North Carolina Infrastructure Grants

This funding opportunity supports economic development projects in North Carolina, particularly for government entities and nonprofits working to benefit rural and economically distressed communities through job creation, workforce training, and infrastructure development.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments in North Carolina for restoring critical public infrastructure to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.

This funding initiative provides financial support to local communities in the Appalachian Region for projects that enhance critical infrastructure and promote business and workforce development.

This program provides funding to local economic development teams in North Carolina to prepare and improve rail-served industrial sites, making them more attractive for new businesses and industries.

This grant provides financial support to individual artists and small groups in North Carolina for projects that enhance their artistic skills, promote their work, or create new art.

This grant provides financial assistance to local governments in North Carolina for demolishing vacant, publicly owned buildings to promote private investment and job creation in their communities.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments and federally recognized tribes in western North Carolina for infrastructure repairs following Hurricane Helene, specifically for projects denied funding by FEMA.

This funding initiative provides financial support to community-based organizations, local and tribal governments in eight southeastern states to address environmental justice issues and promote healthier environments.

This grant provides financial support to local governments in North Carolina's most distressed counties for infrastructure projects that create jobs and enhance industrial activity.

This grant provides funding to governmental entities and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina for projects that promote economic development, job creation, and workforce training, particularly in rural and tobacco-dependent communities.

This funding opportunity provides $7,000 to community-based organizations in North Carolina to implement health-promoting programs for historically marginalized populations, focusing on chronic disease prevention and management.

The Golden LEAF Foundation is currently accepting applications for the Open Grants Program. Donor Name: Golden LEAF Foundation State: North Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/20/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Priority Areas This program is for economic development projects aligned with the Golden LEAF priority areas. Job Creation and Economic Investment Workforce Preparedness Agriculture The Golden LEAF Foundation is committed to using the funds entrusted to it for projects that show the most potential for strengthening North Carolina’s economy, especially in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. Funding Information The Golden LEAF Board has indicated that most awards in the Open Grants Program will be for $200,000 or less. For projects that have certain characteristics, Golden LEAF will make awards of up to $500,000 from this program. Competitive Projects Competitive applications for projects include requests for funds to: Develop and implement a new workforce training program to meet demand from local employers Implement a career pathway at a high school for a high demand field Extend water, sewer, or road infrastructure to a site to enable industrial development that will create full-time jobs Support the development of new crops, expand markets for agriculture products, or provide training for farmers. Characteristics of Open Grants Projects Eligible for Funding of More Than $200,000 Golden LEAF expects that most grants in the Open Grants Program will be for $200,000 or less, and grants of more than $200,000 will be infrequent. To determine which projects will be eligible for consideration for an award of more than $200,000, Golden LEAF requires that the project include one or more of these characteristics: The applicant can clearly demonstrate and explain how the applicant would be able to achieve additional outcomes as a direct result of receiving more than $200,000 in funding, and the additional outcomes are commensurate with the additional funding. The project results from a planning process involving multiple organizations and members of the community that the project will serve, e.g., employers, and those organizations and individuals continue to be engaged in and will provide support to the project. The additional funding will build on a history of success and allow the applicant to scale a project to significantly increase the outcomes the project can achieve. The project is collaborative and includes some features that make the collaboration particularly compelling, such as the following characteristics: The collaboration is uncommon and includes innovative approaches. Golden LEAF funding will enable or encourage the collaboration. The project is regional, i.e., involves organizations in more than one county. A Golden LEAF award would leverage significant funding from other organizations, i.e., Golden LEAF is a small but important part of a larger project. The applicant has limited resources and has made efforts to secure funding from other sources. Implementing the project in phases would compromise its outcomes. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible applicants are governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit Golden LEAF Foundation.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is seeking applications for its Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants. Donor Name: North Carolina Department of Commerce State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/20/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The purpose of this program is to support downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives that are intended to help local governments grow and leverage downtown districts as assets for economic growth, economic development, and prosperity. Funding availability is at the discretion of the Rural Infrastructure Authority. RDED Grants will support projects that Provide public improvements that help retain business and attract customers to business districts. Support publicly owned downtown economic development initiatives that leverage main streets and downtown districts as economic engines. Facilitate publicly owned building improvements that are used for community-wide uses or mixed-use development in or on properties that are publicly owned and controlled. Funding Information The maximum grant amount is $850,000 per grantee and may not exceed $12,500 per projected job created or retained. Eligible Activities Public Infrastructure – Improvements to publicly owned infrastructure in a downtown district, that serves a community-wide use, such as lots, alleys, streetscapes, waterfront developments and parks. Public Buildings (Renovation or Additions) – Improvements to publicly owned buildings in a downtown district that serve a public, community-wide use, such as a community center, theater, civic center, recreation center, or library. Mixed-Use Downtown Development (Renovation or Additions) – Improvements to publicly owned property in a downtown district that may be zoned and developed for a mix of uses. The mix of use may include two or more of the following: retail, restaurant, service, professional, nonprofit, governmental, institutional, or residential. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants are units of local government located in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, and rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties. For the purposes of this program, units of local government are defined as municipal or county governments within the state of North Carolina. For more information, visit NCDC.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Raleigh for improving the exteriors of their commercial buildings, enhancing the visual appeal of the community.

