Philip A. Palmesano headshot

Assemblymember

Philip A. Palmesano

Assembly District 132

Palmesano February ‘Grant Action News’ Update

February 8, 2024

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is sending his “February Grant Action News Update” to residents, organizations and local governments regarding a series of grants available from the state, federal government and private entities. Each month, the Assembly provides an updated list of grants for a variety of categories.

“During a time of economic recovery, grants can play an integral part in helping our local communities complete needed infrastructure repairs or support underfunded projects,” said Palmesano. “Many people don’t realize the scope of available opportunities because they aren’t sure where to look. The ‘Grants Action News’ bulletin makes finding these grants much easier by consolidating the information and making it available to everyone. I hope residents, organizations and local governments throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions will be able to use this resource to find much-needed support to strengthen communities in our rural area.”

All not-for-profit applicants must now prequalify on the NYS Grants Reform website at grantsreform.ny.gov/grantees in order to apply for certain New York state grant solicitations. Potential not-for-profit applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process of registering and prequalifying immediately as this is a lengthy process.

The Grant Action News bulletin is updated at the beginning of each month with newly available grants and information on how to apply.

The update can be accessed here:

https://nyassembly.gov/gan/?sec=story&story=108954

State Grants:

NYS Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS), Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Services Funding

This funding is dedicated to CCR&R agencies that represent a critical link between the state’s efforts to oversee and strengthen the childcare system and provide quality childcare services to families. CCR&R agencies make the childcare market more effective by increasing access and resources for childcare providers and families. CCR&R services must be flexible, respectful of individual choice and serve parents of all economic and ethnic groups.

Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program Funding

This funding is targeted for capital construction projects that will improve or maintain the quality, efficiency and accessibility of such nonprofit human services organizations that serve New Yorkers as defined in Section 2.1 of this document (see information in the link provided below).

  • Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit entities
  • Deadline: February 15, 2024, 5 PM ET
  • Total Available Funding: At least $62 million
  • Award Ceiling: $500,000
  • Award Floor: $50,000
  • Contact: Ann Shaw
  • Contact Email: NICIP@dasny.org
  • Link to Additional Information: https://www.dasny.org/nicip

NYS Dept. of Health (DOH), Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities Funding

This funding utilizes a two-pronged approach of community engagement and youth action to advance tobacco-free initiatives that both center on a community-based framework which includes community education, community mobilization, government policymaker education and advocacy with organizational decision-makers to create local environments that are receptive to or demand policy change.

Federal Grants:

US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Funding

This funding will expand the supply of integrated affordable housing through the development of permanent supportive rental housing for very low-income persons with disabilities who are 18 years of age or older and less than 62 years of age at entry.

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety Outreach Program Funding

This funding will develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.

  • Eligible Applicants: May apply if they meet at least one of the following criteria:
    • the Cooperative Extension Service for a U.S. state or territory
    • non-government organizations and/or community-based organizations representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers that have a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety
    •  federal, state, local or tribal agencies
    • an institution of higher education (as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C 1001(a)) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education
    • a collaboration of two or more eligible entities
  • Deadline: February 13, 2024
  • Expected Number of Awards: 25
  • Estimated Total Program Funding: $9.6 million
  • Award Ceiling: $1 million
  • Award Floor: $75,000
  • Contact: Jodi Williams
  • Contact Email: jodi.williams@usda.gov
  • Links to Additional Information:

National Science Foundation (NSF), Chemical Oceanography Funding

This funding supports research into the chemistry of the oceans and the role of the oceans in global geochemical cycles. Areas of interest include chemical composition, speciation and transformation; chemical exchanges between the oceans and other components of the Earth system; internal cycling in oceans, seas and estuaries; and the use of measured chemical distributions as indicators of physical, biological and geological processes.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Grants for Arts Projects

This funding 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.

  • Eligible Applicants: Special district governments; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; state governments; city or township governments; independent school districts; county governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
  • Deadline: February 15, 2024
  • Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
  • Award Ceiling: $150,000
  • Award Floor: $10,000
  • Contact Email: webmgr@arts.gov
  • Links to Additional Information:

Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) Competitive Grants

These grants will help address high-priority issues related to pests and their management using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent and safe for human health.

  • Eligible Applicants: 1862 Land-Grant Institutions; 1890 Land-Grant Institutions; 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; Hispanic-serving institutions; others; state-controlled institutions of higher education
  • Deadline: February 15, 2024
  • Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
  • Estimated Total Funding: Approximately $14.8 million
  • Expected Number of Awards: 18
  • Award Ceiling: $325,000
  • Award Floor: $150,000
  • Contact: Vijay Nandula
  • Contact Email: vijay.nandula@usda.gov
  • Links to Additional Information:

US Dept. of Interior, Historic Preservation Fund Tribal Heritage Grants

These grants assist Tribes, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiian Organizations in protecting and promoting their unique cultural heritage and traditions. This funding focuses on: traditional skills, oral history, plant and animal species important in tradition, sacred and historic places and the establishment of tribal historic preservation offices.

