Federal Grant Opportunities: 2-7-2024

Federal Grant Opportunities: February 7, 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 in your application in any way we can. Featured Funding OpportunitiesHomeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) The Goals of the HVRP Grant Program are to:Provide career exploration, training, placement, and supportive services to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, empowering them to secure good jobs in stable, high-demand occupations paying livable wages.Establish strong partnerships between public, private, and nonprofit organizations, especially those that employ and partner with veterans who have experienced homelessness.The application window closes March 11, 2024.USDA Value-Added Producer GrantThe Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.VAPG is part of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) which is an umbrella program created under the 2018 Farm Bill. Producers can find other grant funding opportunities at the LAMP web page.Paper applications are due April 16, 2024 and Electronic applications are due April 11, 2024NYS ConnectALL Broadband - Municipal Infrastructure ProgramThe Municipal Infrastructure Program will prioritize new public broadband infrastructure that will be made available on an open-access, non-discriminatory basis to private Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide New Yorkers with high-quality, reliable, and affordable service options. Grants will be provided to municipalities, non-profits, and other entities to construct open and accessible public broadband infrastructure. The Municipal Infrastructure Program will prioritize projects that address unserved and underserved locations and address ConnectAll’s mandate to develop a robust, equitable broadband marketplace. To learn more, you can view the recording and the presentation from the Municipal Infrastructure Information Session on February 1, 2024. Northern Border Regional Commission 2024 Catalyst ProgramThe Catalyst Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality. In NY-20, communities in Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer Counties are eligible to apply.Successful projects support a broad range of economic development initiatives such as, but not limited to, projects that modernize and expand access to public water and wastewater services, revitalize transportation infrastructure, establish workforce development programs and facilities, grow the outdoor recreation economy, and provide access to new childcare and healthcare facilities.Spring 2024 Timeline and Key DatesPre-Application (Required) Due on March 15, 2024, 5:00 pm EST.Application (By Invitation) Due on May 3, 2024, 5:00 pm EST.Catalyst Program Information Session for New York ApplicantsFebruary 9 at 10:00-11:30; Register here! The Inflation Reduction Act – Impacts on Individuals this Tax SeasonIf you made energy improvements to your home last year, tax credits are available for a portion of qualifying expenses. The credit amounts and types of qualifying expenses were expanded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. See more below:Energy Efficient Home Improvement CreditThese expenses may qualify if they meet requirements detailed on energy.gov:Exterior doors, windows, skylights and insulation materialsCentral air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers and heat pumpsBiomass stoves and boilersHome energy auditsThe amount of the credit you can take is a percentage of the total improvement expenses in the year of installation:2022: 30%, up to a lifetime maximum of $5002023 through 2032: 30%, up to a maximum of $1,200 (heat pumps, biomass stoves and boilers have a separate annual credit limit of $2,000), no lifetime limitGet details on the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. Residential Clean Energy CreditThese expenses may qualify if they meet requirements detailed on energy.gov:Solar, wind and geothermal power generationSolar water heatersFuel cellsBattery storage (beginning in 2023)The amount of the credit you can take is a percentage of the total improvement expenses in the year of installation:2022 to 2032: 30%, no annual maximum or lifetime limit2033: 26%, no annual maximum or lifetime limit2034: 22%, no annual maximum or lifetime limitGet details on the Residential Clean Energy Credit. Federal Newsletters, Webinars, and Guidebooks Last week, I hosted a webinar for the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program. These fire safety grants fund critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies, and support community resilience.A recording of that webinar can be found HERE.Energy Efficiency First: Preparing your Nonprofit for SolarTuesday, February 27, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PMThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Renew America's Nonprofits Program is hosting an informational webinar to highlight opportunities and tools available to nonprofits for energy efficiency projects. Register to learn about the importance of energy efficiency first as an important step in preparing for solar. This webinar will focus on tools for benchmarking, identifying low-cost improvements, and identifying the right financing option. Small Business ResourcesSBA's 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund CompetitionEarlier this month, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) offering a total of $50,000 to $200,000 in prize awards to organizations seeking to foster a national innovation support ecosystem to advance small business research and development (R&D) from ideas to the commercial market. The Stage One application portal closes on February 17th.New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC)The NYSBDC provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost.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 26,807 businesses, helping them to invest $495,947,350 in the area's economy, and create or save 14,766 jobs.You can make an appointment for counseling by calling 518-442-7232 or filling out their online form. 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 [email protected] or (518) 465-0700. image widgetimage widgetimage widgetimage widgetimage widgetimage widgetimage widget

Federal Grant Opportunities: February 7, 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 in your application in any way we can.

