Tennessee Community Development Grants

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is inviting proposals for its Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund, aiming to restore and enhance critical forest, grassland, and freshwater habitats within the Cumberland Plateau region. This initiative aligns with NFWF's broader mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. The program's core strategy involves increasing the voluntary adoption of conservation practices on working agricultural lands, which contributes to NFWF’s strategic priority of supporting wildlife and improving ecological health through sustainable land management. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are the diverse habitats and species within the Cumberland Plateau, as well as landowners and communities in the region who will adopt conservation practices. The impact goals are multifaceted, seeking to improve soil health, water quantity and quality, and carbon sequestration. Ultimately, the program aims to foster resilient ecosystems that support both wildlife and sustainable human activities. The foundation's theory of change is predicated on the idea that by providing financial and technical assistance, they can incentivize conservation practices that lead to measurable environmental improvements and long-term ecological benefits. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly outlined through its program strategies. These include restoring previously mined lands, increasing the adoption of conservation practices on grazing and croplands, establishing, enhancing, and maintaining forest habitats, and restoring instream habitats to support aquatic species. A significant focus is also placed on expanding and coordinating technical assistance and outreach to landowners, recognizing the importance of local engagement and support for successful implementation of conservation efforts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in acres of restored habitats, improved water quality metrics, enhanced soil health, and greater carbon sequestration. The program anticipates awarding approximately $2.8 million in grants in 2024, with individual grant awards ranging from $250,000 to $750,000. Projects are expected to have a completion time of 24-48 months. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations, state and local governments, Tribal Governments, and educational institutions, with a preference for projects within identified focal areas of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The program’s success will be measured by the extent to which these conservation practices are adopted and the subsequent environmental benefits realized across the Cumberland Plateau.

The Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative aims to strengthen regional economies by investing in energy resilience through research and planning grants, and implementation grants. The initiative focuses on establishing a regional energy hub for natural gas and natural gas liquids, including hydrogen production. Eligible applicants include local development districts, Indian Tribes, states, counties, cities, and higher education institutions, among others. The total funding available is $5 million, with a grant proposal due by July 24, 2024.

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.

As part of the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017, the State of Tennessee established the Broadband Ready Communities Program to foster county engagement in securing broadband infrastructure and access to their communities. Through TNECD, the program, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, utilizes a portion of the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund – American Rescue Plan to provide $10 million in assistance. A non-competitive grant opportunity is available for county and local governments to secure up to $100,000 dollars for broadband adoption activities. Application window is from October 2 - November 15, 2023.

This funding is available to local governments to improve public infrastructure that supports new and expanding businesses, helping to create jobs and attract investment.

The Louie M. & Betty M. Phillips Foundation is committed to supporting organizations in health, human services, civic affairs, education, and the arts. With an emphasis on serving the greater Nashville community, the foundation allocates funds annually, prioritizing organizations with long-standing relationships with the founders or leadership. Grants are offered for sustaining operations, specific projects or programs, and capital projects, with a focus on broad community benefits and a variety of community needs. Grant renewed every year. Annual Spring deadline: last business day of May

The Thomas W. Briggs Foundation, established in 1986 in Salt Lake City by Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons, is committed to fostering virtues of good citizenship in Memphis, Tennessee. The Foundation prioritizes funding for organizations and projects that align with its focus areas: Arts, Civic, Education, Social Services, and Youth. These projects should promote health improvement, community health access and/or health education, encourage healthy behaviors, support prevention initiatives, and provide direct health services to the uninsured within the Foundation's 103-county service area, excluding Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Grant renewed every year. Annual semiyearly deadline: August 1st and February 1st

This funding opportunity supports projects that preserve historic resources, such as surveys and restorations, benefiting the public and requiring matching funds from the grantee.

This program provides financial assistance to companies in Tennessee to help cover the costs of training new employees, supporting job creation and economic growth in the state.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide stable housing and empower low- and moderate-income communities, focusing on vulnerable populations such as working families, youth, seniors, and veterans.

Downtown revitalization projects following at least one of the 4 points of the Main Street program. Awarded to approximately 6 recipients at $15,000 each. Tennessee Downtowns is an affiliated program of Tennessee Main Street designed to help communities embark on a comprehensive revitalization effort for their downtown. Using the proven National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach® to downtown revitalization, this 24-month program coaches selected downtowns and their steering committees through the steps of launching an effective revitalization effort. Space in this program is limited and highly competitive. Program activities include training, site visits, regional workshops, webinars, technical assistance and an innovation project grant.

