Federal Grant Opportunities: February 24, 2026 My office is sharing the following information on federal grant opportunities available to you. In particular, I want to draw your attention to two important updates: my office will be hosting an upcoming grant webinar on Wednesday, March 4th, and the preliminary application period has officially opened for Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding. 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. Upcoming Grants 101 Webinar for Arts ProjectsPlease join me and representatives from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) on Wednesday, March 4th at 1:00PM for a “Grants 101” Webinar. Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States.Register for the workshop HERE. Please include any questions or comments you have for our agency representatives when registering. After completing the registration form, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding Preliminary ApplicationMy office is now accepting preliminary applications for Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding. Each Member of Congress is limited in the number of projects for which they can request funding. Community Project Funding is only available to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit entities are restricted to certain accounts. For-profit entities are not eligible to receive funding.Please note that as full guidance for FY2027 CPF applicants has not yet been released, funding accounts and eligibility criteria are subject to change. My staff will contact preliminary applicants regarding any changes to FY2027 guidance as soon as it is released.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so please submit your application as soon as possible.  Featured Funding OpportunitiesBJA FY25 Public Safety and Mental Health InitiativeThis NOFO supports comprehensive service networks addressing untreated mental illness and substance use at the intersection of mental health, substance use, and justice systems. Specifically, this initiative provides funding to support activities through four core areas: crisis stabilization centerstreatment services housing accesselectronic health record (EHR) systems and technology modernization.Deadline to submit SF-424 in Grants.gov: March 30, 2026, by 11:59pm Eastern TimeDeadline to submit application in JustGrants: April 6, 2026, by 8:59pm Eastern TimeUSDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & GrantsAlso known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners in rural areas to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. To qualify, you must:Be the homeowner and occupy the houseBe unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhereHave a household income that does not exceed the very low limit by countyFor grants, be age 62 or olderUtilizing the USDA Eligibility Site you can enter a specific address for determination or just search the map to review general eligible areas.How may funds be used?Loans may be used to repair, improve or modernize homes or remove health and safety hazardsGrants must be used to remove health and safety hazardsApplications for this program are accepted through your local RD office year-round.NYS Open Space Conservation Grant ProgramMunicipalities, not-for-profits, and Indian Nations or Tribes can apply for funding through this program to purchase land for permanent conservation. This grant is funded through New York State's Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Bond Act) and the Environmental Protection Fund.Applicants may apply for a minimum grant amount of $50,000 and up to a maximum of $3,500,000. Apply through the Statewide Financial System by 3:00 pm Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Featured Grant Awards – FY26 Community Project FundingTonko Secures $14M+ in Funding for Local Community Projects in FY2026 Federal BudgetLast week, I announced that a total of $14,093,000 in federal funding was secured for a slate of 15 community development and improvement projects across New York’s 20th Congressional District. This critical funding was secured as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 government appropriations packages, which were signed into law.I championed funding for 15 local projects that will bring direct benefits to Capital Region residents. In alphabetical order, these include:$250,000 for ADA-accessible sidewalks in Ballston Spa$1,015,000 for a Community Corner creation in Mechanicville$500,000 for Community Park improvements in Scotia$1,000,000 for the Crossroads Center for Children in Schenectady for renovations and expansion$1,000,000 for Glenville Hill Fire District No. 8 for essential building repairs and updates$850,000 for Hudson Valley Community College in Troy for an Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Lab$850,000 for Lincoln Park Southwest Gateway improvements in Albany$1,031,000 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy for equipment and technology to support quantum innovation$500,000 for the Town of Milton’s Town Hall expansion$1,092,000 for the Town of Stillwater’s water main replacements$2,000,000 for the Troy Public Library’s indoor air quality system improvements$1,521,000 for the University at Albany’s CNSE 200mm Wafer Cleanroom equipment upgrade$1,092,000 for the Village of Altamont’s wastewater treatment plant upgrades$1,092,000 for the Village of Menands for water system improvements$300,000 for Voorheesville sewage infrastructure improvementsMore detailed descriptions of each project can be found HEREI extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated local leaders who proposed and developed these initiatives, and I am eager to see how these federal dollars will help unleash our Capital Region’s untapped potential. Small Business ResourcesNew 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 widget