Federal Grant Opportunities: 2-21-2024

Federal Grant Opportunities: February 21, 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 OpportunitiesSafe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant ProgramThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary 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 deaths and serious injuries.The FY 2024 NOFO has multiple deadlines, depending on the grant type:April 4, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Deadline #1 for Planning and Demonstration Grants.May 16, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Sole deadline for Implementation Grants. Deadline #2 for Planning and Demonstration Grants.August 29, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Deadline #3 for Planning and Demonstration Grants. NOFO closes.Late applications will not be accepted.Buses and Bus Facilities Program and Low or No Emission Grant ProgramOn February 8, 2024, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $1.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 funding to support state and local efforts to buy or modernize buses, improve bus facilities, and support workforce development. Applications will be due April 25, 2024.FTA will host two webinars to provide information to potential applicants, including a review of program eligibility, an overview of the evaluation criteria and selection considerations, and the submission process. Register for both webinars here.Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants ProgramThe primary goal of the UAIP projects is to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production. The UAIP grants being made available for application under this NFO support planning and implementation activities. –Planning activities will initiate, develop, or support the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, members of tribal communities, and other stakeholders in areas where access to fresh foods are limited or unavailable. Implementation activities will accelerate existing and emerging models of urban and/or innovative agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers or gardeners.Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 9, 2024 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 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 Enrolled in SAVE? See if You Are Eligible for Student Debt Relief!Starting this month, if you took out less than $12,000 in loans and have been in repayment for 10 years, ALL of your debt will be canceled. That’s right — your loan balance could go down to zero. For many others, monthly payments will be drastically reduced.To get that relief and other ways to bring down your monthly loan payments, you need to be enrolled in the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. This is the same plan that ensures no borrower who makes less than $15 an hour will have to make any student loan payments. It will also make sure that interest doesn't pile up and increase your debt amount, and that your spouse's income can't be used to drive up your payment amount.Sign up for the SAVE Plan today so you get this relief before your next payment is due.Last month, 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 ResourcesNew 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 widgetimage widget

Federal Grant Opportunities: February 21, 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

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program
- The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary 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 deaths and serious injuries.
- The FY 2024 NOFO has multiple deadlines, depending on the grant type:

April 4, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Deadline #1 for Planning and Demonstration Grants.
May 16, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Sole deadline for Implementation Grants. Deadline #2 for Planning and Demonstration Grants.
August 29, 2024, 5 p.m. (EDT): Deadline #3 for Planning and Demonstration Grants. NOFO closes.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Buses and Bus Facilities Program and Low or No Emission Grant Program
- On February 8, 2024, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $1.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 funding to support state and local efforts to buy or modernize buses, improve bus facilities, and support workforce development. Applications will be due April 25, 2024.
- FTA will host two webinars to provide information to potential applicants, including a review of program eligibility, an overview of the evaluation criteria and selection considerations, and the submission process. Register for both webinars here.
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program
- The primary goal of the UAIP projects is to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production. The UAIP grants being made available for application under this NFO support planning and implementation activities. –
  - Planning activities will initiate, develop, or support the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, members of tribal communities, and other stakeholders in areas where access to fresh foods are limited or unavailable.
  - Implementation activities will accelerate existing and emerging models of urban and/or innovative agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers or gardeners.
- Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 9, 2024

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

Enrolled in SAVE? See if You Are Eligible for Student Debt Relief!
- Starting this month, if you took out less than $12,000 in loans and have been in repayment for 10 years, ALL of your debt will be canceled. That’s right — your loan balance could go down to zero. For many others, monthly payments will be drastically reduced.
- To get that relief and other ways to bring down your monthly loan payments, you need to be enrolled in the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. This is the same plan that ensures no borrower who makes less than $15 an hour will have to make any student loan payments. It will also make sure that interest doesn't pile up and increase your debt amount, and that your spouse's income can't be used to drive up your payment amount.
- Sign up for the SAVE Plan today so you get this relief before your next payment is due.
Last month, 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

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.