Utah Science and Technology Grants

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that create hands-on STEAM workshops for underserved youth, enhancing technical skills and career exploration opportunities within the Best Buy Teen Tech Centers network.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Utah that focus on education, environmental conservation, social services, basic science, and healthcare for underserved populations, especially projects that intersect these areas.

This program provides matching funds to local businesses, nonprofits, and government entities in Carbon County, Utah, to support economic development projects that improve infrastructure, workforce training, and facilities.

A full study proposal and proposed budget is NOT requested at this time. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: This work requires on-site support for a large field project at Edwards AFB to implement the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). Support will include invasive species removal and monitoring, wetlands support, tri-colored black bird support, and native plant restoration. Refer to the Statement of Interest Package / Statement of Objectives for complete details. Anticipated Period of Performance: One 18-month base period (12 months from award date + 6 months administrative for onboarding/preparation plus analysis and reporting). Responses or clarifications: Submit your Statement of Interest via e-mail attachments or direct questions (no later than 31 July 2024) to::Cheryl VendemiaGrants SpecialistUSACE, Fort Worth DistrictEmail: [email protected] LeptienProject ManagerUSACE Fort Worth DistrictEmail: [email protected] Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: RSOIs are required to be posted on www.Grants.gov for 30 days prior to the Government making a decision and requesting full proposals..Refer to Related Documents for RSOI Package details.

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is offering the Rural Communities Opportunity Grant (RCOG) to empower rural communities in Utah to drive their economic development. This grant aligns with the office's mission to foster economic growth and opportunity across the state, particularly in areas identified as rural. The program is designed to enable these communities to take responsibility for economic development planning, project implementation, and managing their unique opportunities, reflecting a strategic priority to build local capacity and self-sufficiency. The primary beneficiaries of the RCOG are various rural entities within Utah, including counties of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth class, cities, towns, and metro townships located within those counties, municipalities with a population of 10,000 or less in counties of the second class, and Associations of Governments. The grant's impact goals are to address critical economic development needs, ultimately leading to improved economic vitality and quality of life in these rural areas. This includes enhancing business environments, strengthening workforces, and upgrading essential infrastructure. The grant prioritizes several key areas to achieve its objectives. These include business recruitment, development, and expansion; workforce training and development; and infrastructure, industrial building development, and capital facilities improvements for business development. These focus areas are designed to create a comprehensive approach to economic development, tackling various facets from job creation to foundational support for businesses, which aligns with a theory of change that posits strategic investment in these areas will lead to sustainable economic growth. Expected outcomes from the RCOG include increased business activity, a more skilled and adaptable workforce, and modern infrastructure capable of supporting economic expansion. While specific measurable results such as the number of new businesses created, jobs retained or added, or the value of infrastructure improvements are not explicitly detailed as quantitative targets, the competitive nature of the funding and the requirement for matching funds suggest an expectation of tangible, high-impact projects that demonstrate effective use of state resources and strong local commitment. The funding structure, with varying limits for different types of entities, also indicates a tailored approach to maximizing impact based on community size and need.

This grant provides financial support to businesses in Daggett County for projects that promote economic growth, infrastructure improvements, and business expansion within the area.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is currently seeking proposals for its Rocky Mountain Rangelands Program. This initiative aims to conserve, restore, and improve habitat in the Intermountain West, specifically focusing on wildlife species associated with sagebrush, irrigated meadows, and aquatic systems, while also preserving large mammal migration. NFWF's mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats aligns directly with the program's objectives. The target beneficiaries of this grant include ranchers, community-led organizations, and landowners in Idaho and Utah, as well as the diverse wildlife species inhabiting these rangelands, such as sagebrush sparrow, sage thrasher, mule deer, pronghorn, and Greater and/or Gunnison sage-grouse. The program's impact goals are centered on accelerating and implementing voluntary conservation practices to achieve sustainable livestock production, enhanced wildlife habitat, improved ecosystem services (including carbon sequestration), and increased landscape permeability for wildlife. Priority will be given to projects that promote innovations in grazing management, strategic management of annual invasive grasses, habitat enhancement (through mesic area/wet meadow, sagebrush restoration, and conifer removal), fence removal or modification, and the provision of technical assistance to landowners. In Idaho, there's a dedicated focus on supporting positions to integrate Farm Bill programs with the Big Game Migration Initiative. In Utah, funding is available to facilitate conservation practices on working lands and to support positions that increase the pace and scale of voluntary perpetual conservation easements through ACEP-ALE delivery and RCPP technical assistance. Expected outcomes include the adoption of cost-effective and sustainable conservation approaches, direct benefits to priority wildlife species, and increased landowner enrollment in Farm Bill programs. The program anticipates awarding between 10-20 grants, with a suggested minimum of $100,000, and projects may span one to three years. Measurable results will likely involve tracking acres restored, number of fences modified, and improvements in wildlife populations. This program exemplifies NFWF's strategic priority of fostering collaborative, science-based conservation efforts and their theory of change, which posits that strategic investment in voluntary, on-the-ground conservation with strong partnerships leads to tangible and lasting benefits for both wildlife and working lands. The program is supported by major private funding from Cargill, Taco Bell, Nestlé, Capri Holding Ltd., and federal funding from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The US Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research on applications of isotopic and elemental geochemistry to ecologic as well as surface and groundwater hydrologic problems. Essential components of the funding opportunity are: 1) student, faculty, and laboratory support for application, refinement, and development of geochemical methods, that 2) address solute and water sources and transport pathways, through 3) application of a wide range of stable and radioisotopic systems (ranging from hydrogen, helium, and lithium through uranium and lead), by 4) analysis of the isotopic and elemental composition of diverse sample media (including plant and animal tissue, sediment, rock, and aqueous phases, especially high salinity brine).

