Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is sending his “December 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 Management 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=116024

State Grants:

NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Health-Led Community Behavioral Crisis Response: Daniel’s Law Pilot Program Funding

These funds are available for the expansion and/or creation of health-led community behavioral health crisis response pilot programs consistent with the Daniel’s Law Task Force (DLTF) Behavioral Health Crisis Response report. This pilot program will create a crisis response system that prioritizes a health-led response through the utilization of community experts with lived experience to inform a safe, compassionate response for individuals and families in crisis. This crisis response system will include a health-led response team component. The DLTF identified a critical need in NYS for trauma-informed, community-based crisis response approaches that prioritize racial equity, cultural humility and harm reduction for New Yorkers across their lifespans. A health-led response to a behavioral health crisis is the standard being proposed nationwide, with law enforcement collaboration only in situations threatening violence.

■ Deadline: January 12, 2026, 2 p.m.

■ Eligible Applicants: Not-for-profit entities

■ Total Funding Available: $6 million

■ Contact: Jeremy Rossello

■ Email: omhprocurement@omh.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2025/daniel’s-law-pilot-program/index.html

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2025/daniel’s-law-pilot-program/daniels_law_pilot_final_rfp.pdf

NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Collaborative Care for Perinatal Mental Health Funding

This funding will support the expanded implementation of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) in obstetrics, gynecology (OBGYN) and family medicine practices across New York state.

■ Deadline: January 13, 2026, 2 p.m.

■ Eligible Applicants: OBGYN or family medical practices located in New York state that treat birthing individuals; this includes but is not limited to: federally qualified health centers, American Indian health programs, rural health centers and community health centers

■ Total Funding Available: $850,000

■ Contact: Jeremy Rossello

■ Email: omhlocalprocurement@omh.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2025/perinatal-mh-care/index.html

♦ https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2025/perinatal-mh-care/collaborative_care_perinatal_rfa.pdf

NYS Department of Health (DOH), Nurses Across New York (NANY) Loan Repayment Program

This program makes funds available to help recruit and retain registered nurses and licensed practical nurses and to encourage them to serve in medically underserved areas and to care for medically underserved populations within New York state. Funding to repay qualified educational debt is provided in exchange for a nurse’s commitment to work in an underserved area for a three-year period.

■ Deadline: January 14, 2026, 4 p.m.

■ Eligible Applicants: Individuals

■ Total Funding Available: $12.5 million

■ Contact: Erin Fay

■ Email: NANYStateAgencies@health.ny.gov

■ Link to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.health.ny.gov/funding/

♦ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://health.ny.gov/funding/soi/20713/docs/soi.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi2tuLNg_KQAxWrEFkFHTdTCTwQFnoECBoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw36d12yxmp8oxfvbB2MMAah

NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, Companion Animal Capital Projects

This funding is for eligible municipal and incorporated not-for-profit pounds, shelters, humane societies and rescue facilities (excluding rescues operating from a residence) to submit proposals for funding consideration.

■ Deadline: January 30, 2026, 4 p.m.

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

■ Total Funding Available: $10 million

■ Contact: Ana M. Colon

■ Email: ana.colon@agriculture.ny.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfp-0388-companion-animal-capital-projects-fund

♦ https://agriculture.ny.gov/request-proposals-rfp-0388-companion-animal-capital-projects-fund

Federal Grants:

U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, Youth Homeless Demonstration Grants

CoC is designed to: promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, states, Indian Tribes or tribally designated housing entities and local governments to quickly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness, persons experiencing trauma or a lack of safety.

■ Deadline: January 14, 2026, 8 p.m.

■ Eligible Applicants: nonprofit organizations; state governments; local governments; instrumentalities of state and local governments; Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities, as defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103); and public housing agencies, as such term is defined in 24 CFR 5.100, are eligible without limitation or exclusion

■ Estimated Total Program Funding: $3.9 billion

■ Expected Number of Awards: 7000

■ Minimum Award: $2,500

■ Maximum Award: $25 million

■ Email: CoCNOFO@hud.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/8d49559a-360a-42cc-a954-a58de07cbf85

♦ https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360861

♦ https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/community-coc

U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE)

The IUSE: EDU is a core NSF STEM education program that seeks to promote novel, creative and transformative approaches to generating and using new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve STEM education for undergraduate students.

■ Deadline: January 21, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted

■ Estimated Total Program Funding: $61 million

■ Minimum Award: $200,000

■ Maximum Award: $2 million

■ Email: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/3ffaf1d3-b1dd-4025-81da-77b68112d627

♦ https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/344124

♦ http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf23510

U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Designing Synthetic Cells Beyond the Bounds of Evolution Funding

This funding supports research that: develops cell-like systems to identify the minimal requirements for the processes of life; designs synthetically modified cells to address fundamental questions in the evolution of life or to explore biological diversity beyond that which currently exists in nature; and leverages basic research in cell design to build novel synthetic cell-like systems and cells for innovative biotechnology applications.

