Grant and Funding Opportunities

NatureWorks projects are funded through the Ohio Parks and Natural Resources Bond Issue which was approved by Ohio voters in November 1993.

The NatureWorks grant program provides up to 75% reimbursement assistance for local government subdivisions (townships, villages, cities, counties, park districts, joint recreation districts, and conservancy districts) to for the acquisition, development, and rehabilitation of recreational areas.

Since NatureWorks' inception, the grant has funded over 2300 public park projects in all 88 counties.

Eligibility:

• All local subdivisions of government are eligible (local school boards are ineligible).
• The agency must have proper control (title or at least a 15-year non-revocable lease) to be eligible for a development or rehabilitation grant

Award Ceiling: $150,000 per county allocation
Match Required: 25% match
Deadline: June 1, 2023.

Contact: Timothy Robinson, 2045 Morse Road E-2, Columbus, OH 43229, phone: (614) 265-6528, email: timothy.robinson@dnr.ohio.gov

See more at: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/real-estate/land-water-grants/natureworks

ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) provides $2 million dollars annually in funding to upgrade existing and install new safety signage on Ohio’s township roads.

Townships are invited to apply for the safety funds based on two criteria:

• Their township has higher than average roadway systemwide crash rates based on the previous five years’ crash history (2017 to 2021); and
• The township has NOT been funded previously by the Township Safety Signage Grant Program.

What is included in the grant?

• Safety Signs (to replace current signs and install new signs in places where there weren’t any before)
• Posts for the signs
• Hardware for the signs

Each invited township may ask for up to $50,000 worth of signs, posts and hardware to install across their entire township roadway network. To find out if your township is eligible to apply this funding cycle, view the list of eligible locations:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/local-funding-opportunities/supporting-resources/sign-safety-township-list

Eligible townships should also note that the township may include with their request signage, post and hardware totals for villages which are within (or touching) their township. The township must arrange with the village to work in partnership to provide these materials and have the village install them.

Any township who has not been funded under the program is now eligible to apply.  The program is no longer limiting the number of townships who may apply to 200.

Award Ceiling: $50,000
Deadline: June 16, 2023.
Contact: Victoria Beale, Township Safety Sign Grant Program: email Victoria.beale@dot.ohio.gov; phone: 614-466-3129

See more at: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/local-funding-opportunities/resources/township-safety-sign-grant-program

Pursuant to its power to engage in research and development with respect to wastewater, water management facilities, solid waste facilities, and energy resource development facilities, OWDA has established a grant program for qualifying research and development programs. OWDA is seeking research and development proposals to address issues related to wastewater, drinking water, water resource management, solid waste management and energy resource development in Ohio.

Projects for which grants are awarded must be of such a nature that the benefits to be derived fulfill a general need in the State of Ohio that is within the scope of the powers of the Authority. Grants are subject to available funds. Priority will be given to projects that have statewide environmental and/or natural resource applications, and grantees must submit a final report. For more details, see the Research and Development Program Guidelines.

Applicants are encouraged to review the sample Participation Agreement, and should be comfortable with the terms and language prior to submitting an R&D application.

Since the development of the Research and Development Grant Program, OWDA has awarded grants in the areas of surface water, wastewater, drinking water, solid waste, agriculture, and public health.

Eligibility:

• Local Government Agencies (Cities, Villages, and Counties),
• Water/Sewer Districts,
• Conservancy Districts,
• State Agencies or
• Institutions of higher learning that perform research and/or development.

Award Ceiling:  $200,000
Deadline: June 2, 2023.
Contact: Christine Okonak, email: cokonak@owda.org; phone: (614)-728-0174

See more at: https://www.owda.org/rd-grants

The Choice Neighborhoods program leverages significant public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. Local leaders, residents, and stakeholders, such as public housing authorities, cities, schools, police, business owners, nonprofits, and private developers, come together to create and implement a plan that revitalizes distressed HUD housing and addresses the challenges in the surrounding neighborhood. The program helps communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing severely distressed public and/or assisted housing and catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including vacant property, housing, businesses, services and schools.

