State Grants

The One North Carolina Small Business Program offers two grant opportunities for small businesses in the state. The Incentive Funds initiative provides reimbursement to qualified businesses for a portion of the costs incurred in preparing and submitting Phase I SBIR or STTR proposals to federal agencies. A pool of $400,000 is available for these preparation grants in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The Matching Funds portion of the program awards matching funds to businesses who have already received a federal Phase I SBIR or STTR award. In the current fiscal year, a pool of more than $2.4 million is available to support this class of grants. To apply for either the Incentive or Matching grant solicitations, interested organizations can visit commerce.nc.gov/grants-incentives/technology-funds/one-north-carolina-small-business-program. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2024, or until funds have been exhausted for the program’s 2023-24 fiscal year funding cycle.

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.

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 NYFIRST medical school grant program aims to support the recruitment or retention of exceptional life science researchers at New York State medical schools. The program offers a maximum grant of $1.0 million, with a requirement for grantees to provide $2 in matching funds for every $1 of NYFIRST program assistance. Eligible expenses include laboratory establishment or upgrades, purchase of capital equipment and specialized supplies, and working capital for professional staff costs. Eligible applicants are limited to medical schools in New York State, and the recruited or retained Principal Investigator must have a history of translational research and be pursuing innovative solutions for unmet clinical needs with a clear path to commercialization. Additionally, the talent must demonstrate a history of entrepreneurship, be tenured or on a tenure track, hire from outside New York State or retain full-time scientists or doctoral students/post-doctoral fellows, and have potential for significant life sciences economic development benefits in New York State. For detailed eligibility requirements, funding criteria, and application guidelines, potential applicants should refer to the Life Sciences Initiative Program Guidelines for the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent (NYFIRST) Program.

Statewide downtown revitalization program for communities that seek designation as Main Street communities. The Main Street movement has been transforming the way communities think about the revitalization and management of their downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts for decades. Specifically, Main Street is three things: a proven strategy for revitalization, a powerful network of linked communities, and a national support program that leads the field. The National Main Street Center is a subsidiary or the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Forestry programs under the Southern Pine Beetle Initiative were developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s pine forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. The Southern Pine Beetle Initiative (SPBI) was developed to encourage landowners to proactively manage their pine forest stands and make them more resilient to beetle infestations. Funds are provided by the USDA Forest Service and administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF).

Support for arts projects in underserved, rural communities with special focus on distressed counties. The Targeted Arts Development Initiative (TADI) is a strategy developed to reach counties identified by the Tennessee Arts Commission as under-represented in Commission investments. TADI is designed to build capacity and develop leadership potential, while encouraging applications from the identified counties to existing Commission grant categories or programs. Government and nonprofit entities within identified counties above with projects that use arts and cultural activities to benefit their community, build upon existing assets, or overcome challenges are urged to apply.

Forestry programs under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) were developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. Forestry programs under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) were developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. The programs help promote sustainable forest management practices on family forestland, which provide multiple resource benefits such as timber, wildlife habitat, clean water, and soil protection.

The Rebuild and Recover Disaster Program, initiated by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, aims to aid local communities in recovering from weather-related incidents. Eligible incidents include those with significant damage to owner-occupied homes, either without a Presidential Disaster Declaration or with one necessitating federal assistance before completion of a damage assessment. Grants, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, are available to affected city or county governments. Funds can be utilized for rehabilitation, demolition, relocation, and administrative costs. For more details, contact Toni Shaw at [email protected] or refer to the program description and forms provided.

EELP launched in the fall of 2010 with the purpose of establishing a low interest revolving loan fund to assist commercial and industrial businesses in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements, which, in turn, reduce operating costs, improve productivity, and make Tennessee businesses more competitive. In January 2016, EELP was expanded to offer financing to local government entities, including municipalities, counties, school districts, and other public agencies.