  • Eligible Applicants: Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
  • Deadline: February 20, 2024, 11:59 PM ET
  • Estimated Total Program Funding: $720,000
  • Award Ceiling: $75,000
  • Award Floor: $15,000
  • Contact: Jennifer Solomon
  • Contact Email: STLPG@nps.gov
  • Link to Additional Information: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/351332

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Community Connect Grants

This funding will help provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include:

  • achieving e-connectivity for rural America
  • developing the rural economy
  • harnessing technological innovation
  • supporting a rural workforce
  • improving quality of life
  • Eligible Applicants: Special district governments; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; state governments; county governments; nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; city or township governments; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); small businesses; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Deadline: February 20, 2024
  • Estimated Total Program Funding: $79 million
  • Expected Number of Awards: 50
  • Award Ceiling: $5 million
  • Award Floor: $100,000
  • Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
  • Contact: Scott Steiner
  • Contact Email: Community.Connect@usda.gov
  • Links to Additional Information:

US Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA), Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

This funding will help SSVF to provide case management and supportive services to prevent the imminent loss of a veteran's home or identify a new, more suitable housing situation for the individual and his or her family; or to rapidly re-house veterans and their families who are homeless and might remain homeless without this assistance.

Private Grants:

Homes for Our Troops (HFOT), Adapted Custom Homes for Severely Injured Post-9/11 Veterans

HFOT builds specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans so they may live in a safe and barrier-free environment. Most of the veterans HFOT serves have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These fully accessible homes restore some of the freedom and independence our veterans sacrificed while defending our country and enable them to focus on their family, recovery and rebuilding their lives.

  • Qualifying Criteria:
    • injured in the theater of the Iraq-Afghanistan war, post 9/11/01
    • retired or in the process of retiring from military service
    • received a letter of eligibility for the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant program or the VA Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant entitlement established for veterans with loss of or loss of use of both hands
    • pass a criminal and credit background check
    • the HFOT home must be the primary residence. Veterans must accept the responsibility of home ownership and have the resources to maintain a home, including ongoing maintenance and upkeep, property taxes, home insurance and utilities, etc.
  • Contact Email: Intake@hfotusa.org
  • Link to Additional Information: https://www.hfotusa.org/

Awesome Foundation, Micro Grants

Each fully autonomous chapter supports awesome projects through micro-grants, usually given out monthly. These micro-grants, $1000 or the local equivalent, come out of the pockets of the chapter's "trustees" and are given on a no-strings-attached basis to people and groups working on awesome projects. Every chapter interprets "awesome" for itself. As such, awesome projects include initiatives in a wide range of areas including arts, technology, community development and more. Many awesome projects are novel or experimental and evoke surprise and delight. Awesome sometimes challenges and often inspires.

Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grants, National Grants for Mother-Owned Businesses

This program provides small micro-investments to moms who are running employer-based small businesses with two or more employees.

  • Eligible Applicants Must:
    • be a founder who identifies as a mother
    • be a CEO, president or business owner
    • have an active U.S.-based business
    • have a business in which the business annual revenue does not exceed $5M
    • have between 2 to 100 employees
    • have a minimum of 1 year in business
  • Application Opens: March 2024
  • Award Amounts: $1,000
  • Number of Awards: 25
  • Contact Email: support@foundersfirstcdc.org
  • Link to Additional Information:

Scholar Awards:

American Council of the Blind (ACB) Scholarships

These educational scholarships are for legally blind students who are entering freshman, undergraduate or graduate students or those attending technical college. This program awards students with scholarships to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as tuition, fees, room and board and other additional costs associated with assistive technology.

  • Eligible Applicants Must:
    • be legally blind
    • maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for most scholarships
    • be a full-time student or a part-time student who works at least 32 hours per week
    • be involved in their school and local community
  • Deadline: February 14, 2024, 11:59 PM PST
  • Award Amounts: Range from $2,000 - $7,500
  • Contact Email: scholarships@acb.org
  • Link to Additional Information: https://www.acb.org/scholarships

Fisher House Foundation, Scholarships for Military Children

The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize military families' contributions to the fighting force's readiness and to celebrate the commissary's role in the military family community. This program intends that a scholarship funded through contributions be awarded annually at each commissary operated by the Defense Commissary Agency worldwide.

  • Eligible Applicants Must:
    • be unmarried military-dependent children under the age of 23 who possess a valid Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card.
    • have a parent(s)/sponsor(s) that is one of the following: active duty, reserve/guard, deceased or retired from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Space Force
    • be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree or a community/junior college designed  to allow for a direct transfer into a four-year program
    • have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 basis (high school applicants).
    • have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (college applicants). College freshmen must submit a first-semester college transcript
  • Deadline: February 14, 2024, 11:59 PM PST
  • Award Amounts: $2,000
  • Estimated Number of Awards: 500
  • Contact Email: militaryscholar@scholarshipmanagers.com
  • Link to Additional Information: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarshipprograms/scholarships-for-military-children/

NY Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund, Inc. (GLEF), Women’s Fellowships

This funding supports fellowships, research and training for New York State women.

  • Eligible Applicants Must:
    • be a woman who is a United States citizen and a resident of New York State
    • have a bachelor's degree
    • be currently enrolled in graduate studies in an advanced graduate degree program at an accredited New York State college or university and have already completed at least one semester in that program
    • show evidence of scholastic ability and a need for financial assistance
    • have an anticipated graduation year no later than 2026
  • Deadline: February 28, 2024
  • Number of Awards: 4
  • Amount of Awards: one $2,000 award, three $1,500 awards
  • Contact: Eugenia Barnaba
  • Contact Email: emb6@cornell.edu or fellowships@gracelegendre.org
  • Link to Additional Information: https://www.gracelegendre.org/About-GLEF

New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) Scholarships

The New York Water Environment Association will be offering over $50,000 in scholarships in 2024. See below for links to some of the different scholarships offered by NYWEA.