Established in 1985, the R. Harold Burton Foundation honors the legacy of Robert Harold and Maybelle Covey Burton by supporting education, science, literacy, and health and human services projects in the greater Salt Lake metropolitan area. Reflecting the Burtons' interests, the foundation awards grants to tax-exempt organizations primarily located in this region, aiming to enhance the community's capacity for positive impact. Grant applications are reviewed twice yearly, with submission deadlines on February 15 for spring and August 15 for fall. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a charitable or educational purpose and hold a 501(c)(3) status.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner to support a study of grassland bird communities under a changing climate. Over the last half-century, populations of grassland birds declined by more than any other bird group in North America. This is because native grasslands have largely been converted to agricultural row crops, and the remaining prairies have become degraded through altered fire regimes, woody encroachment, the spread of invasive plants, and human development. Land managers and conservation organizations are racing to preserve and restore these ecosystems to stem further loss of grassland birds. Given limited resources, bird habitat models are needed to help managers prioritize where conservation efforts will be most effective. In addition to habitat loss and degradation of native grasslands, increasing greenhouse gas emissions will likely change temperatures and rainfall patterns across the Great Plains. This changing climate is expected to alter vegetation communities and the bird species that depend on them. To date, predictions of bird response to a changing climate have focused on changes in temperature and precipitation, but vegetation productivity also depends on factors such as vegetation type and soils. By studying how vegetation influences grassland birds across the western Great Plains, are creating maps of projected bird distribution, given vegetation and land-use change under multiple future climate scenarios. Predictive bird distribution maps will help land managers and other decision-makers understand how the site-level projects fit within regional and climatic contexts. A web-based application and raining modules accompanying these maps will increase capacity among Federal, State, Tribal, and private partners in their conservation planning under a changing climate.

The Robert F. Orr Charitable Foundation is currently accepting applications for grants dedicated to charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. While the foundation's broad mission encompasses these areas, specific grantmaking priorities guide its funding decisions. The foundation seeks to align its support with initiatives that demonstrate a clear commitment to positive societal impact, particularly within the states of Hawaii, Idaho, and Utah. The foundation's grantmaking priorities are divided into three core areas: Environment, Education, and Human Services. Within the Environment category, the foundation prioritizes causes and programs that foster environmental conservation and support restoration projects, aiming to preserve and improve natural ecosystems. For Education, the focus is on K-12 STEM programs and job training initiatives, with the goal of enhancing educational opportunities and workforce development. In Human Services, the foundation supports programs for disadvantaged persons and individuals with disabilities, striving to improve their quality of life and promote inclusivity. Target beneficiaries for these grants include environmental organizations working on conservation and restoration, educational institutions and programs serving K-12 students in STEM fields, and organizations providing job training or services to disadvantaged and disabled individuals. The overarching impact goals are to contribute to a healthier environment, a more educated and skilled workforce, and a more equitable society for vulnerable populations within the specified states. While the document does not explicitly detail "expected outcomes and measurable results" or the foundation's "strategic priorities and theory of change," the articulated priorities strongly suggest a belief in the power of targeted support to create tangible, positive change in these key areas. Organizations seeking funding must qualify as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications are accepted through an online grant application form or an accessible alternative for assistive technology users. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2024. While the size of the grant and its duration are not specified, the foundation's commitment to these defined priorities indicates a strategic approach to philanthropy, aiming for meaningful, albeit not precisely quantified, outcomes through its funding.

