Tennessee Environment Grants

This grant provides funding to charitable organizations in Davidson County, Tennessee, to support their operational needs and specific projects that align with the Foundation's mission.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing the potential availability of funding for the development of small-scale and urban-focused agriculture production activities. The Tennessee NRCS Small-Scale Urban-Focused Agriculture Project is an effort to challenge local Conservation Districts, non-profit organizations, non-government organizations, institutions of higher learning and other community partners to work toward the development of demonstration urban, community, and pollinator gardens across Tennessee. Awarded projects will demonstrate the process of planning and applying natural resource conservation practices, systems, and treatment in urban agricultural environments. Awarded structural practices will promote agricultural production and optimize environmental benefits in urban agricultural environments. Proposals will be accepted from eligible entities for projects located in Tennessee. NRCS anticipates the total amount awarded under this announcement in Federal fiscal year 2024 will be approximately $320,000.00. Proposals are requested from eligible entities for projects with a one (1) to three (3)-year duration. Entity types that may be eligible under these criteria include the following: a. City or township governments b. County governments c. Independent school districts d. Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education) e. Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education) f. Private institutions of higher education g. Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education h. Special district governments i. State governments For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 21st, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected]. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. The agency anticipates making selections by July 1st, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 15, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

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.

The Spark Cleantech Accelerator program supports early stage cleantech businesses and drive commercialization of their technologies in Tennessee. Donor Name: UT Research Park State: Tennessee County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: 05/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The Spark CTA was created in partnership with Evergreen Climate Innovations (previously Clean Energy Trust) and other partners to support early stage cleantech businesses and drive commercialization of their technologies in Tennessee and throughout the Midwest and the Southeast. The Spark Cleantech Accelerator is a 12-week program and the UT Research Park in Knoxville, Tennessee. The program provides mentorship, connections, stipends, prototyping services, and business acceleration services to early stage cleantech entrepreneurs to help commercialize new innovations. In 12-week, in-person program, the offer: $15,000 Stipends to help defray travel/living costs and to support business and technical milestones Prototyping services through the University of Tennessee’s Center for Materials Processing, Mentoring and one-on-one support from our experts in business, market analysis and positioning, and IP/ patent strategy, product design, engineering, prototyping, testing, material selection, tooling design, and manufacturing, Connections with customers, investors, strategic partners, suppliers, and universities and national laboratories, Training Workshops and one-on-one support. Partnership opportunities with organizations such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Lab, the University of Tennessee, the City of Knoxville, and members of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council. Eligibility Criteria Application from Tennessee, the Midwest, and beyond. Companies that demonstrate a positive impact to energy efficiency, generate renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture, increase recycling/upcycling and a circular economy. Companies that show strong market potential and defensible intellectual property, with issued patents or pending patents filed. Those who demonstrate their technology can support the challenges and needs of Spark partners, such as utilities, local governments, universities, manufacturing companies, commercial building operators, etc. Those that create software of hardware technologies including intelligent connected devices, advanced materials process, or with technology companies at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-6. Applicants who are open to Tennessee as a permanent business location. For more information, visit UT Research Park.

The RTP provides grant funding for land acquisition for trails, trail maintenance, trail construction, trail rehabilitation and for trail head support facilities. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal funded, state administered grant program. RTP provides grant funding for land acquisition for trails, trails maintenance and restoration/rehabilitation, trail construction, and trail head support facilities. All grant projects must be on publicly owned land.

TEAP provides state matching funds to directly support tire recycling, tire derived product use, tire reuse research and development, or processing facility improvements. In 2015, the Tennessee Automotive Association partnered with TDEC and the General Assembly to enact Public Chapter 525 that established the Tire Environmental Fund. Upon the first retail sale of a new motor vehicle that is to be titled and registered in Tennessee, a flat fee based on the number of the vehicle’s wheels is assessed. The fee goes into the Tire Environmental Fund which is used to fund projects creating or supporting beneficial end uses for waste tires.

The TRIP provides assists cities and counties establish their first Parks and Recreation Department with a parks and recreation professional as the Director. The Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program (TRIP) provides grants to those cities and counties currently without a comprehensive parks and recreation delivery system in operation due to lack of staffing and organization. City or county governments. Development of a formal Parks and Recreation Department.

This program provides financial support to public, nonprofit, and private fleets in Tennessee to replace or upgrade their transit and shuttle buses with new alternative fuel or all-electric models.

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.

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.

LWCF is a federal matching grant supporting acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The LWCF program provides matching grants to states to administer to state and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Recreation Educational Services administers the LWCF grants in Tennessee. These grants require a 50% match.

DWSRF funds drinking water and water supply projects, including "green" projects. Principal forgiveness available for qualifying small/disadvantaged/ rural communities for planning, design, and construction. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loans are available for the planning, design, and construction phases of public water systems. DWSRF provides low-interest loans to cities, counties, utility districts, and water authorities for drinking water infrastructure. Small, economically disadvantaged communities are eligible for principal forgiveness, which can cover a portion of the SRF loan, and will significantly reduce the amount owed. Eligibility for principal forgiveness is restricted to communities with a population of 10,000 or less combined with an ATPI of 50 or less.

CWSRF funds water quality and wastewater treatment projects as well as storm water projects, including "green" projects. Principal forgiveness for qualifying small/disadvantaged/rural communities. The CWSRF program is a federal-state partnership that provides low-cost financing to communities for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects, including municipal wastewater facilities, nonpoint source pollution control, decentralized wastewater treatment systems, stormwater runoff mitigation, green infrastructure, estuary protection, and water reuse. CWSRF provides low-interest, infrastructure loans to cities, counties, utility districts, and stormwater authorities.