This funding opportunity supports North Carolina nonprofit organizations in addressing community-defined oral health needs and reducing disparities through advocacy and educational outreach.

This grant provides funding to recycling businesses and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina to enhance their capacity and efficiency in diverting materials from the waste stream and creating jobs.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is requesting proposals for its Rural Building Reuse Program. Donor Name: North Carolina Department of Commerce State: North Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/20/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Building Reuse Grant Program develop older buildings in your community into assets to attract new or expanding businesses with the state’s Building Reuse Program. This program provides grants to local governments, using three categories of funding for: The renovation of vacant buildings The renovation or expansion of a building occupied by an existing North Carolina company wishing to expand in their current location The renovation, expansion or construction of health care entities that will lead to the creation of new, full-time jobs. Eligible Projects And Expenses Vacant Building Category Grants are available to support the renovation of vacant buildings. The building must be vacant for at least three months prior to application deadlines. Existing Business Building Category Grants are available to support the renovation or expansion of buildings occupied by a company operating in the state of North Carolina for at least 12 months. Companies must also meet the weekly wage standard, provide at least 50% benefits to employees and be represented on the Priority Industry Table. Rural Health Category Grants are available to support the renovation, expansion or construction of health care entities. The health care entity must be licensed by the State of North Carolina. Eligible applicants are units of local government located in either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county, or a rural census tract in a Tier 3 county. In Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, priority will be given to towns or communities with populations less than 5,000. As prescribed in N.C.G.S. 143B-472.127(a)(2), a rural census tract is an area having a population density of less than 500 people per square mile according to the most recent decennial federal census. The program requires a cash match equal to the grant request amount. The local government must contribute at least 5% of the cash match. The cash match shall come from local resources and may not be derived from other State or federal grant funds. For more information, visit NCDC.

The Green Neighborhood Grant Program seeks to help bring neighbors together to pursue projects which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create natural areas that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, and ultimately benefit the entire community. Donor Name: Town of Carrboro State: North Carolina Town: Carrboro Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Goals Educate and empower neighborhoods to address climate change. Build neighborhood capacity to engage in climate action. Develop and enhance community and Town partnerships. Leverage Town and neighborhood involvement and resources Distribute resources to low-income communities and communities of color who are disproportionately affected by climate change. Funding Information Maximum grant amount: $2,500. Eligible Projects Projects that demonstrate shared benefits with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or contributing to ecosystem resiliency. All projects must achieve the following: Reduce emissions, enhance ecosystem resiliency, or contribute to climate action awareness or engagement Be completed within six months of grant award Be initiated, planned, and implemented by community members Obtain Town permits required for construction, if applicable. Any contractors must carry required insurance. Group/fiscal agent must obtain adequate liability insurance if deemed necessary by the Town (e.g. event insurance) Eligibility Criteria Neighborhoods must be located within Carrboro’s Town Limits. Applicants may apply for funding in two consecutive grant cycles. Applicants who have not been awarded a grant will be provided with information from project evaluation to help develop a better application. For more information, visit Town of Carrboro.

The Dr. Richard W. Adams Charitable Foundation supports a variety of charitable causes with a preference for supporting education in medical science, promoting agriculture and conservation, and preserving wildlife. Donor Name: Dr. Richard W. Adams Charitable Foundation State: North Carolina County: Davidson County (NC), Davie County (NC), Forsyth County (NC), Gaston County (NC), Iredell County (NC), Orange County (NC), Rockingham County (NC), Stokes County (NC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Areas Education Environment, animals Types of support Preference will be given to requests for the following: Requests from Wake Forest University School of Medicine with a strong preference for supporting long-time residents of the Piedmont region of North Carolina whose intent is to practice medicine in such region. Organizations to provide scholarships or other funding to help employees of Davis Regional Medical Center (Statesville, NC) or their family members pursue training in medical science. Organizations and programs promoting agriculture and conservation. Organizations and programs focused on preserving wildlife. Requirements To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt governmental units or charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users. Limitations There are no geographic limitations; however, the foundation primarily supports the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The foundation does not make grants directly to individuals. For more information, visit Wells Fargo.

This program provides financial assistance to farmers in Orange County, North Carolina, to support innovative agricultural projects that enhance income and market access.