Federal Grant Opportunities: October 1, 2024 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. Featured Funding OpportunitiesFordham University’s Flourishing in Community Initiative – EPA Region 2 GrantsFunded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Inflation Reduction Act, this landmark program will distribute $40 million to support community-led environmental justice projects across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight federally recognized Indian nations.Subgrants will range from $75,000 to $350,000 for projects and initiatives focused on addressing climate change, pollution, and environmental stressors in frontline communities. This is a 3-year program, accepting applications on a rolling basis, with quarterly evaluations. Apply Here! I encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Remember to contact my office for a letter of support.  2024 Clean School Bus Program RebatesThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 authorizes the EPA to offer rebates to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models. The program guidance and application process differ from prior the EPA school bus rebate programs, so please review the summary of program requirements and the detailed Program Guide before proceeding.The Application Deadline is 4 PM ET on Thursday, January 9, 2025USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP)The CFPCGP is intended to bring together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system and to foster understanding of national food security trends and how they might improve local food systems. CFPCGP projects are to include food insecure community members in the planning, designing, development, implementation and evaluation of activities, services, programs, and policies to combat food and nutrition insecurity; and to address underlying causes and factors related to hunger. There are two types of grants in this round:Planning Projects (PP)PP purpose is to complete plans toward the improvement of community food security in keeping with the primary goals of the CFPCGP. Community Food Projects (CFP)CFP purpose is to support the development of projects with a ONE-TIME infusion of federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining. The deadline to apply is Thursday, November 7, 2024 - 5:00 P.M. ET.2024 Build to Scale (B2S)The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is accepting applications for its FY24 $50 million Build to Scale program to support organizations that strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems to support entrepreneurs as they build and scale technology-driven businesses—and the employees in the new, good jobs they create—to make and deliver new technology products and services.For more information, visit EDA’s Build to Scale (B2S) program website.The deadline to apply is 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 28, 2024. Featured WebinarFunding Strategies for Schools and Nonprofits: Incentives and Rebates and How to Find Them   Nonprofits focus on serving their communities, which may make their building need improvements a low priority. To support organizations with energy upgrades which boost efficiency and save money, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hosting a webinar series on “Funding Strategies for Nonprofits.”   On October 8th at 2pm (ET) join the DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) for the second webinar in this series, which will focus on utility rebates information. Learn about the value of rebates and incentives and how they can be part of an organization’s capital stack for infrastructure projects. Speakers will highlight resources available to identify local programs, to demonstrate the tangible first step to accessing this funding. Register here!  Home Energy Improvements: Inflation Reduction Act Rebates WorkshopIn August, I held a workshop to provide information and details on how individuals can access financial benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) through the EmPower+ Program. You can find a recording of the workshop here!Through EmPower+, eligible New Yorkers can receive:No-cost comprehensive home energy assessments to pinpoint where energy and dollars are being wasted and receive a customized plan to lower energy usage.No-cost direct install improvements identified during the assessment can be installed by participating program contractors.Funding toward the cost of energy efficiency improvements, including air sealing, insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and electrical service and wiring upgrades.The program is open to income-eligible owners and renters of one- to four-family households. Click here for the EmPower+ Application! For assistance in applying and navigating home energy upgrades, connect with the Capital Region Clean Energy Hub. Weatherization Assistance ProgramThe NYS Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is the largest residential energy conservation program in the country. NYS WAP assists income-eligible homeowners and some renters in our state by reducing heating and cooling costs through energy-conservation measures, while also addressing health and safety issues in their homes.Households with incomes at or below 60% of state median income are eligible for assistance.  If a household contains a member who receives Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits or certain other forms of public assistance, the household is automatically eligible for NYS WAP services.  Applications are accepted from renters, homeowners, and rental property owners.  Potential program participants apply by contacting the WAP provider that serves their area.Find Your Weatherization Provider Here!Services include but are not limited to:sealing of cracks and holes to reduce heat loss;insulation of attics and walls;heating system repairs or replacement;providing efficient lighting and refrigeration;window and/or outside door repair or replacement;minor repairs which are needed to ensure maximum efficiency of the weatherization services performed; andmitigation of energy-related health and safety issues. Small Business ResourcesThe 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.Albany SBDC SEED Loan ProgramThe SEED Program is a character-based loan fund developed in a partnership between Broadview Credit Union and the University at Albany's Small Business Development Center, School of Business, and School of Social Welfare. The program provides character-based loans up to $35,000 for start-up and expanding businesses in the Capital Region of NY. Federal Funding Announcements This 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