Texas Local Grants

This grant provides funding for tree planting, care, and education projects that improve the urban forest in Austin, benefiting civic properties and engaging the community.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and informal arts and culture groups for public arts and culture events and programs in Georgetown.

The City of Denton supports critical homeless response tools that strengthen the county-wide Housing Crisis Response System. Donor Name: City of Denton State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Street Outreach ensures that people living on the street are provided information and referrals, diverted from homelessness and have housing through the Coordinated Entry assessment process for housing placement, crisis intervention, and follow-up supportive services. Funding Information Maximum request is $125,450 annually. Grant Period Funding term is October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2026. Uses of funds This grant may be used for qualified salaries and/or in support of services addressing housing barriers (e.g., critical documents, emergency medication or medical treatment), behavioral health services, and financial costs that support diversion. Eligibility Criteria  Agency must be a 501(c)3 in operation for more than two years and providing services to people/households experiencing homelessness. Agency must be willing to have, or hire, staff trained and experienced in addressing housing barriers, referrals to behavioral health treatment, data collection and entry, and using a trauma-informed outreach approach.  Agency should be able to provide documentation of training and qualifications. Agency must be currently using HMIS and actively participating in Denton’s Coordinated Entry process including participating in Monthly Case Conferencing. Agency must be operating a current Street Outreach program. For more information, visit City of Denton.

The Nexus Grant offers $5,000 grants for new and emerging local small organizations, individual artists, and small arts businesses to produce creative public projects. Donor Name: City of Austin State: Texas City: Austin Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/14/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Nexus grant is designed to nurture new and emerging applicants in the creative community. Funds support creative public activities for the city and its tourists through community-centered arts activities and collaboration. Grant funds may cover administrative costs, equipment and space rentals, marketing, and other eligible expenditures. Collaborations might include activities that involve: Artists Culturally specific groups Groups representing LGBTQIA and disability communities Nonprofits Social advocacy organizations. Priority will be given to: Applicants that are representative of, serve and are accountable to communities that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin and/or have been institutionally marginalized and under-funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. This may include applicants that directly serve Black/African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities or LGBTQIA+ and/or disability communities. Applicants who have never received City of Austin Cultural Funding awards in the last five years. Funding Information The Nexus award is $5,000. Eligible Activities Exhibitions Performances Workshops and classes that include a performance or exhibition Public art projects that are installed on public or private property and accessible by the public. Eligible Expenses Payments to administrators and artists Space rentals Equipment rentals (not purchases) Supplies and materials Marketing and promotion expenses Insurance costs Fiscal sponsor fee, if applicable. Eligible Applicants  501(c) nonprofit arts organization: Maximum Annual Expenses: $150,000. Maximum Request Amount: $5,000. An individual aged 18 or older: Maximum Annual Expenses: $150,000. Maximum Request Amount: $5,000. Creative Business: Maximum Annual Expenses: $150,000. Maximum Request Amount: $5,000. For more information, visit City of Austin.

The Town of Flower Mound provides annual funding to Community Support organizations that offer activities, programs, and services to the residents of Flower Mound. Donor Name: Town of Flower Mound State: Texas Town: Flower Mound Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/06/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Areas Social Services Cultural Arts Application Requirements  Must be 501(c) (3) tax-exempt entity providing services to the residents of Flower Mound. Must have been in operation for at least three years prior to making application for funding. Not more than 25 percent of the organization’s total operating budget will come from the Town’s Community Support funding. “In-Kind Services” are acceptable if included in the financial statement, can be verified by an independent source that the rate or value used is the same rate or value a third party or paying customer would pay, and the service or product is provided by someone not associated with the organization. 4. May not have more than six months operating expenses in reserve. The Town recognizes that organizations may not meet this criterion for a variety of reasons, including deliberately building reserves for projects, funds in reserve already earmarked for specific purposes, or efficient administration of resources. Therefore, the Town reserves the right to allow an organization that otherwise meets the Community Support criteria but has more than six months operating expenses in reserve, to apply and be considered for funding, provided that the organization give an explanation for why they do not meet this criterion. Must submit an “Community Support Funding Application” form, which includes the information listed below and all required attachments. Information for the Application the specific amount of funding requested for the proposed fiscal year; a list of the anticipated benefits to the Town that will result from the funding; statistics on service levels to the Town (actual and as a percentage of total); a description of the request that specifically indicates the intended use for the funds; a brief organization description; status of goals listed for the organization’s most recent completed fiscal year; goals and objectives for the proposed fiscal year; explanation of increase to funding request; and other miscellaneous information. Required Attachments to the Application an audit or CPA review of the most recently completed fiscal year; organizations with a budget of less than $100,000 are not required to submit an audit or CPA review, but are required to submit financial statements with verification of Board approval (i.e. signature); a current IRS 501(c) (3) Determination Letter; form 990 submitted to the IRS for the current year; a budget for either the current fiscal year or a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year; and a list of other funds available for this program (may be shown in the budget). For more information, visit Town of Flower Mound.