Choice Neighborhoods is focused on three core goals:

• Housing: Replace distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood;
• People: Improve outcomes of households living in the target housing related to employment and income, health, and children’s education; and
• Neighborhood: Create the conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods to offer the kinds of amenities and assets, including safety, good schools, and commercial activity, that are important to families’ choices about their community.

Eligibility:

• City or township governments
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• County governments
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Others (Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), local governments, tribal entities, and nonprofits)

Award Ceiling: $500,000
Deadline: June 6, 2023.
Contact: Choice Neighborhoods; email ChoiceNeighborhoods@hud.gov;

See more at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347311

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is proud to support the nation’s arts sector with grant opportunities so that together we can help everyone live more artful lives. The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of our communities, and to our local economies. The arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for the future.

Grants for Arts Projects is our largest grants program for organizations, providing comprehensive and expansive funding opportunities for communities. Through project-based funding, the program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector.

We welcome applications from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time applicants; from organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets.

Eligibility:

• County governments
• City or township governments
• Independent school districts
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Special district governments
• State governments
• Private institutions of higher education
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Award Ceiling:  $150,000
Deadline: July 6, 2023.
Contact: NEA Web Manager, email: webmgr@arts.gov;

See more at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348103

• EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality is announcing the availability of funds and soliciting applications from eligible entities to incentivize and accelerate the replacement of existing school buses with clean and Zero Emissions (ZE) school buses. Eligible activities include the replacement of existing internal-combustion engine (ICE) school buses with electric, propane, or compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses, as well as the purchase of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) infrastructure and EVSE installations.

Eligibility:

• public school districts;
• eligible contractors;
• nonprofit school transportation associations;
• Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or
• Tribally-controlled schools responsible for the purchase, lease, license, or contract for service of school buses or for providing school bus service for a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) funded school

Award Ceiling: $400,000,000
Deadline: August 22, 2023.
Contact: Environmental Protection Agency; email: cleanschoolbus@epa.gov

See more at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347715

The Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program will award approximately $250 million to provide safe, reliable drinking water in areas that lack infrastructure, bring sewage treatment capacity to unsewered areas, and develop regional infrastructure to serve multiple communities. This presentation offers more information.

Water and wastewater construction projects are eligible for up to $5 million in grant funding, and infrastructure engineering design projects are eligible for up to $250,000.

Examples of water infrastructure constructions projects include, but are not limited to:

• Sewer/wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion
• New/replacement sanitary sewer lines
• Excess sanitary sewer infiltration/inflow correction
• Improvements to public drinking water treatment facilities
• Drinking water line improvements or extensions
• Repair, replacement, and construction of drinking water storage towers

Click to download the application to the Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program, and contact Matt Lindsay at mlindsay@mvrpc.org to discuss potential projects in your community.

Through its Planning and Local Technical Assistance programs, EDA assists eligible recipients in developing economic development plans and studies designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. The Planning program helps support organizations, including District Organizations, Indian Tribes, and other eligible recipients, with Short Term and State Planning investments designed to guide the eventual creation and retention of high-quality jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nation’s most economically distressed regions. As part of this program, EDA supports Partnership Planning investments to facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which articulate and prioritize the strategic economic goals of recipients’ respective regions. The Local Technical Assistance program strengthens the capacity of local or State organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible recipients to undertake and promote effective economic development programs through projects such as feasibility studies and impact analyses.

Please see the Federal Funding Opportunity for full information on how to apply. Also note that any applicants who are in the process of developing an application under the previous FFO will need to apply under the new FFO and use the associated new forms.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received. This Planning and Local Technical Assistance opportunity will remain in effect until superseded by a future announcement.

Contacts:

Jeannette P. Tamayo, Regional Director, 230 South Dearborn Street, Suite 3280, Chicago, IL 60604-1512, phone: 312-353-8143, email: jtamayo@eda.gov
Darrin Fleener, Economic Development Representative , 230 South Dearborn Street, Suite 3280, Chicago, IL 60604-1512, phone: 312‐789‐9753, email: dfleener@eda.gov

See more at:

https://www.eda.gov/funding-opportunities/

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=280447

The Economic Development Administration's (EDA's) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA fulfills this mission through strategic investments and partnerships that create the regional economic ecosystems required to foster globally competitive regions throughout the United States. EDA supports development in economically distressed areas of the United States by fostering job creation and attracting private investment. Specifically, under the Economic Development Assistance programs (EDAP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), EDA will make construction, non-construction, and revolving loan fund investments under the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Programs. Grants made under these programs will leverage regional assets to support the implementation of regional economic development strategies designed to create jobs, leverage private capital, encourage economic development, and strengthen America's ability to compete in the global marketplace. Through the EDAP NOFA, EDA solicits applications from rural and urban communities to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions.

