Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is sending his “January 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 pre-qualify on the New York State 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=112591.

State Grants:

NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Youth & Family Peer Advocate Workforce Expansion

This funding will expand the family and youth peer advocate workforce. Through these grants, not-for-profit community-based organizations that are either OMH-funded agencies or OMH-licensed or designated mental health agencies that offer family and/or youth peer support services will work within a region of the state to establish collaborative partnerships with non-mental health community agencies and organizations (such as social and membership clubs, places of worship, community service agencies, etc.) with demonstrated experience serving diverse, disenfranchised and/or marginalized communities.

Eligible Applicants: Not-for-profit entities

■ Deadline: January 14, 2025, 2 PM

■ Total Funding Available: $2.75 million

■ Contact: Jeremy Rossello

■ Contact Email: OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2024/peer_workforce/peer_workforce_rfp.pdf

Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, Regional School Food Infrastructure Grants

These grants will encourage the use of fresh New York State farm products in meal preparation for K-12 school children, reduce food insecurity, increase market opportunities for New York State producers and strengthen the resiliency of our state’s food system. Additionally, this program will encourage workforce development by providing training for culinary arts, food processing, safe food handling and storage, logistics, delivery and other community needs.

■ Eligible Applicants: Governmental entities, not-for-profit entities, tribal organizations

■ Deadline: January 16, 2025, 4 PM

■ Total Funding Available: $10 million

■ Contact: Courtney Bailey

■ Contact Email: farmtoschool@agriculture.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities

♦ https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfp-0358-new-york-state-regional-school-food-infrastructure-grant-program

♦ https://agriculture.ny.gov/request-proposals-rfp-0358-new-york-state-regional-school-foodinfrastructure-grant-program

NYS Dept. of Health (DOH), Office of Aging & Long-Term Care, Direct Caregiver Flexibility Grants

These grants will help fund Direct Caregiver Training Centers along with the Direct Caregiver Support Hub component to support the training program.

■ Eligible Applicants: For-profit entities, not-for-profit entities

■ Deadline: January 21, 2025, 4 PM

■ Total Funding Available: $95 million

■ Contact: Carol Rodat

■ Contact Email: DCF.Grant@health.ny.gov

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.nyscr.ny.gov/iframes/openAdDetail.cfm?id=6BC78AA2-CA39-43E5-BA0E-E7C89948CD71

NYS Dept. of Health (DOH), Advancing Health Equity Grants

These funds will help provide services to improve health outcomes and address health disparities experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS in New York State.

Eligible Applicants: Not-for-profit entities

■ Deadline: January 22, 2025, 4 PM

■ Total Funding Available: Approximately $4.3 million

■ Contact: Margaret Smalls

■ Contact Email: 2024AHE.RFA.CYA@health.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfa/20559/

♦ https://www.nyscr.ny.gov/iframes/openAdDetail.cfm?id=E3E21E14-7BFB-4ED1-BEB0-74BFDBCEE79F

NYS Dept. of Health (DOH), Translational Research Projects (TRP) in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Grants

These grants help give researchers the opportunity to advance well-proven hypotheses and early translational research findings into mid/late-stage translational and/or pre-clinical research that has a clear and feasible translational path to clinical application. These grants also offer the opportunity to validate and optimize or iteratively refine devices, tools and technologies to treat or cure SCI paralysis in ways that significantly improve current capabilities.

■ Eligible Applicants: Governmental entities, not-for-profit entities

■ Deadline: January 23, 2025, 4 PM

■ Total Funding Available: $8 million

■ Contact: David Googins

■ Contact Email: scirb@health.ny.gov

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfa/20544/

NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) for Children

These funds will expand PHPs for children and adolescents throughout New York State. The goal of this award is to expand access to services for children with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and their families at a critical time in their lives, which they need to thrive and remain engaged in the community. PHPs provide intensive treatment that is more structured and comprehensive than traditional outpatient therapy, allowing individuals to receive necessary support and care while still being able to return home at the end of the day. Individuals benefiting from PHPs need daily direct support and treatment in coordination with their family, school program and/or work.

