Federal Grant Opportunities: April 21, 2026 My office is sharing the following information on federal grant opportunities available to you. If you are applying for a grant that accepts Congressional letters of support, or if you are seeking additional information or guidance in your application process, please contact our office. We stand ready to assist you. 2025-2026 HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit Now Open!The 2025-2026 HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit opened April 15, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted until funding runs out. Cooling assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.If you are eligible, you may receive one HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit per applicant household for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan to help your home stay cool. Learn more about eligibility here.You can apply for a HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit:By Phone: You may call your HEAP Local District Contact. The district will provide more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentationIn person: You may apply in person at your HEAP Local District Contact Featured Funding OpportunitiesNational Endowment for the Humanities Collections Stewardship ProgramThis program funds projects to preserve and make available physical and digital collections important for research, teaching, and public engagement in the humanities. Awards support the work of libraries, archives, and museums; colleges and universities working on collections access; and organizations that provide preservation services or educate and train students and professionals in collections stewardship.Expected Output: assessments and plans for collections stewardship; conserved or preserved collections; catalog records, finding aids, and metadata; digital surrogates, transcriptions, and indexes; education and training for students and professionals in collections stewardshipThis notice of funding opportunity has two application deadlines: May 11, 2026, and December 15, 2026.Veterans Affairs Adaptive Sports Grant ProgramEarlier this month, the Department of Veterans Affairs today announced the availability of $16 million in grants for national, regional and community-based organizations that provide adaptive sports programs for Veterans and service members with disabilities.Adaptive sports programs offer Veterans supportive and recreational opportunities to improve their independence, well-being and quality of life. These programs include a variety of competitive and leisure activities — such as archery, skiing, cycling, wheelchair softball, hunting, fishing and many others — that enable Veterans to rehabilitate through recreation and encourage an active and healthy lifestyle.The deadline for applications is May 13, 2026.FY26 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant ProgramThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the SS4A competitive grant program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Approximately $1 billion is still available for the next funding round. The SS4A program provides funding for two main types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants for Action Plans, including supplemental safety planning and/or safety demonstration activities, and Implementation Grants.Learn more about the program by watching one of the recorded informational webinars.The deadline for applications is May 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).FY24 & FY25 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)Last December, New York Attorney General Letitia James won a lawsuit brought with 20 other attorneys general and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania to stop the illegal elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.BRIC empowers states, local governments, Tribal Nations, and territories to make smart investments in resilient infrastructure. By supporting pre-disaster and hazard mitigation projects — such as school safe rooms, utility hardening, relocating critical facilities out of flood areas, and securing pump stations — BRIC aims to save lives, protect property, and reduce the cost of future disaster response and recovery.Subapplications are due to NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) through FEMA GO (FEMAGO - Login) no later than May 22nd, 2026. If you intend on applying and would like a Letter of Support, please contact my office! Featured Federal Resources and ProgrammingUPCOMING WEBINAR: How to Apply for COPS Office Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO)Applying for funding through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services requires more than completing an application, it requires strategic alignment with federal priorities and a clear, data-driven approach. This webinar provides a comprehensive walkthrough of how to successfully develop and submit a competitive COPS Office grant application.Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1:00 PM ET. Register Here. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 2026 Rural Road Safety Webinar SeriesFHWA’s 2026 Rural Road Safety Webinar Series features presentations on innovative and effective practices that save lives on America’s rural roads. Transportation professionals working in State, regional, local, and Tribal transportation agencies as well as their partners will learn how to implement proven and promising strategies, tools and technologies to advance the Safe System Approach in rural areas.Recording available for Accelerate Delivery of Road Safety Projects in Rural Areas: Successful Implementation of Modular Designs and MaterialsThis webinar featured presentations from Nebraska DOT on installing a modular roundabout on a rural highway; Omaha Department of Public Works on installing modular roundabouts and mid-block crossings on local roads; and California Department of Transportation on the Highway Maintenance for Safety program. Staff in State DOTs, regional agencies, and local agencies supporting rural communities will learn actionable strategies and tools as well as examples to plan, design, construct, operate and maintain modular road safety projects on rural roads.Passcode: ag4^1+e.Register