Funding Opportunities

Program Background, Objective, and Goals:
Since the Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program (PCRP) was established in 2001, the Program has dramatically improved the availability and use of locally adapted, genetically appropriate native seed for restoration. The PCRP-led Seeds of Success project has made more than 27,000 native seed collections across 44 states and 93 ecoregions. Under PCRP leadership, the Plant Conservation Alliance developed and released the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration—the first of its kind in the world. Since PCRP created the Native Forb and Grass Seed Production IDIQ Contract in 2018, BLM staff have ordered more than 100,000 pounds of seed from 55 native species across 62 seed transfer zones. The proportion of native seed purchased through the BLM National Seed Warehouse System increased from roughly 50% native seed in 2001 (the year PCRP was established) to 80% native seed in 2019. PCRP partnerships with federal agencies and non-federal organizations have grown millions of seedlings for restoration on BLM lands, provided education and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and developed much of the science that land managers use to inform restoration seeding decisions. Finally, PCRP sponsored the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Assessment of Seed Needs and Capacities and the Open Access publication of the first international principles and standards for using native seeds in ecological restoration. Through these myriad accomplishments, PCRP has consistently proven to be a global leader in the development of locally adapted native plant materials and their use in restoring adaptive and resilient ecosystems. This program also supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58, Section 40704(b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI. Public lands contain a diversity of native plant communities that make up over 50 ecoregions across BLM administered lands. Each ecoregion contains native plants that have adapted to those environments. The program will continue to work with partners to increase the quantity, diversity, and effectiveness of native forbs and grasses for restoration of wildlife habitats and rehabilitation after wildfires.

Section 11528 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021), established the Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way Program (Roadside Pollinator Program), codified at 23 U.S.C. 332. This is the first NOFO under this program, and the total amount of funding available in this NOFO is up to $3 million. FHWA will award funding to State DOTs, Indian Tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) who are seeking to benefit pollinators on roadsides and highway rights-of-way on routes eligible for Federal-aid.

The goals of the Roadside Pollinator Program are to fund the implementation, improvement, or further development of the applicants’ Pollinator Friendly Practices Plan (Plan) on routes eligible for Federal-aid. The United States has an estimated 3.9 million miles of roadway and suitable roadsides and rights-of-way represent a significant area that can be transformed into pollinator habitat through the planting of native plants and wildflowers. Roadsides can provide habitat for a diverse community of pollinators, including opportunities to forage for feeding, nesting and breeding. Roadsides extend across a variety of landscapes and can support ecological connectivity and the dispersal of pollinators by linking fragmented habitats. By acting as refugia for pollinators in otherwise inhospitable landscapes, roadside habitat can contribute to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and provision of ecological services such as crop pollination services.

The Roadside Pollinator Program is a unique program that has some important differences from other FHWA and DOT discretionary grant programs, including the requirement for an applicant to submit a Plan (23 U.S.C. 332(c) and (d)), the requirement for FHWA to fund all satisfactory applications (23 U.S.C. 332(e)(1)), and the requirement for FHWA to base the amount of all awards on the number of PFPs that the applicant has implemented or plans to implement (23 U.S.C. 332(e)(2)(A)). Due to the unique nature of the Roadside Pollinator Program, FHWA is requiring applicants to use an Application Template.

The Roadside Pollinator Program may fund the implementation of pollinator-friendly practices (PFPs) included in a Plan or the improvement or further development of a Plan (23 U.S.C. 332(f)). The total activities to be funded by an applicant with a Roadside Pollinator Program award are referred to as the “Roadside Pollinator Project” throughout this NOFO.

The Water Supply Development Revolving Fund (WSDRF) was created to provide low-cost financing, grants, and technical assistance for water supply development projects outside of Arizona’s major urban centers. This fund is specifically designed to meet the unique water supply needs of small, rural communities.

WIFA can provide up to $2 million in grant funding and up to $3 million in the form of a low-interest loan for a total of $5 million in financial assistance per application.

Interest rate discounts and grant eligibility will be determined based on the criteria listed in ARS § 49-1274(B)(3), including:

Water Demands: existing, near-term and long-term water demands compared to the volume and reliability of existing water supplies
Project Benefits: impact on water supply, benefits to multiple jurisdictions, conservation efforts, BMPs being implemented, and long-term reliability of supply being developed
Project Feasibility: engineering specs, the cost and effectiveness of the proposal, funding sources, and public comment
Financial Need: median household income

The SeedMoney Challenge is a group crowdfunding competition open to any public food garden project located anywhere in the world. Participating projects include youth gardens, community gardens, community farms and food bank gardens. Participants keep 100% of what they raise and compete for challenge grants of $100 to $1000. The more funds a project raises, the larger the grant it qualifies to receive.

We offer four types of grants. By entering the SeedMoney Challenge, a project will automatically be considered for any and all grants for which it qualifies based on its performance in the competition or its geographic location.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AFRI’s Education and Workforce Development program areas to support:

1. professional development opportunities for K-14 educational professionals;

2. non-formal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth;

3. workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges;

4. training of undergraduate students in research and extension;

5. fellowships for predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). LFPP’s purpose is to support the development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer‐to‐consumer marketing to increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. AMS will competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that meet the purpose of the grant program.

