Grant and Funding Opportunities

NatureWorks projects are funded through the Ohio Parks and Natural Resources Bond Issue which was approved by Ohio voters in November 1993.

The NatureWorks grant program provides up to 75% reimbursement assistance for local government subdivisions (townships, villages, cities, counties, park districts, joint recreation districts, and conservancy districts) to for the acquisition, development, and rehabilitation of recreational areas.

Since NatureWorks' inception, the grant has funded over 2300 public park projects in all 88 counties.

Eligibility:

• All local subdivisions of government are eligible (local school boards are ineligible).
• The agency must have proper control (title or at least a 15-year non-revocable lease) to be eligible for a development or rehabilitation grant.

Award Ceiling: County allocation up to $150,000 max if available
Match Required: 25% match
Deadline: June 2, 2025.
Contact: Dee Burlison, 2045 Morse Road E-2, Columbus, OH 43229, phone: (614) 265-6834, email: dolores.burlison@dnr.ohio.gov

See more at: https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/apply-for-grants/grants/natureworks

The Township Safety Sign Grant program provides up to $50,000 in safety signage materials for Ohio's townships. The program can award up to $2 million a year for this grant. Applications are now being accepted through Friday, June 6th, 2025, for the following Ohio townships:

• Townships who have never received a grant under this program
• Townships who received a grant in 2018 or earlier.

To see if your township qualified to apply for the 2025 grant, please visit the list of eligible townships available at: https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/LocalPrograms/LTAP/Lists/2025_Township_Safety_Sign_Grant_Eligible_Townships/AllItems.aspx

Priority for funding will be:

• Townships who have never applied previously, ranked according to the severity of their crash histories for the last five years
• Townships who were previously funded, ranked according to the severity of their crash histories for the last five years

What is included in the grant?  Materials as listed below, up to $50,000 in value:

• Safety Signs - to replace current signs or install new signs in places where there weren't any signs before
• Posts for the Signs
• Hardware for the Signs. 

Award Ceiling: $50,000
Deadline: June 6, 2025.
Contact: Tina Potter, ODOT Office of Local Programs: email; tina.potter@dot.ohio.gov phone: 614-387-7359

See more at: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/local-funding-opportunities/resources/township-safety-sign-grant-program

Pursuant to its power to engage in research and development with respect to wastewater, water management facilities, solid waste facilities, and energy resource development facilities, OWDA has established a grant program for qualifying research and development programs. OWDA is seeking research and development proposals to address issues related to wastewater, drinking water, water resource management, solid waste management and energy resource development in Ohio.

Projects for which grants are awarded must be of such a nature that the benefits to be derived fulfill a general need in the State of Ohio that is within the scope of the powers of the Authority. Grants are subject to available funds. Priority will be given to projects that have statewide environmental and/or natural resource applications, and grantees must submit a final report. For more details, see the Research and Development Program Guidelines.

Applicants are encouraged to review the sample Participation Agreement, and should be comfortable with the terms and language prior to submitting an R&D application.

Since the development of the Research and Development Grant Program, OWDA has awarded grants in the areas of surface water, wastewater, drinking water, solid waste, agriculture, and public health.

Eligibility:

• Local Government Agencies (Cities, Villages, and Counties),
• Water/Sewer Districts,
• Conservancy Districts,
• State Agencies or
• Institutions of higher learning that perform research and/or development.

Award Ceiling:  $200,000
Deadline: June 6, 2025.
Contact: Christine Okonak, email: cokonak@owda.org; phone: (614)-728-0174

See more at: https://www.owda.org/rd-grants

The U.S. Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grant program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The program promotes partnerships projects that must involve a) only long-term protection, restoration, enhancement and/or establishment of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit diversity of wetland ecosystems and b) maintaining an abundance of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and other populations of wetlands-associated migratory birds consistent with the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, and Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan. The program requires a 1:1 non-federal match and research funding is ineligible. This program supports the Department of Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission of protecting and managing the nation's natural resources by collaborating with partners and stakeholders to conserve land and water and to expand outdoor recreation and access.

Eligibility:

• County governments
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• State governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• City or township governments
• Small businesses
• Independent school districts
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Special district governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
Deadline: July 10, 2025.
Contact: Justin Markey, Fish and Wildlife Service; email: Justin_Markey@fws.gov;

See more at: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358607

ODOT is hosting a special solicitation for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient, and accessible transportation option for all Ohioans. A variety of pedestrian and bicycle related projects are eligible for this opportunity with an emphasis on projects that can begin construction before July 2026.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is hosting a special solicitation for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient, and accessible transportation option for all Ohioans. A variety of pedestrian and bicycle related projects are eligible for this special solicitation, including:

• Plans and Studies - the development of pedestrian and/or bicycle related plans or studies at the state, regional, local, or corridor level.
• Data Collection - the collection of data related to walking and biking.
• Education and Promotion - activities that educate on bicycle and walking matters and those which promote walking, biking, and transit as a transportation option.
• Short Term Infrastructure Projects - engineering, design, and/or construction of pedestrian and bicycle projects that can begin construction by June 30, 2026.
• Traditional Infrastructure Projects - engineering, design, and/or construction of standalone pedestrian and bicycle projects of statewide significance.