■ Eligible Applicants: For-profit entities, governmental entities, individuals, not-for-profit entities, tribal organizations

■ Deadline: January 28, 2025, 2 PM

■ Total Funding Available: $2.3 million

■ Expected Number of Awards: Up to 20

■ Contact: Amanda Szczepkowski

■ Contact Email: OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2024/phpc/index.html

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2024/phpc/php_for_children_rfp.pdf

NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Disadvantaged Communities Air Pollution

Mitigation Opportunity Grants- These grants are being offered to support effective action to reduce air pollution and exposure within disadvantaged and environmental justice communities. Air pollution mitigation projects are intended to further the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) in disadvantaged communities throughout New York. Projects should be designed to reduce or mitigate emissions or pollution in areas that have a record of poor ambient air quality. Mitigation techniques can be varied, and multiple techniques can be implemented.

■ Eligible Applicants: Not-for-profit entities, tribal organizations

■ Deadline: January 29, 2025, 3 PM

■ Total Funding Available: $3 million

■ Award Ceiling: $500,000

■ Award Floor: $250,000

■ Contact: Raymond Loftfield

■ Contact Email: Raymond.loftfield@dec.ny.gov

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-09/dcairpolmitop.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjnxuKVjZ6KAxWkpIkEHYoGPXsQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw19I_kzq5cAiPWUMOChJzK

NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment Grants

This funding will assist 501(c)(3) not-for-profits that provide emergency food relief in New York State. The following types of equipment that assist local emergency food relief organizations in providing food to those in need are eligible for funding under this grant program:

♦ trucks, refrigerated vehicles, and related equipment (e.g., trailers, insulated food storage containers, scales, etc.) used in the transport of food

♦ cooling equipment (e.g., freezers, refrigerators, walk-in freezer or cold room, etc.) and related installation costs (e.g., electric work, delivery, etc.)

♦ emergency generators and related installation costs (e.g., electric work, delivery, etc.) dedicated to preserving food for donation (note: awarded funds in this category must not exceed $25,000)

♦ combination of project types

■ Eligible Applicants: Governmental entities, not-for-profit entities

■ Deadline: January 31, 2025, 3 PM

■ Total Funding Available: $1.25 million

■ Contact: Molly Trembley

■ Contact Email: organicsgrant@dec.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/recyclingcomposting/organic-materials-management/fundingopportunities-for-organics-management

♦ https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/2024efrofactsheet.pdf

NYS Dept. of Economic Development, Centers for Advanced Technology (CAT) Funding

This funding is designed to spur technology-based applied research and economic growth; encourage applied research collaboration and innovation with industry; promote workforce development; better leverage state funds with investments from the federal government, industry, foundations and not-for-profit economic development organizations; and increase the competitiveness of New York State companies.

■ Eligible Applicants: Not-for-profit entities

■ Deadline: January 31, 2025, 2 PM

■ Total Funding Available: Approximately $90.3 million

■ Expected Number of Awards: Up to 10

■ Contact: Jamie Moore

■ Contact Email: Jamie.moore@esd.ny.gov

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.nyscr.ny.gov/iframes/openAdDetail.cfm?id=E68C23D5-E4EE-43F5-A14D-22BFF56CD612

Federal Grants:

National Science Foundation (NSF), Pathways to Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE)

POSE funding aims to harness the power of opensource development for the creation of new technology solutions to problems of national and societal importance. Many NSF-funded projects result in publicly accessible, modifiable and distributable open-source products, including software, hardware, models, specifications, programming languages, or data platforms that catalyze further innovation.

■ Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs), two- and four-year IHEs, accredited in and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of faculty members; non-profit, non-academic organizations (independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies) located in the U.S. that are directly associated with the educational or research activities; for-profit organizations, U.S.-based commercial organizations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education and a passion for innovation; state and local governments; tribal nations

■ Deadline: January 14, 2025, 5 PM

■ Estimated Total Program Funding: $27.8 million

■ Expected Number of Awards: 50

■ Award Ceiling: $1.5 million

■ Award Floor: $300,000

■ Contact Email: pose@nsf.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.grants.gov/search-resultsdetail/356423

♦ https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf24606

♦ https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/nsf24606.pdf

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service Eastern Region Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Grants

These grants support moving toward shared stewardship as part of a conceptual framework for making strategic investments across landscapes to co-manage wildfire risk and achieve positive outcomes at the most appropriate scale. Within this framework, Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy is designed to support and carry out the first two goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (NCS) across the Midwestern and Northeastern States. These first two national goals are:

♦ restore and maintain landscapes: landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances in accordance with management objectives

♦ create fire-adapted communities: human populations and infrastructure that can withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property