Award Ceiling: $3,000,000

Award Floor: $100,000

Please access this opportunity, “EDAP-2017” on Grants.gov that supersedes the previously published “EDAP2017” opportunity. https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=294771

Deadline: There are no submission deadlines under this opportunity. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new EDAP NOFA.

Contact Information for Indiana/Ohio Region: Kyle Darton, 230 South Dearborn Street, Suite 3280, Chicago, IL 60604-1512, phone: 312-789-9752, email: kdarton@eda.gov

See more at: https://www.eda.gov/funding-opportunities/

The Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA) program provides property assessment services at no cost to eligible applicants. SABR utilizes either in-house field staff or contractors to perform the requested assistance and the applicant receives a written report of the work performed.

Typical services include Phase I environmental site assessment, asbestos surveys, geophysical surveys, and limited or supplemental phase II property assessment. TBA staff will work with applicants to provide the appropriate services to meet their needs.

New services available through TBA include those required for participation in the Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup program administered by Ohio Development Services Agency. The program includes certain perquisites for eligibility including a Phase I assessment to Ohio EPA Voluntary Action Program (VAP) standards, Class C designated release by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR) and former use of the property as a gas station or service station. TBA can assist with preparatory activities including Phase I assessment, determining if underground storage tanks (USTs) are present, determining if there was a release from UST’s, tank closure assessment and completing the BUSTR Class C release form. For more information about the Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup program click here.

Eligible applicants: Eligibility for the TBA program requires the following:

• Applicant is a local government or quasi-governmental entity
• Applicant is not a potentially responsible party
• If applicants do not own the property, access to the site has been granted
• Property must be a brownfield (former industrial/commercial use or residential if more than 4 units)
• Property is not subject to federal CERCLA orders or on the National Priorities List.

Deadline: Ongoing

Contact: Martin Smith, VAP/SABR Manager, email: martin.smith@epa.ohio.gov, phone: (614) 644-4829

See more at: http://epa.ohio.gov/derr/SABR/Grant_Assistance.aspx

SBA is awarding funding through the Restaurant Revitalization Program to restaurants, bars, and other similar places of business that serve food or drink. The purpose of this funding is to provide support to eligible entities that suffered revenue losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible entities include:

Eligible entities are businesses that are not permanently closed and include businesses where the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink including:

• Restaurants
• Food stands, food trucks, food carts
• Caterers
• Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
• Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products
• Other similar places of business in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink
• Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
• *Bakeries
• *Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms
• *Breweries and/or microbreweries
• *Wineries and distilleries
• **Inns

Maximum Amount: $5,000,000 per location (not to exceed $10,000,000 total for the Applicant and any Affiliated Businesses

Minimum  Amount: $1,000

Deadline: none given

Contact: Restaurant Revitalization fund, U.S. Small Business Administration, phone: (844) 279-8898

See more at: https://www.sba.gov/document/support-restaurant-revitalization-funding-p...

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible entities include:

• Live venue operators or promoters
• Theatrical producers
• Live performing arts organization operators
• Relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria
• Motion picture theater operators
• Talent representatives
• Each business entity owned by an eligible entity that also meets the eligibility requirements

Maximum Amount: none listed

Deadline: none given

Contact: U.S. Small Business Administration, email: answerdesk@sba.gov

See more at: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant

Ohioans can receive assistance with rent, mortgage, or utilities including gas, electric, bulk fuel, water/sewer and trash, from the state of Ohio, through their local Community Action Agency (CAA). Ohio’s Community Action Agencies work with the Ohio Development Services Agency to provide assistance to Ohioans in need. Any federal unemployment stipend is excluded from determining a household’s benefit.