The City of Lubbock’s Cultural Arts Grant Program, as administered by Civic Lubbock, Inc., provides local cultural organizations with financial support for projects that promote tourism and the arts and humanities in Lubbock. Donor Name: City of Lubbock State: Texas City: Lubbock Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Funding for the Cultural Arts Grant Program comes from Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). Hotel Occupancy Tax is collected from local hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns. The revenues from Hotel Occupancy Tax can only be used for certain expenditures as outlined by law of the State of Texas. Therefore, in order to receive funding from the Cultural Arts Grant Program each project must show that it: Directly promotes tourism and the convention and hotel industry, and Involves the encouragement, promotion, improvement, and application of the arts, including instrumental and vocal music, dance, drama, folk art, creative writing, architecture, design and allied fields, painting, sculpture, photography, graphic and craft arts, motion picture, radio, television, tape and sound recording, and other arts related to the presentation, performance, execution, and exhibition of these major art forms. Funding Period The 2024 Grant Cycle will be for projects that take place between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria In order to be eligible for consideration, applicants and proposed projects must meet each of the following criteria: Applying organizations must be a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization or government equivalent and actively pursuing its goals as a chartered organization for at least one year prior to applying. The project must directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry, i.e. a project that is likely to draw tourists and hotel guests. The project must fit into the Tax Code 351.101(a)(4) funding category that enhances the Arts. Applicants must be in good standing with both the City of Lubbock and Civic Lubbock, Inc. at the time applications are considered. Restrictions  Grant funds may not be used for the following: elimination of accumulated debt any travel personnel expense normally associated with general operations of the organization operating/overhead expenses normally associated with general operations of the organization fundraising events or activities projects already funded or completed receptions, social functions, or parties capital improvements, renovations, construction, structural maintenance of facilities or purchase of real property For more information, visit City of Lubbock.

The Water Resources Preservation Grant Program, funded by the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA), provides cost-share funding to support the design and construction of stormwater management practices. These practices, referred to as Best Management Practices (BMPs), include Low Impact Development (LID), nature-based solutions, and Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). The goal is to reduce, infiltrate, filter, and delay stormwater runoff, thus protecting the health of waterways in Kerr County. Eligible projects can apply for rebates that cover a portion of the costs associated with these practices, with the aim of reducing pollutants like Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Bacteria by significant percentages. The program supports new constructions or retrofits, emphasizes distributed and centralized treatment methods, and requires adherence to specific design guidelines.

This program provides financial assistance to commercial businesses in Liberty for exterior improvements that enhance the aesthetic appeal and promote business development within the city.