Eligible applicants include:

• political subdivisions (i.e. city, village, township, county, school district, health district, park district, etc.),
• regional planning organizations, and
• other non-profit agencies with support from a political subdivision

Award Ceiling:  Cost should be commensurate to the potential impact. Projects for over $3M are highly unlikely to be fully funded through this solicitation.
Deadline: Electronic applications can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed and awarded quarterly (January, April, July, and October) based on funding availability.
Contact: Caitlin Harley, Safe Routes to School & Active Transportation Program Manager, phone: 614-466-3049, email: Caitlin.Harley@dot.ohio.gov

See more at: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/traveling/bicycling-and-pedestrians/Resources/pedbikefunding

The Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program will award approximately $250 million to provide safe, reliable drinking water in areas that lack infrastructure, bring sewage treatment capacity to unsewered areas, and develop regional infrastructure to serve multiple communities. This presentation offers more information.

Water and wastewater construction projects are eligible for up to $5 million in grant funding, and infrastructure engineering design projects are eligible for up to $250,000.

Examples of water infrastructure construction projects include, but are not limited to:

• Sewer/wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion
• New/replacement sanitary sewer lines
• Excess sanitary sewer infiltration/inflow correction
• Improvements to public drinking water treatment facilities
• Drinking water line improvements or extensions
• Repair, replacement, and construction of drinking water storage towers

Click to download the application to the Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program, and contact Matt Lindsay at mlindsay@mvrpc.org to discuss potential projects in your community.

Through its Planning and Local Technical Assistance programs, EDA assists eligible recipients in developing economic development plans and studies designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. The Planning program helps support organizations, including District Organizations, Indian Tribes, and other eligible recipients, with Short Term and State Planning investments designed to guide the eventual creation and retention of high-quality jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nation’s most economically distressed regions. As part of this program, EDA supports Partnership Planning investments to facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which articulate and prioritize the strategic economic goals of recipients’ respective regions. The Local Technical Assistance program strengthens the capacity of local or State organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible recipients to undertake and promote effective economic development programs through projects such as feasibility studies and impact analyses.

Please see the Federal Funding Opportunity for full information on how to apply. Also note that any applicants who are in the process of developing an application under the previous FFO will need to apply under the new FFO and use the associated new forms.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received. This Planning and Local Technical Assistance opportunity will remain in effect until superseded by a future announcement.

Contact: Ellen Heinz, State of Ohio Economic Development Representative, (312)505-4953, eheinz@eda.gov

See more at:

 https://www.eda.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/fiscal-year-2021-2023-eda-planning-and-local-technical-assistance

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=280447

The Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA) program provides property assessment services at no cost to eligible applicants. SABR utilizes either in-house field staff or contractors to perform the requested assistance and the applicant receives a written report of the work performed.

Typical services include Phase I environmental site assessment, asbestos surveys, geophysical surveys, and limited or supplemental phase II property assessment. TBA staff will work with applicants to provide the appropriate services to meet their needs.

New services available through TBA include those required for participation in the Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup program administered by Ohio Development Services Agency. The program includes certain perquisites for eligibility including a Phase I assessment to Ohio EPA Voluntary Action Program (VAP) standards, Class C designated release by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR) and former use of the property as a gas station or service station. TBA can assist with preparatory activities including Phase I assessment, determining if underground storage tanks (USTs) are present, determining if there was a release from UST’s, tank closure assessment and completing the BUSTR Class C release form. For more information about the Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup program click here.

Eligible applicants: Eligibility for the TBA program requires the following:

• Applicant is a local government or quasi-governmental entity
• Applicant is not a potentially responsible party
• If applicants do not own the property, access to the site has been granted
• Property must be a brownfield (former industrial/commercial use or residential if more than 4 units)
• Property is not subject to federal CERCLA orders or on the National Priorities List.

Deadline: Ongoing

Contact: Ellen Heinz, State of Ohio Economic Development Representative, (312)505-4953, eheinz@eda.gov

See more at: http://epa.ohio.gov/derr/SABR/Grant_Assistance.aspx