When applying for assistance, you should be prepared to provide the following information:

• Names of all household members
• Date(s) of birth
• Social Security Number(s), if applicable
• Current or previous address
• Copies of Social Security cards, or verification for each household member, if applicable
• Proof of income for all household members 18 years or older
• Any supporting documentation to demonstrate need
• Proof of hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Maximum Amount: none listed
Deadline: none given
Contact: Ohio Development Services Agency, email: EnergyHelp@Development.Ohio.Gov

See more at: https://businesshelp.ohio.gov/home-relief-grant.html

GENYOUth is providing grants of up to $3,000 per school to supply much-needed resources for meal distribution and delivery efforts to get food to students during COVID-19. From soft-sided coolers, bags and containers for individual servings, to protective gear for food service sanitation and safety, this equipment will help ensure our children continue to receive the nutritious meals they need.

Eligibility

• School must be located in the United States
• School must participate in the National School Lunch Program
• School must include at least one of the grades K-12
• School must be located in a recognized “brick and mortar” school building

Maximum Amount: $3,000
Deadline: none given
Contact: GENYouth, email: info@genyouthfoundation.org

See more at: https://covid-19.genyouthnow.org/

The Greene County Community Foundation and the United Way will administer the grantmaking process with an oversight committee of funders. The size and number of grant awards are directly related to the amount of money available.

Grants from the fund will complement the work of public health officials and expand the community’s capacity to respond and assist effectively and efficiently in the outbreak. Grants will be awarded to vetted community-based and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that are focused on:

Eligibility

To Be Eligible for a Grant, Your Organization Must:

• be recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, church, or an eligible government or educational institution;
• provide services in Greene County; and
• benefit citizens of Greene County Ohio.

In Addition, You Must Focus On:

• Immediate, basic human needs (food, shelter, safety, etc.);
• Mental health services;
• Addressing the economic impact on individuals from reduced or lost work due to the outbreak.

Deadline: none given
Contact: Greene County Community Foundation, 941 W Second St., Xenia, OH 45385. Phone: 937-458-2064

Stay up to date about this program: https://greenegiving.org/pandemic-relief-fund/

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories were able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. This advance is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This loan advance will not have to be repaid.

Eligibility:

• Agricultural businesses includes those businesses engaged in the production of food and fiber, ranching, and raising of livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and agricultural related industries (as defined by section 18(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 647(b)).
• SBA is encouraging all eligible agricultural businesses with 500 or fewer employees wishing to apply to begin preparing their business financial information needed for their application.

Award Ceiling:  $10,000

Deadline: first come, first served.

Contact: U.S. Small Business Administration, email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov; phone: 800-659-2955

See more at: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/

EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive merit basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States. Under this NOFO, EDA solicits applications from applicants in order to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, planning, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works program and EAA program (which includes Assistance to Coal Communities). Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities, including those negatively impacted by changes to the coal economy.

Eligibility:

• District Organization;
• Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes;
• State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions;
• Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or
• Public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State.

Award Ceiling:  EDA was appropriated $118.5 million for the Public Works program, $37 million for the EAA program, an additional $30 million in EAA funds for ACC, and $15 million for NCC pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020

Deadline: Ongoing.

Contact: U.S. Economic Development Administration

See more at: Applicants may search for this funding opportunity on Grants.gov using Funding Opportunity Number “PWEAA2020”. https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html .

Due to the current events happening in our county, the Miami County Foundation has reevaluated our Spring Grant cycle to address the current need for humanitarian relief.  The Miami County Foundation will support our Miami County nonprofits in their efforts to provide additional enhanced services to counter the effects the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on our Miami County friends and neighbors. Thus the “normal” spring grant cycle will not occur this year.

The funds previously budgeted for the spring grant cycle will now be used to support the Miami County Foundation’s Emergency COVID-19 Grant Program. The Miami County Foundation will immediately begin providing emergency COVID-19 funding (applications reviewed in the order they are received) to organizations supplying food, shelter, and other humanitarian needs.

Eligibility:

• Non-profit serving Miami County residents

Deadline: none listed

Contact: Karen, P. O. Box 1526, Piqua, OH 45356, email: karen@miamicountyfoundation.org;  phone: (937) 773-9012;

See more at: http://www.miamicountyfoundation.org/