equipment purchases, with funds to be awarded no earlier than July 1, 2024, and projects completed by June 30, 2026. This focused approach on equipment aims to directly support tangible improvements in the food system's infrastructure, enabling producers and processors to expand and diversify their operations.

The purpose of the SG Program is to assist agencies of the State of California address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems, and improve security of critical infrastructure and resilience of the services these entities provide to their communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for nonprofit organizations in Arizona to distribute free HIV self-test kits to at-risk communities, aiming to improve access to testing and reduce barriers related to HIV.

This program provides funding to California-based organizations and businesses to promote sustainable farming practices and improve access to healthy food in diverse communities.

Restricted to California nonprofit organizations that are described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of such code. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not require certain organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues to apply for and receive recognition of exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRC. Such organizations are automatically exempt if they meet the requirements of Section 501(c)(3).

The FY2025 LGBTQIA+ Violence Prevention & Response Team (VPART) Grant, offered by the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs (MOLGBTQA), aims to prevent crime and address violence against the LGBTQIA+ community in the District of Columbia. This grant directly aligns with MOLGBTQA's mission to convene community and government agencies to reduce violence and harm against members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The grant seeks to support qualified community-based organizations (CBOs) that can coordinate the VPART team, provide services to LGBTQIA+ crime victims, and empower other CBOs through training. The primary target beneficiaries for these funds are individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning, with a specific focus on those at a higher risk of being targeted by hate crimes and bias incidents. The overall impact goal is to address and mitigate violence within the LGBTQIA+ community and further reduce violence and harm through comprehensive support, education, and outreach. Expected outcomes include improved support for victims navigating legal and social service systems, increased access to culturally appropriate mental health services, enhanced community education on harm reduction, and strengthened capacity of CBOs to serve the LGBTQIA+ population. The grant prioritizes two main service areas: Violence Response Services and Victim Prevention Outreach. Violence Response Services include case management to assist victims through criminal, civil legal, and social service systems; legal services providing professional advice on criminal proceedings; and trauma-informed mental health services linking individuals to culturally appropriate and victim-centered care. Victim Prevention Outreach focuses on cultural humility training for organizations serving the LGBTQIA+ population, community education to reduce physical or emotional harm through workshops and campaigns, and harm reduction interventions providing resources and connections to addiction treatment. Organizations applying for this grant are encouraged to demonstrate their full capacity by applying to as many services and programs as possible within these funding areas. The MOLGBTQA's strategic approach, or theory of change, is rooted in the belief that by bringing together public safety, human services agencies, and community organizations, they can effectively prevent crime, support victims, and build community resilience against violence. This collaborative model, facilitated by the VPART meetings and supported by designated grantee organizations, is intended to lead to measurable results in reduced violence and improved well-being for the LGBTQIA+ community in Washington, DC.

Description: The Illinois Grocery Initiative aims to establish new grocery stores in food deserts to increase access to fresh food in underserved areas. This grant, under the funding opportunity number FY24-2 and CSFA number 420-35-3295, anticipates awarding 8 grants with a total program funding of $14,000,000. Eligible projects must involve capital expenditures, as operational costs are not covered. Grants will range from $160,000 to $2,400,000, and applicants are required to meet cost-sharing requirements. The application window opens on 04/09/2024 and closes on 05/24/2024. Indirect costs are allowed but restricted to capital-only expenditures. There are mandatory and optional technical assistance sessions provided to assist applicants, with registration required through provided links.

This grant provides financial support to organizations that participate in California Public Utilities Commission activities, helping to remove barriers to their involvement in policy decision-making processes.

The ConnectALL Initiative's Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP) is designed to foster the development of open-access, publicly owned, and/or controlled last-mile fiber broadband infrastructure. This initiative aims to deliver reliable high-speed internet services to homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions throughout New York State. The program's mission aligns directly with the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development ("ESD") objectives to promote a vigorous and growing state economy, encourage business investment and job creation, and support diverse, prosperous local economies across NYS. By addressing broadband access, the MIP contributes to ESD's broader strategy of using grants and other forms of assistance to facilitate economic development and improve quality of life for residents. The target beneficiaries of the MIP include communities across New York State that are currently experiencing connectivity challenges due to a lack of affordable, high-speed internet infrastructure. Specifically, the program aims to connect homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions. The primary impact goal is to improve broadband access, thereby reducing the digital divide and enabling greater participation in the digital economy. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in the availability of reliable, high-speed internet, leading to enhanced economic opportunities, improved educational access, and better access to essential services for residents and businesses in underserved areas. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around the construction of new infrastructure or the acquisition of existing infrastructure. This includes last-mile fiber connections to address last-mile infrastructure (cabling, wires, pole replacements, radios) and drops to buildings. It also emphasizes fiber connections to Internet Exchange Points or Data Centers, including middle-mile fiber and networking equipment. A key focus is on ensuring open-access and predominantly publicly controlled infrastructure, leveraging funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury Capital Projects Fund (CPF) to achieve these objectives. The ConnectALL Initiative's strategic priorities are deeply rooted in addressing fundamental connectivity gaps across the state. The theory of change posits that by investing in publicly controlled, open-access fiber broadband infrastructure, the state can stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and foster more equitable access to information and opportunities. The expected measurable results include the deployment of new fiber optic networks, the number of homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions connected, and ultimately, an improvement in the overall broadband speed and affordability available to New Yorkers. The total funding available for this program is $228 Million, with a maximum grant size of $30 million per award, indicating a significant investment to achieve these transformative goals.

This funding opportunity is designed to support businesses, organizations, and individuals in Vermont working to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops through various projects that benefit multiple stakeholders in the agricultural community.