Grant and Funding Opportunities

The purpose of the program is to promote economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of grant funds to eligible entities. Applications will compete in two separate categories, business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants, for use in funding various business and community projects that serve rural areas. This program provides grant money to assist with economic development planning and/or the financing or expansion of rural businesses.

Eligible applicants include:

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

Award Ceiling:  There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Contact: Cindy Mason, Loan Specialist, phone: 202-690-1433, email: cindy.mason@wdc.usda.gov

See more at: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/356757

The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. 

In 2024, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities. 

1. Flagship Grants

We are accepting applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in the following categories:

• Creating vibrant Public Places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities;

• Delivering a range of Transportation and Mobility Options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability and access to public and private transit;

• Supporting a range of Housing options that increases the availability of accessible and affordable choices;

• Increasing Digital Connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents;

• Supporting Community Resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents;

2. Capacity-Building Microgrants

Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources — such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to two hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national organizations and AARP publications — this grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) in the following categories:

• NEW! Disaster Preparedness Training:  – Implement disaster preparedness training programs and resources for residents (especially those age 50-plus), with support from SBP and using the AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.
• Bike Audits: Implement bike audit assessments to enhance safety and bikeability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from League of American Bicyclists and using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit.

• HomeFit® Modifications: Implement education, simple home modifications and/or easy home safety and accessibility solutions to make "lifelong homes" (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from the RL Mace Universal Design Institute and using the AARP HomeFit Guide.

• Walk Audits: Implement walk audit assessments to enhance safety and walkability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from America Walks and using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.

3. Demonstration Grants

This opportunity funds projects that encourage replication of promising local efforts. Grants tend to fall between $10,000-$20,000 and will not exceed $25,000. This grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) in the following categories:

• NEW! Enhancing pedestrian safety by creating safer streets and sidewalks (with a focus on people age 50-plus) with funding support from Toyota Motor North America. 
• NEW! Expanding high-speed internet (broadband) access and adoption (with a focus on people age 50-plus) with funding support from Microsoft.

• Reconnecting communities divided by infrastructure (with a focus on people age 50-plus), as highlighted in AARP’s award-winning "Before the Highway," article series.

• Implementing housing design competitions that increase community understanding and encourage implementation of policies that enable greater choice in housing (with a focus on people age 50-plus), using the AARP Housing Design Competition Tool Kit.

AARP Community Challenge grants may be used to support three project types. Project types described below will be prioritized over those that support ongoing programming or events.

• Permanent physical improvements in the community

• Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change

• New, innovative programming pilots or services

Eligible applicants include:

The program is open to the following types of organizations:

• 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits (Nonprofit organizations must be recognized by the IRS to receive funds.)
• Government entities
• Other types of organizations considered on a case-by-case basis. (Funds will not be provided to any for-profit company, nor individuals. However, AARP does allow for IRS recognized 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations or government entities to serve as fiscal sponsors of grants.)

Award Ceiling: $25,000, varies by project and category
Deadline: March 5, 2025.
Contact: email: livable@aarp.org

See more at: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2025/2025-challenge.html

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