■ Eligible Applicants: County governments; nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; state governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)

■ Deadline: January 15, 2025

■ Expected Number of Awards: 25

■ Award Ceiling: $300,000

■ Award Floor: $25,000

■ Contact: Helene Hochholzer

■ Contact Email: Helene.hochholzer@usda.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/356933

♦ https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r9/workingtogether/grants/?cid=FSEPRD898823

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Literature Fellowships

This funding supports projects for the translation of specific works of prose, poetry, or drama from other languages into English through fellowships to published translators. The work to be translated should be of interest for its literary excellence and merit. Translation projects that feature languages, perspectives, and writers that are not well represented in English, as well as work that has not previously been translated into English, are encouraged.

■ Eligible Applicants: Individuals

■ Deadline: January 16, 2025

■ Award Ceiling: $25,000

■ Award Floor: $10,000

■ Contact Email: webmgr@arts.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.grants.gov/search-resultsdetail/355302

♦ https://www.arts.gov/grants/translation-projectfellowships

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program

This funding will help increase the supply of behavioral health professionals and improve the distribution of a well-trained behavioral health workforce. The program has a specific focus on understanding the needs of children, adolescents and young adults at risk for mental health, trauma and behavioral health disorders. BHWET prepares the workforce by emphasizing interprofessional team-based models of care, integrating behavioral health training in primary care settings and recruiting a diverse workforce interested in serving high-need and high-demand areas. The program also invests in increasing the number and training of clinical supervisors.

■ Eligible Applicants: Others (see “Additional Information on Eligibility” in the link below); public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits having 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; independent school districts; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)

■ Deadline: January 21, 2025

■ Estimated Total Program Funding: $59.6 million

■ Expected Number of Awards: 101

■ Award Ceiling: $600,000

■ Contact Email: BHWETPro25@hrsa.gov

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/355772

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program

These funds aim to promote rural health care services outreach by improving and expanding the delivery of health care services to include new and enhanced services in rural areas. To achieve this purpose, the program also aims to strengthen local resources and capacity in rural communities. Through collaborative consortiums that include three or more health care providers, each community can develop innovative approaches to solve their own unique challenges and factors underlying rural health disparities.

■ Eligible Applicants: Others (see “Additional Information on Eligibility” in the link below); special district governments; state governments; small businesses; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; independent school districts; city or township governments; private institutions of higher education; county governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)

■ Deadline: January 27, 2025

■ Estimated Total Program Funding: $13 million

■ Expected Number of Awards: 50

■ Contact Email: RuralOutreachProgram@hrsa.gov

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/355368

Private Grants:

NY Health Foundation, Advancing Maternal Health Equity Through Primary and Preventive Care

This funding will support projects that advance maternal health equity for Black New Yorkers and other New Yorkers of color. Funded projects will address racial disparities through high-quality primary care, preventive care and/or community linkages to care. They will meaningfully engage communities and patients.

■ Eligible Applicants: Organizations must operate and be based in New York State. Applicants may partner with non-New York-based organizations if they bring essential resources or expertise. Eligible entities include nonprofits, for-profit organizations, government agencies and academic institutions.

Organizations may conduct clinical care, community-based services, patient advocacy, policy analysis, public health services or research. Both past NYHealth grantees and new organizations are welcome to apply. Individuals are not eligible. Both clinical providers and CBOs are eligible to apply. In clinical-CBO partnerships, competitive projects will include project team leadership from both CBOs and health care providers, demonstrated buy-in from both institutions, a history of collaboration and financial support provided to CBOs (if CBOs are not the lead applicant).

■ Deadline for Letters of Intent: January 10, 2025, 1 PM

■ Expected Number of Awards: 5-8

■ Award Amounts: Up to $200,000

■ Contact Email: gm@nyhealthfoundation.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://nyhealthfoundation.org/apply-for-funding/

♦ https://nyhealthfoundation.org/rfp/2025-maternalhealth/

Stranahan Foundation, Early Childhood Education Strategy Grants

This funding focuses on increasing access to high-quality early care and education for low-income children (birth to five) by investing in developing and retaining a high-quality, thriving early educator workforce.