Designed to offset the capital expenses in the deployment of broadband in unserved areas. The goal of this program is to facilitate broadband access to all Tennesseans while promoting practices that increase deployment and encourage adoption. The goal of this program is to facilitate broadband access to all Tennesseans while promoting practices that increase deployment and encourage adoption. Funds will be targeted to areas that are unlikely to receive broadband service without grant funding.

Funding from the HUD to promote economic and community development in small cities (e.g. sewer, water, drainage, building community centers). A central tenet of the CDBG program, as with all HUD-funded programs, is to affirmatively further fair housing in the communities we serve. Along with requiring subrecipients to conduct local fair housing activities as a condition of each CDBG activity, an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice is conducted every five years to assess and review impediments or barriers that affect the right of fair housing choice. Public and private policies, practices, and procedures affecting housing choice are covered in this analysis. Impediments to fair housing choice are defined as any actions, omissions, or decisions that restrict, or have the effect of restricting, the availability of housing choices, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or creed.

The Donaldson Foundation dedicates its efforts to making a positive impact in communities where Donaldson Company employees reside, focusing on supporting educational initiatives. It extends grant invitations exclusively to applications with an educational aim, scrutinizing each based on criteria such as educational focus, the need of beneficiaries, impact, sustainability, and connection to communities near company locations. Eligible recipients are required to be IRS-recognized tax-exempt entities. Funding is available in the Twin Cities and several U.S. locations where Donaldson has significant operations, with grants reaching up to $20,000. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Cycle 2 deadline: January 15th

Deadline: May 31, 2024, at 4 p.m. CDT. Eligible Recipients: Not-for-profit organizations with preservation, conservation, cultural, historical, or archeological missions, including HBCUs, tribal nations, and government entities. Eligible Projects: Must be within the Delta Region, focusing on cultural heritage, public roads, regional music, museums, and more. Priority Criteria: Projects addressing immediate needs, new initiatives, completed within 18 months, and enhancing heritage tourism. Where: Projects within the Delta Region, not on federal property. When: Applications open April 15, 2024, and close May 31, 2024, at 4 p.m. CDT. Selected projects announced by September 2024. Webinar: Optional webinar on April 24 at 10 a.m. CDT. Register here. Contact: For project inquiries, email us. For technical support, contact [email protected].

Online Resources for Starting Businesses. Economic inclusion describes the efforts made to bring DBEs into the economic mainstream. For the purposes of BERO, DBE refers to businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities; as well as those in areas of chronic high unemployment and low income. BERO was legislatively established within the Department of Economic and Community Development in 1977 by Title 4, Chapter 26 as the office of business enterprise. Serves as a voice for and advocate of economic inclusion; Analyzes, disseminates, and promotes best practices and access to capital to service providers; and Reports on the status of DBEs statewide (disadvantaged businesses).

For community and economic development projects. Awarded to approximately 25 recipients at up to $500,000 each. The Appalachian Regional Commission (www.arc.gov) is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. The commission is a unique alliance composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. Governor Lee serves on the board; the Governor’s Alternate for Tennessee is Brooxie Carlton, and the Program Manager is Brooxie Carlton. Through ARC, Tennessee is able to award grants each year for economic and community development projects in the 52 counties in middle and east Tennessee served by the ARC.

This funding opportunity supports rural healthcare providers and educational institutions in Tennessee to enhance training programs and develop a skilled workforce in underserved areas, focusing on improving access to healthcare services.

This grant provides funding to local organizations in Campbell County, Tennessee, to support innovative projects that enhance community well-being and address local challenges.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has grants available for aquatic stream clean-up projects across the state. The program assists cities, schools, community organizations, civic groups, watershed organizations, and conservation groups with stream clean-up projects. Five grants, at a maximum of $1,000 each, are available for each of TWRA’s four regional Aquatic Habitat Protection regions (a total of $5,000 per region). The grant money could be used to buy supplies such as rakes, work gloves, and garbage bags. Also, it could be used to pay disposal fees for solid waste and tire removal or to provide promotional items like project advertisements or T‑shirts and refreshments for volunteer support. The funds will be obligated as grants, so the grantee must have a nonprofit tax number. Grant proposals should include the applicant organization’s name, tax ID number, address, phone, and name of a contact person authorized to enter into a contractual agreement on behalf of the organization. The proposal should also include the name of the stream, the county or counties involved, and the project area and description.