This funding opportunity supports projects that improve habitats and migration routes for big game species in the western U.S., targeting conservation organizations, state and tribal agencies, and community groups involved in wildlife management.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is offering the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) to advance pollinator conservation. The core mission of this fund is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. This aligns with NFWF’s broader Monarch Butterfly Business Plan, indicating a strategic, long-term commitment to these species. The fund aims to support both technical assistance for private working lands and direct habitat improvement projects. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include monarch butterflies and other at-risk native insect pollinator species, such as the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. The program also indirectly benefits private landowners, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, especially those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by providing resources and incentives for conservation practices on their lands. The overall impact goal is to significantly enhance the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across eligible states. The Pollinator Fund has two main categories of focus. The first is Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands, which prioritizes increasing voluntary engagement of private landowners in conservation practices through staff resources and targeted outreach for Farm Bill programs like CSP and EQIP. The second category, Habitat Improvement, focuses on on-the-ground restoration and enhancement of pollinator habitat, emphasizing regionally appropriate milkweed and diverse native nectar plants, as well as increasing the supply of native seeds and seedlings. These priorities align with NFWF's strategic goal of fostering sustainable ecosystems through direct habitat restoration and incentivizing private land stewardship. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to this program. All proposals must demonstrate how they will directly and measurably contribute to the Pollinator Fund's goals, specifically by providing the number of acres restored or enhanced. A minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states must be restored or enhanced. Historically, successful projects have averaged 2,120 acres, indicating a substantial scale for expected impact. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial assistance and technical support, and by focusing on key geographical areas and species, NFWF can effectively reverse declines in monarch and other native pollinator populations, thereby contributing to broader ecosystem health and biodiversity. The total funding of up to $5.1 million in 2024, contributed by a diverse group of partners, underscores the collaborative and impactful nature of this strategic initiative.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for non-federal partners in the Rocky Mountains to conduct research on snow water equivalent and soil moisture in areas affected by wildfires, using advanced mobile sensing technology.

This funding opportunity is designed for research institutions and organizations within the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to study the interactions and resource use among cattle, wildlife, and wild horses in Utah's fragile ecosystems.

This funding opportunity is designed for research institutions affiliated with the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to study vegetation health and water use in the Lower Colorado River's riparian areas using remote sensing technologies.

This program provides funding to various organizations, including telecommunications providers and local governments, to improve broadband access and infrastructure in underserved areas of Utah.

The City of Provo and Utah Valley HOME Consortium are offering $1,759,085.00 in HOME Investment Partnership – American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funding. This grant program is specifically designed for the acquisition and development of non-congregate shelters (NCS). While the specific foundation's mission alignment and strategic priorities are not detailed, the program's focus on providing safe housing aligns with broader community welfare and housing stability goals often supported by philanthropic foundations and governmental initiatives. The grant aims to address the critical need for secure, non-congregate housing for vulnerable populations. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are individuals and families who are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. This includes individuals as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development 24 CFR 5.2003. The impact goal is to provide immediate and safe shelter for these highly vulnerable individuals, offering them a secure environment as they escape dangerous situations. The emphasis on non-congregate shelters ensures a private and safer alternative to traditional shelters, which is particularly crucial for victims of violence. The priorities and focuses of this grant include the acquisition of land and construction of new non-congregate shelters, as well as the acquisition and/or rehabilitation of existing structures such as motels, hotels, or other facilities to be converted into NCS units. It is explicitly stated that no funds may be used for the operational costs of these shelters, emphasizing capital investment in creating new housing resources. This focus ensures that the grant directly contributes to increasing the physical infrastructure available to support the target population. Expected outcomes include an increase in the availability of safe, private, and secure non-congregate housing options within the Utah Valley HOME Consortium boundaries, which encompass Provo City and Utah County (excluding Eagle Mountain, Alpine, and Fairfield). Measurable results would be the number of new NCS units created or existing structures converted, and by extension, the number of individuals and families from the qualifying population who can be safely housed. The theory of change implicit in this grant is that by providing dedicated, non-congregate shelter, the program will empower victims to escape violence and trafficking, offering them a crucial first step towards long-term safety and recovery. Eligible applicants for this funding include nonprofit, governmental, and/or quasi-governmental agencies, housing authorities, and for-profit entities. These entities must serve the defined Qualifying Population within the specified geographic boundaries. The grant deadline is May 20, 2024. While the "Size of the Grant" is listed as "Not Available" in one section, the total funding available is clearly stated as $1,759,085.00, indicating the overall investment. The "Grant Duration" is also "Not Mentioned," suggesting that the focus is on the completion of the acquisition and development projects rather than ongoing operational support.

This funding opportunity is designed for academic or institutional partners within the Colorado Plateau CESU network to conduct research on riparian restoration in the Colorado River Basin, focusing on improving ecological health and supporting avian populations.