■ Eligible Applicants: Local, state and national U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored organizations, public school districts and higher education institutions. Additional organization-eligibility criteria include having demonstrated:

♦ a commitment to serving early childhood providers and professionals whose student populations comprise at least 60% of children from low-income families

♦ an understanding and track record of directly collaborating with families, communities and the early childhood professionals they seek to impact

♦ an organization capacity and leadership to execute the proposed work, ensure quality and use data to inform continuous improvement

■ Deadline for Letters of Intent: January 16, 2025, noon

■ Total Available Funding: $1.1 million

■ Expected Number of Grants: 5

■ Award Amounts: Applicants may request up to $300,000 over three years

■ Contact Email: grants@stranahanfoundation.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/main/2025-spring-ece-proven-pd-innovation-rfp/

♦ https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/clientuploads/Early_Childhood_Committee/2023/Nov_Final_Review/Application_Elements.pdf

Hillman Foundation Awards, Honoring Excellence in Journalism

These awards honor journalists, writers and public figures that pursue investigative journalism and public policy in service of the common good.

■ Eligible Applicants: The contest is open to journalists globally, although work must have been widely accessible to a U.S. audience. Stories may be on any topic but prioritize entries with a U.S. impact. You may nominate your own work or someone else’s. You may apply on your own or be entered by your outlet/organization. There is no limit to the number of entries one outlet may make. 2025 categories are as follows:

♦ book (nonfiction)

♦ newspaper journalism (story, series or multimedia; print or online)

♦ magazine journalism (long form; print or online)

♦ broadcast journalism (television, radio or podcast; at least 20 minutes in total package length)

♦ opinion & analysis journalism (commentary and analysis in any medium)

■ Deadline for Submissions: January 30, 2025, 11:59 PM

■ Award Amounts: All prize winners will receive $5,000

■ Contact: Alexandra Lescaze

■ Contact Email: Alex@HillmanFoundation.org

■ Link to Additional Information: https://hillmanfoundation.org/hillman-prizes/nominations

Scholar Awards:

Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships

These scholarships are for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. Each Cooke Scholar has access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow scholars.

Eligible Applicants Must:

♦ be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or two-year institution with sophomore status by January 1, 2025, or a recent graduate (since spring 2020)

♦ plan to enroll full-time in a baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in fall 2025

♦ have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent)

♦ demonstrate unmet financial need—applicants with a maximum annual gross income of $95,000 will be considered. During the selection process, the foundation will conduct a full financial review that will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents

♦ have not previously enrolled in or attended a four-year institution—students who have attended a four-year institution in the past are not eligible for this scholarship

—if you started at a four-year institution, but did not complete a semester of full-time study, then you may be eligible. Please contact us to verify your eligibility.

—students who have already transferred to a four-year institution or plan to transfer to start during the spring 2025 semester are also not eligible for this scholarship

■ Deadline: January 9, 2025

■ Award Amounts: These highly competitive scholarships include:

♦ the award, which is last-dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the U.S.

♦ the ability to pursue any area of study

♦ personal advising about selecting a college and navigating financial aid

♦ multifaceted advising about how to transition to a four-year college and maximize the student experience

♦ the opportunity to apply for the internship stipend program, conference, travel stipend and graduate scholarship

■ Contact Email: scholarships@jkcf.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.jkcf.org/

♦ https://www.jkcf.org/our-scholarships/undergraduate-transfer-scholarship/

Tribal Agricultural Fellows (TAF) Scholarships

These fellowships aid Native students in achieving their education goals leading to careers in agriculture. The fellowship program provides a generous benefits package that can include up to four years of fellowship status, with funding to earn agricultural degrees or technical certifications.

Eligible Applicants Must:

♦ be rising or current technical, undergraduate or graduate students

♦ provide proof of tribal enrollment or community connectedness

♦ upon selection for TAF, provide acceptance/enrollment information for selected academic or

certificate program

■ Deadline: January 17, 2025, 5 PM CT

■ Contact Email: info@taffellows.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://taffellows.org/

♦ https://taffellows.org/home-2/about-us/

♦ https://taffellows.org/how-to-apply/

Union Plus Scholarships

These scholarships are presented to union members or members of their families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education.

Eligible Applicants Must be:

♦ current and retired members of participating unions, their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations)

♦ have at least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant’s spouse or parent (if the applicant is a dependent). The one-year membership minimum must be satisfied by May 31 of the scholarship year

■ Deadline: January 31, 2025, noon

■ Award Amounts: Vary, $500-$4,000

■ Contact Email: scholarships@unionplus.org

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/union-plusscholarships