Approximately $10.5 million is available to fund applications under this solicitation. Applicants may select from one of four project types. Planning projects range from $25,000 to $100,000, while implementation projects range from $100,000 to $500,000. Two Turnkey (simplified) project types are available: Turnkey Marketing and Promotion projects and a new option for Turnkey Recruitment and Training projects. Each of the turnkey project options are available for a defined set of activities, with funding amounts ranging between $50,000 and $100,000. Eligible entities and activities remain the same as in previous years. LFPP is a part of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP).

Assist in funding eligible projects for the purpose of improving the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports.

Projects within the boundary of a port, or outside the boundary of a port and directly related to port operations or to an intermodal connection to a port that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of:
• The loading and unloading of goods at a port;
• The movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port;
• Operational improvements at a port;
• Environmental and emissions mitigation measures; or
• Infrastructure that supports seafood and seafood-related businesses.

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility then is responsible for repayment to USDA.

USDA provides grants to local utility organizations which use the funding to establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLF). Loans are made from the revolving loan funds to projects that will create or retain rural jobs. When the revolving loan fund is terminated, the grant is repaid to USDA.

The Agency anticipates the following maximum amounts per award: Loans - $2,000,000; Grants - $300,000.

APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH RD APPLY AT: https://rdapply.sc.egov.usda.gov/. This posting at grants.gov is informational only.

The CY 2022 Disaster Water Grants Program is designed to assist communities by awarding grant funds to qualified entities for expenses related to water infrastructure systems in designated areas that were impacted by events that occurred during CY 2022 and were recognized through Presidentially Declared Disasters. In addition to damage repairs, these grants are also intended to develop system capacity and resiliency in order to reduce or eliminate long-term risks from future events. Water infrastructure systems include drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater projects serving eligible communities. Adequate documentation must be provided to demonstrate impacts to the water infrastructure systems.

Eligible applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

(a) Be either a Public Body, an organization operated on a not-for-profit basis, a tribe, or a prefabricated home organization operating an eligible community-based system. Non-tribal applicants proposing to serve tribes and tribal areas should have the support of those tribes either in the form of a Tribal Resolution and/or letter of support for the project impacting their communities.

(b) Be eligible to receive and administer a Federal grant under Federal law.

(c) Each applicant must:

(1) Have or will obtain the legal authority necessary for owning, constructing, operating, and maintaining the facility or service to be repaired or replaced and for issuing security for the proposed grant;

(2) Be responsible for operating, maintaining, and managing the facility, and providing for its continued availability and use at reasonable user rates and charges; and

(3) Retain this responsibility even though the facility may be operated, maintained, or managed by a third party under contract or management agreement.

(d) Demonstrate that they possess the technical, managerial, and financial capability necessary to consistently comply with pertinent Federal and State laws and requirements.

(e) Have no delinquent debt to the federal government or no outstanding judgments to repay a federal debt.

ATTENTION (11/9/2023): This Funding Opportunity has been modified. Please see the full FOA Modification 0001 document on OCED Exchange for full details (https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId44ebd317-32eb-436b-b…).

NOTE: All Concept Papers and Full Applications must be submitted via the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations Funding Opportunity Exchange by the posted deadlines (https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId44ebd317-32eb-436b-b…).

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) is issuing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support a portfolio of projects that demonstrate and validate reliable operations and financial value from a range of grid topologies with diverse energy resources and distributed energy systems (DES) ownership models.

In this FOA, OCED is seeking projects that can demonstrate that aggregated and coordinated distributed energy resources (DERs) can provide reliable, predictable grid services for a wide range of system configurations. The program goal is to build confidence that the design, control, and compensation approaches developed can be readily applied to other portions of the distribution grid and extended to other mixes of DERs, potentially extending the value of this approach to a more diverse set of communities, individuals, and entities as the distribution system continues to change.

This FOA makes available approximately $50 million in federal funds for transformative, at-scale projects within distribution systems that demonstrate approaches to integrate grid-edge renewable and distributed energy systems with broader energy networks. These projects will seek to demonstrate reliable operations and system-wide value in the context of distribution grids with high levels of variable renewable generation and flexible load assets.

This investment will allow the U.S. to develop more reliable, resilient, and cost-effective distribution grids and distributed energy systems while supporting climate action and providing benefits to communities and workers. It will also support the Biden Administration’s decarbonization goals of a 50-52% reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2030, a carbon-pollution-free power sector by 2035, and a net-zero GHG emissions economy by 2050.

This FOA has one Topic Area, which solicits proposals to demonstrate Distributed Energy Systems. The award size will be at least $10 million and no more than $25 million in federal funds. Each award is required to provide a minimum of 50% non-federal cost share. DOE will fund up to four (4) projects in this Topic Area. Projects are anticipated to have a maximum period of performance of 8 years.

ATTENTION (11/9/2023): This Funding Opportunity has been modified. Please see the full FOA Modification 0001 document on OCED Exchange for full details (https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId44ebd317-32eb-436b-b…).

NOTE: All Concept Papers and Full Applications must be submitted via the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations Funding Opportunity Exchange by the posted deadlines (https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId44ebd317-32eb-436b-b…).