■ Deadline: February 2, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants: non-profit, non-academic organizations: independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities; institutions of higher education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special instructions for international branch campuses of U.S. IHEs: if the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus; Tribal Nations: an American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village or community that the secretary of the interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the federally recognized Indian tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131

■ Estimated Total Program Funding: $6 million

■ Expected Number of Awards: 7

■ Minimum Award: $500,000

■ Maximum Award: $2 million

■ Email: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/c77bfe49-deb3-4b05-9c9d-438d533c7a3e

♦ https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/350848

Private Grants:

EveryCat Health Foundation Grants

These grants support projects exploring all aspects pertaining to feline health, including shelter medicine, nutrition and behavior. Grants are awarded to scientists and professionals in research that concerns the origins of feline illness, diagnosis of feline diseases, development of effective treatments and the identification of disease prevention strategies.

■ Deadline: January 9, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants: faculty veterinarians, post-doctoral fellows – DVM or non-DVM (PhD, PhD candidates, MD), practicing veterinarians or veterinary students. Applicants with an MS degree and are PhD candidates can apply for available New Feline Investigator Grant Awards. Applicants with an MS degree and are non-DVMs yet are in a scientific, animal-related field should contact the EveryCat Health Foundation office about eligibility

■ Award Amount: Up to $50,000

■ Email Addresses:

♦ info@everycat.org

♦ grants@everycat.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://everycat.org

♦ https://everycat.org/the-lastest/grants/

♦ https://everycat.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2026_EveryCat_SPRING_RFP_FINAL_09.25.25VR.pdf

Gottlieb Foundation Individual Support Grants for Mature Artists

These grants will help support mature painters, sculptors and printmakers who have been creating art for at least 20 years and who are in financial need.

■ Deadline: January 15, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants Must:

♦ be able to demonstrate that they have been working in a mature phase of their art for at least 20 years. Maturity is based on the level of intellectual, technical and creative development maintained over this time period. Artists must show that their primary involvement has been with their artistic goals, regardless of other personal or financial responsibilities. Artists must work in the disciplines of painting, sculpture, or printmaking

♦ complete the financial disclosure section in full and must submit the appropriate financial documentation

■ Award Amount: $25,000

■ Number of Awards: 20

■ Contact Link: https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/contactus

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.gottliebfoundation.org

♦ https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/individual-support-grant-1

PADI Foundation, Research & Education Related to Aquatic Environments Grants

Grants of up to $12,000 (with an average of $5,000 to $10,000) in support of worthwhile projects that either enrich mankind’s understanding of aquatic environments and encourage sensitivity to and protection of ecosystems, increase understanding of sport diving physics and physiology that will benefit the general diving public and add to the scientific understanding of humanity’s relationship and ability to survive in the underwater environment or improve understanding of, and response to, hazards to humans and ecosystems related to climate change in coastal and ocean environments.

■ Deadline: January 15, 2026

■ Award Amount: Varies, $5,000- $10,000

■ Email: grants@padifoundation.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ www.padifoundation.org/index.html

♦ www.padifoundation.org/guides-deadlines.html

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Children’s Community-Based Health Initiatives; Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Planning, Implementation & Resident Grants

This funding supports pediatricians in leading innovative, community-based initiatives that increase children’s access to optimal health or well-being. Grants up to $10,000 will be awarded to pediatricians who plan to build broad-based community partnerships to address unmet child health needs. CATCH offers both Planning Grants and Implementation Grants, and the applicant determines which application to submit.

■ Deadline: January 20, 2026

■ Planning Grants: of $10,000 will be awarded to individual pediatricians, pediatric advance practice providers (with a pediatrician as secondary applicant) or fellowship trainees for planning innovative, community-based initiatives that increase children’s access to optimal health or well-being

■ Implementation Grants: of $10,000 will be awarded to individual pediatricians, pediatric advance practice providers (with a pediatrician as secondary applicant) or fellowship trainees for the initial implementation of or to pilot innovative, community-based initiatives that increase children’s access to optimal health or well-being

■ Eligible Applicants: U.S. and Canadian general pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, pediatric surgical subspecialists, fellowship trainees and pediatric advanced practice providers (with a pediatrician as secondary applicant) are eligible to apply. National and Chapter AAP memberships must be current before grant funds can be disbursed

■ Award Amounts: $10,000

■ Email: catch@aap.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.aap.org/en/advocacy/community-health-and-advocacy/community-access-to-child-health/catchplanning-implementation-and-residentgrants/catch-planning-and-implementation-grants/

♦ https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/catchplancall.pdf?_gl=1*evbdi5*_ga*MTk2MjA2MDg0Ni4xNzYzNDAxNjcz*_ga_FD9D3XZVQQ*czE3NjM0MDE2NzQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjM0MDE2NzQkajYwJGwwJGgw*_gcl_au*Mzk0ODU3NTEyLjE3NjM0MDE2NzE.*_ga_GMZCQS1K47*czE3NjM0MDE2NzUkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjM0MDE2NzUkajYwJGwwJGgw

Scholar Awards:

Mensa US Scholarships

These scholarships support students in achieving their educational and career aspirations. Scholarships are awarded based on a 550-word essay that outlines your academic and professional goals and describes how your personal experiences will help you achieve them.