Featured Funding Opportunities

Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP)
- The Goals of the HVRP Grant Program are to:
  - Provide career exploration, training, placement, and supportive services to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, empowering them to secure good jobs in stable, high-demand occupations paying livable wages.
  - Establish strong partnerships between public, private, and nonprofit organizations, especially those that employ and partner with veterans who have experienced homelessness.
- The application window closes March 11, 2024.
USDA Value-Added Producer Grant
- The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.
- VAPG is part of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) which is an umbrella program created under the 2018 Farm Bill. Producers can find other grant funding opportunities at the LAMP web page.
- Paper applications are due April 16, 2024 and Electronic applications are due April 11, 2024
NYS ConnectALL Broadband - Municipal Infrastructure Program
- The Municipal Infrastructure Program will prioritize new public broadband infrastructure that will be made available on an open-access, non-discriminatory basis to private Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide New Yorkers with high-quality, reliable, and affordable service options. Grants will be provided to municipalities, non-profits, and other entities to construct open and accessible public broadband infrastructure.
- The Municipal Infrastructure Program will prioritize projects that address unserved and underserved locations and address ConnectAll’s mandate to develop a robust, equitable broadband marketplace.
- To learn more, you can view the recording and the presentation from the Municipal Infrastructure Information Session on February 1, 2024.
Northern Border Regional Commission 2024 Catalyst Program
- The Catalyst Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality. In NY-20, communities in Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer Counties are eligible to apply.
- Successful projects support a broad range of economic development initiatives such as, but not limited to, projects that modernize and expand access to public water and wastewater services, revitalize transportation infrastructure, establish workforce development programs and facilities, grow the outdoor recreation economy, and provide access to new childcare and healthcare facilities.
- Spring 2024 Timeline and Key Dates
  - Pre-Application (Required) Due on March 15, 2024, 5:00 pm EST.
  - Application (By Invitation) Due on May 3, 2024, 5:00 pm EST.
- Catalyst Program Information Session for New York Applicants
  - February 9 at 10:00-11:30; Register here!

The Inflation Reduction Act – Impacts on Individuals this Tax Season

If you made energy improvements to your home last year, tax credits are available for a portion of qualifying expenses. The credit amounts and types of qualifying expenses were expanded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. See more below:

Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit

These expenses may qualify if they meet requirements detailed on energy.gov:

Exterior doors, windows, skylights and insulation materials
Central air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers and heat pumps
Biomass stoves and boilers
Home energy audits

The amount of the credit you can take is a percentage of the total improvement expenses in the year of installation:

2022: 30%, up to a lifetime maximum of $500
2023 through 2032: 30%, up to a maximum of $1,200 (heat pumps, biomass stoves and boilers have a separate annual credit limit of $2,000), no lifetime limit

Get details on the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit.

Residential Clean Energy Credit

These expenses may qualify if they meet requirements detailed on energy.gov:

Solar, wind and geothermal power generation
Solar water heaters
Fuel cells
Battery storage (beginning in 2023)

The amount of the credit you can take is a percentage of the total improvement expenses in the year of installation:

2022 to 2032: 30%, no annual maximum or lifetime limit
2033: 26%, no annual maximum or lifetime limit
2034: 22%, no annual maximum or lifetime limit

Get details on the Residential Clean Energy Credit.

Federal Newsletters, Webinars, and Guidebooks

Last week, I hosted a webinar for the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program. These fire safety grants fund critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies, and support community resilience.
- A recording of that webinar can be found HERE.
Energy Efficiency First: Preparing your Nonprofit for Solar
- Tuesday, February 27, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Renew America's Nonprofits Program is hosting an informational webinar to highlight opportunities and tools available to nonprofits for energy efficiency projects. Register to learn about the importance of energy efficiency first as an important step in preparing for solar. This webinar will focus on tools for benchmarking, identifying low-cost improvements, and identifying the right financing option.

Small Business Resources

SBA's 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
- Earlier this month, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) offering a total of $50,000 to $200,000 in prize awards to organizations seeking to foster a national innovation support ecosystem to advance small business research and development (R&D) from ideas to the commercial market. The Stage One application portal closes on February 17^th.
New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC)
- The NYSBDC provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost.
- 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 26,807 businesses, helping them to invest $495,947,350 in the area's economy, and create or save 14,766 jobs.
  - You can make an appointment for counseling by calling 518-442-7232 or filling out their online form.

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:

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 [email protected] or (518) 465-0700.