The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) has issued the 2025 Improvement Grant Request for Applications (RFA) for programs that improve indigent defense services in Texas. Donor Name: Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) State: Texas County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/10/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Improvement Grants help counties develop new programs or processes to improve indigent defense. Improvement Grants are competitive, dependent on available funding, and usually require county matching funds. Priority Program Areas Applications for the following program types shall be given funding priority: Managed indigent defense programs structured to ensure quality representation. This includes, but is not limited to, managed assigned counsel and public defender programs. Specialized indigent defense programs representing clients with mental health challenges. Regional indigent defense services. Programs that serve rural areas. Programs that measure the quality of representation for indigent defendants. Indigent defense process management software systems supporting compliance with indigent defense laws. Other programs that implement cost containment initiatives designed to limit local indigent defense cost increases or reduce county operating costs with respect to indigent defense. Improvement Grant Categories Multi-Year Improvement Grants Funding for programs providing indigent defense representation, including public defender offices, managed assigned counsel programs, and indigent defense coordinator programs. Provides funding over four years. Requires a cash match. Grants typically reimburse up to 80% of total approved project costs for the first year; 60% for the second year; 40% for the third year; and 20% for the fourth year. Awards for multi-year grants are made each fiscal year, with funding of eligible expenses provided on a reimbursement basis. Grantees will be required to submit a brief Continued Multi-Year Improvement Grant application form and submit a new Improvement Grant Resolution for continued funding for each subsequent year of eligibility. Minimum $50,000 project budget per application. Rural Regional Public Defender Sustainability Grants Regional programs must cover three or more counties. Counties with populations less than 100,000 are eligible. (Counties that exceed this threshold may request a variance based on special considerations.) Provides reimbursement of 80% of approved program costs in the initial year, transitioning to ongoing sustainability funding covering 2/3 of eligible costs in subsequent years. May be operated directly by counties or contracted to eligible nonprofit public defender organizations. Single-Year Improvement Grants Funding for indigent defense process improvement projects including technology projects. These projects require a cash match as detailed in Section II below. Minimum program budget of $5,000 per application. Routine equipment replacements or upgrades are not eligible. Technical Support Grants Special projects including indigent defense research, program assessments, or pilot projects that build the knowledge base about indigent defense and test processes that can be applied in other counties. All technical support projects require a project paper that describes the implementation, the benefits the county may have received, a brief commentary from participants, and a brief discussion on implications or suggestions for other similar projects. Continued Multi-Year Improvement Grants Counties with current Multi-Year Improvement Grant awards and Rural Regional Public Defender Sustainability Grants must submit a brief online Continued Multi-Year Improvement Grant form for each subsequent year of eligible funding. A new Commissioners Court or governing board resolution must be submitted with the application each year. Requests for scope changes, amendments or budget adjustments may be submitted with Continued Multi-Year applications. Funding Priorities  Funding priorities include the following: New public defender offices. New managed assigned counsel systems. Mental health, juvenile, or other specialty defender offices. Indigent defense coordinators. Grant Period Period for Funding and Program Operation: October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  The following entities are eligible for Improvement Grants: Texas counties. Counties may apply jointly for funding but must designate one county as the grant recipient. A law school’s legal clinic or program that provides indigent defense services for Texas counties as described in Section 79.037, Texas Gov’t Code. A regional public defender formed under Article 26.044, Code of Criminal Procedure that provides indigent defense services for Texas counties and meets the requirements of Texas Gov’t Code Section 79.037. An entity described by Section 791.013, Texas Gov’t Code that provides to a county administrative services under an interlocal contract entered for the purpose of providing or improving the provision of indigent defense services in the county. A nonprofit corporation that provides indigent defense services or indigent defense support services in a county. Nonprofit applicants must document support from and coordination with the county or counties and courts served. Nonprofit applications should contact TIDC staff early in the application process to provide online grant application account setup and for guidance on documentation of county support and coordination. For more information, visit TIDC.