Provide grants to address water quality impairments from nonpoint source pollution from agriculture and other sources. The ARCF provides cost-share assistance to Tennessee landowners to install Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce agricultural water pollution. This assistance is facilitated primarily through Soil and Water Conservation Districts although Resource Conservation and Development Councils, universities, and other agricultural associations may participate.

The overall goal of Lottery for Education: Afterschool Programs (LEAPs) is to provide Tennessee students with academic enrichment opportunities that reinforce and complement the regular academic program. In November 2002, Tennesseans voted to create a state lottery. The General Assembly established that profits from the lottery be used for specific educational programs: college scholarships, early childhood programs and afterschool programs.

CDP Production grants are available for documentary media productions that focus on California subjects and issues, using the humanities to provide context and perspective. Projects may include film, audio, digital media, web-based and broadcast series, podcasts, interactive, VR, and multiplatform projects. There is no specific length requirement for projects. Projects must approach the subject matter from a humanities perspective and involve at least two Humanities Advisors. Eligible applicants may request funding up to $50,000 with a required 1:1 match of cash or in-kind contributions from non-federal sources. The maximum term for a CDP Production grant is three years after the start of the grant period. Applicants must be non-profit organizations or individuals being fiscally sponsored by a tax-exempt organization or municipal/state agency with federal 501(c)(3) status. Fiscal sponsorship does not need to be confirmed by the application deadline but should be confirmed within 30 days after the application due date if awarded. Grant funds are disbursed in three installments: 50% upon approval of signed award documents; 40% upon approval of an interim report; and the final 10% upon project completion and approval of a final report. Applications for CDP Production Grants are submitted online through the California Humanities’ website by November 1, 2023. Applicants will be notified of receipt of their proposals by email. Notification of grant decisions will be sent by email to both the Authorizing Official at the applicant organization and Project Director by April 1, 2024. For more information about eligibility, grant guidelines and requirements, or the CDP grant program in general contact Director of Media & Journalism Programs John Lightfoot at [email protected]. For questions about the online application process and reporting contact Grants Manager Brett Connor at [email protected].

Federal program designed to assist low income households, particularly those who pay a high proportion of household income for home energy bills, meet their immediate home energy needs by providing an annual energy benefit. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is 100 percent federally funded through a grant from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. LIHEAP provides funds to the states to help meet the utility costs of low-income eligible elderly and disabled adults.

Funding for local litter pickup operations and prevention education programs. In 1983, TDOT issued the first “Litter Grants” to county governments. These grants established pickup programs and provided litter prevention and recycling education at the local level. Today, Litter Grants improve communities in all 95 Tennessee counties and directly touch thousands of Tennesseans each year through volunteerism and educational programming.

Credit against federal tax liability for investors in the construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. The Low-Income Housing Credit is a credit against federal income tax liability each year for 10 years for owners and investors in low-income rental housing. The amount of tax credits is based on reasonable costs of development, as determined by THDA, and the number of qualified low-income units.

LPRF provides matching grants to local governments for purchase of land for parks, natural areas, greenways and recreational facilities and capital projects for recreation in those areas. The Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) provides grants to eligible local government entities for the purchase of lands for parks, natural areas, greenways, and recreation facilities. The funds may also be used for trail development and capital projects in parks, natural areas, and greenways. At least 60 percent of the funds allocated will go to municipal governments as authorized by TCA 67-4-409. All grant projects must be on publicly owned land.

This program provides free pine seedlings to eligible family forest owners in Tennessee to promote reforestation and sustainable timber management on their land.

The Injury and Violence Prevention Program works with state and local partners to help Tennessee communities implement evidence based injury and violence prevention programs. The Injury and Violence Prevention Program works with state and local partners to help Tennessee communities implement evidence-based injury and violence prevention programs. The program provides the following:​ ​Injury data to community groups and the public to assist them in their injury and violence prevention program design and development​ Technical assistance related to program implementation and evaluation​ Provision of child safety seats​ Education and training on Injury and violence topics​

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Connecticut focused on historic preservation, helping them improve their operations, diversify funding, and enhance community engagement.