now for Innovative Funding Processes for Rural Road Safety (Thursday May 7, 2026, 1-3 PM ET)State and County transportation agencies will present innovative funding programs and effective strategies that distribute resources across State, Tribal, and local-owned rural roads to maximize safety impact in rural areas. Presentations will discuss strategies to fund systemic programs, use non-traditional funding sources, prioritize projects by cost-to-benefit ratios, use alternative contracting methods, and advance data-driven decision-making to make investments in safety.Register now for Coordinating with Emergency Medical Services to Improve Data Driven Safety Analysis and Traffic Incident Management in Rural Areas (September 16, 2026 1-3 PM ET)State and local agencies will present strategies and tools that DOTs and their partners can use to advance the availability and effectiveness of post-crash care efforts, including coordination between DOT and EMS for Traffic Incident Management, prehospital blood transfer, and delivery of effective training to DOT staff. Additionally, experts will present on the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) to demonstrate how State and local agencies can use this rich database to inform their data-driven safety analysis and safety planning efforts. Featured Local Resources and ProgrammingNYS Environmental Facilities Corporation April WebinarsLooking for funding for your community's water infrastructure projects? Join EFC's upcoming webinars to get information about eligibility, how to apply, and tips to submit competitive applications. Reserve your spot — click a session below to register:APRIL 22, NOON-1 P.M.: Federal Fiscal Year 2027 Intended Use Plan webinar. Learn about funding available through the State Revolving Funds and how to apply. APRIL 24, 11 A.M.-NOON: Q&A session with the Community Assistance Teams. Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) Climate Action Webinar SeriesCDRPC is launching the Capital Region Climate Action Webinar Series 2026, a monthly webinar series highlighting key topics from the Regional Climate Action Plan.Designed for municipal officials, planners, and community members, the series will explore practical strategies that communities can use to take meaningful local climate action. Each session will focus on a different topic related to climate resilience, sustainable development, and clean energy planning. The webinars will be held on the first Wednesday of each month from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.The second session will focus on Battery Storage & Solar and provide an overview of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and large-scale solar. It outlines key considerations for Planning and Zoning Board members, including siting criteria, zoning and permitting frameworks, and decommissioning plans. The session also informs NYS fire safety standards to support informed, consistent, and defensible local decision-making. Register Here! Public Comment Opportunity: ROUTES Initiative Request for Information (RFI)The Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative requests public input on unmet transportation infrastructure needs in rural communities, barriers that rural communities face in addressing those needs, and opportunities for ROUTES and the DOT to improve its services and technical assistance to support rural stakeholders and American families. Comments must be received on or before April 24, 2026 at 11:59PM EDT. DOT will consider comments filed after this date to the extent practicable. Small Business ResourcesNYS Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development invites you to the NYS Projects Pop-Up Series: Capital Region - April 27th at 1 PM This event is designed specifically to connect local MWBEs and other small businesses with the companies leading state-affiliated projects that are shaping the future of New York’s Capital Region.Whether you are already MWBE-certified or are a small business looking to grow, this is your opportunity to meet face-to-face with decision-makers and supportive resources in your area.Event DetailsDate: Monday, April 27, 2026Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PMLocation: Washington Park Lake House, Washington Park Rd, Albany, NY 12203REGISTER NOW: Space is limited, RSVP by 5pm April 22, 2026, HERE.New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC)For over forty years, the New York SBDC network has been the backbone for small businesses. With 20 regional centers, over 70 satellite locations, and hundreds of dedicated experts, we understand every industry, every region, and every phase of the lifecycle of a business.The Albany Small Business Development Center serves small businesses in the Capital Region. Since its start in 1984, the expert advisors of the Albany SBDC have worked directly with 28,053 businesses, helping them to invest $543,926,495 in the area's economy, and create or save 15,244 jobs.You can make an appointment for counseling by calling 518-442-7232 or filling out their online form. Federal Funding AnnouncementsThis summary includes new or updated opportunities in the following areas. Please click on the topic below to view all grant announcements:Agriculture, Food and NutritionArts, Culture and HistoryBusiness, Jobs and Workforce DevelopmentChildren, Youth, Families, Older Americans and VeteransCommunity DevelopmentCrime Prevention, Justice and Public SafetyEducationEnergy, Environment and WildlifeHealthHousing and HomelessnessInfrastructure, Transportation and WaterInternational DevelopmentScience, Technology and Research This summary has been brought to you by the Office of Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20). Does one of these grants accept Congressional Letters of Support? Please contact our office to find out how Rep. Tonko can support your request. Grant deadlines and guidelines may change. Please check with the awarding agency before applying. Please feel free to share this newsletter with others who may be interested. To join or remove yourself from this mailing list, or if you have specific grant questions, please contact Natalie Lincoln at natalie.lincoln@mail.house.gov or (518) 465-0700. image widgetimage widgetimage widgetimage widget