The grant opportunity outlined caters specifically to a broad array of community-focused organizations and entities, including volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, cities and counties, schools, libraries, civic groups, museums, and other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. Eligibility for application is confined to those with projects situated within the LCRA’s wholesale electric or water service areas, or in regions where LCRA Transmission Services Corporation delivers transmission services. The eligibility scope is quite comprehensive, aimed at supporting a wide range of community service providers and enhancers. The invitation to view a map of LCRA’s service areas further clarifies the geographical eligibility, ensuring potential applicants can easily determine their qualification for the grant. The grant projects eligible for funding under this opportunity must focus on capital improvement endeavors that inherently benefit the entire community. These projects can range from construction and renovation efforts to the acquisition of essential equipment. A significant aspect of the funding criteria is the requirement for the project to enhance the value of a capital asset, highlighting the grant’s aim towards long-lasting community benefits. LCRA awards up to $50,000 for such capital improvement projects, with a stipulation for applicants seeking more than $5,000 in grant funding to provide matching funds of at least 20% of the total project cost. The application process is detailed, requiring submissions to include plans, a detailed budget, financials, vendor quotes or estimates, and IRS determination documentation. This structured approach ensures that all proposals are thoroughly vetted and align with the grant’s objectives of community enhancement. Grants are awarded bi-annually, with application periods in January and July, offering multiple opportunities for applicants to seek funding.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority's 2024 Groundwater Conservation Grant Program supports agricultural irrigation efficiency improvements within its jurisdiction, encompassing over 8,000 square miles across eight Texas counties. This initiative aims to incentivize the adoption of water-saving practices among Edwards Aquifer permit holders, enhancing groundwater conservation efforts. Qualified projects that demonstrate potential groundwater savings are eligible for funding. Applicants are required to provide detailed project proposals, including descriptions of current and proposed irrigation methods, equipment to be used, and comprehensive cost estimates.

The North Killeen Downtown Start-up Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act through the City of Killeen, Texas, offers support to entrepreneurs looking to establish or grow businesses in the North Killeen and Historic Downtown Area. The program aims to enhance community resilience and increase economic prospects in areas that have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan Act acknowledges the pre-existing economic disparities experienced by certain communities and families that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds are encouraged to be used to reduce these disparities and create stronger neighborhoods in certain Qualified Census Tracts. North Killeen and the Historic Downtown are located within Qualified Census Tracts.

The City of Killeen Small Business Relief Program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, provides financial assistance to small businesses in Killeen that experienced financial hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic. The program aims to stabilize these businesses and mitigate additional adverse economic impacts. Small businesses can request up to $10,000. Applications opened on February 1, 2022, and will remain open until funds are fully allocated. Eligible businesses must be operational prior to March 2020, operate from a retail storefront within Killeen, have 50 or fewer employees, and have experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19.

This program provides financial support to local businesses in Helotes, Texas, to help them establish or enhance their online sales presence through matching grants for e-commerce marketing initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in McKinney, Texas, for programs that address community needs such as housing, health services, and basic necessities for local residents.

Program: Arts Support Grants, Arts Project Grants, Artist Microgrant Program Funder: City of Lewisville Award Details: The City of Lewisville offers three grant opportunities for organizations and individual artists in the arts sector. The Arts Support Grants are awarded annually to local nonprofit arts organizations using Hotel Occupancy Tax money. The Arts Project Grants provide one-time or first-time funding for programs produced by nonprofits that were not considered during the Arts Support Grants review process. The Artist Microgrant program is open to individual artists and provides funding of $1000 for specific projects or programs that benefit the residents of the City of Lewisville and help drive tourism. Eligibility: Nonprofit arts organizations can apply for Arts Support Grants, while nonprofits and individual artists can apply for Arts Project Grants and Artist Microgrants. There may be additional eligibility criteria specified by the funder. Application Process: Applications for all three grant programs are reviewed by the Arts Advisory Board and recommended to the City Council for approval. The application schedule varies depending on the grant program. Contact Information: For more information on the Arts Project Grant Program, interested parties can contact Denise Helbing, the Arts Manager at 972.219.8478 or [email protected].

City of San Marcos Minority Business Stabilization Fund (Texas) - The City of San Marcos is offering minority entrepreneurs and small business owners within corporate city limits the opportunity to apply for the Minority Business Stabilization Fund Program. This one-time grant assistance program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), provides direct aid to minority-owned businesses in San Marcos. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000 based on the number of full-time employees and can be used for eligible expenses such as physical improvements, equipment, e-commerce expansion costs, rent, payroll, and operating expenses. To be eligible, businesses must have been in operation in San Marcos for at least 12 months, employ 1 to 25 full-time employees, and be at least 51% unconditionally owned by a socially disadvantaged individual. Only one grant may be awarded per business with multiple locations in San Marcos. For more information and to apply, visit City of San Marcos website.