■ Deadline: January 15, 2026

■ Essay Requirements:

♦ Length: 550 words or fewer

♦ Content: Clearly detail your goals and how your experiences support them

♦ Format: Submit in English as a plain-text entry (no formatting or markup)

♦ Originality: Your essay must be your own work

■ Award Amount: Varies

■ Number of Awards: 178

■ Email: info@mensafoundation.org

■ Link to Additional Information: https://www.mensafoundation.org/what-we-do/scholarships/

Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Scholarship Program

APIA scholarships are open to all undergraduate students attending U.S.-accredited colleges or universities. Scholarship amounts range from $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year awards. APIA Scholars has a focus on supporting students who live at or below the poverty line and are in the first generation of their family to attend college. APIA Scholars has a wide range of scholarship opportunities, including those for students currently attending or planning to attend 2-year as well as 4-year colleges.

■ Deadline: January 15, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants Must:

♦ be a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the U.S. Citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau are also eligible to apply

♦ enroll or continue as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in a U.S. accredited college or university in fall 2026. Full-time and part-time degree-seeking students are eligible

♦ Note: students pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply

■ Award Amount: Varies, $2,500 - $20,000

■ Number of Awards: 500

■ Email: applicant@apiascholars.org

■ Link to Additional Information: https://apiascholars.org/scholarships/

Army ROTC Scholarships

Scholarships and other monetary support are available to help with costs when you join the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Focus on your education and graduate into a secure path as an Army officer—and with less debt for the school years your scholarship covers. Get money for expenses and books

♦ receive monthly help to offset living and book costs. All ROTC scholarships include an extra $420 each month throughout the school year for expenses like housing, along with $1,200 each year to spend on books

♦ apply in high school or college

♦ apply for an Army ROTC scholarship at a participating school upon completion of your junior year of high school or as a college student

Your obligation with an ROTC scholarship:

Your acceptance of the ROTC scholarship means a future service obligation of eight years in the Army, with requirements for active duty and/or the Army Reserve or Army National Guard, depending on the scholarship. You may be eligible to serve part-time in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career immediately after graduation. Scholarship recipients who wish to exit the ROTC program may do so after their freshman year of college without any obligation

■ Deadline: January 19, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants Must Meet These Standards:

♦ requirements to join

♦ be a U.S. citizen

♦ be at least 17 and under 31 in the year of commissioning

♦ have a high school diploma or equivalent

♦ have an unweighted high school GPA of at least 2.50 if you’re in high school while applying

♦ have taken the SAT or ACT

♦ take the Army Fitness Test (AFT)

♦ meet the physical weight and height requirements

♦ agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard

■ Award Amount: $200,000

■ Number of Awards: 1000

■ Link to Additional lnformation: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships

Scholarships for Military Children

These scholarships are awarded annually at each commissary operated by the Defense Commissary Agency worldwide, with funding provided through generous contributions.

■ Deadline: February 11, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants: unmarried military dependent children under the age of 23 who possess a valid Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card. In addition, a student’s parent(s)/sponsor(s) must be one of the following: active duty, reserve/guard, deceased or retired from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Space Force

♦ must 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

♦ high school applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis)

♦ college applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. College freshmen must submit a first-semester college transcript

♦ applicants or sponsors do not need to live at an installation with a commissary; simply select the commissary where you shop or the one nearest to you

■ Award Amount: $2,000

■ Number of Awards: 500

■ Contact Link: https://fisherhouse.org/about/contact-us/

■ Link to Additional Information: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarship-programs/scholarships-formilitary-children/

Landscape Architecture Foundation Scholarships

Eligible candidates are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. Additional requirements vary by scholarship — for a summary, please see our Scholarships Eligibility Table. Each scholarship has a webpage, which details its purpose, criteria and application requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare application materials specific to the award being sought. Winners are chosen through a competitive process by leading academics and practitioners in landscape architecture.

■ Deadline: February 1, 2026

■ Eligible Applicants: See the Scholarship Eligibility Table

♦ https://lafoundation.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/LAF-2025-Scholarships-Eligibility-Table.pdf

■ Award Amount: Varies

■ Number of Awards: Approximately 26

■ Email: scholarships@lafoundation.org

■ Links to Additional Information:

♦ https://www.lafoundation.org/what-we-do/scholarships/student-scholarships/awards-available

♦ https://lafoundation.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/LAF-2025-Scholarships-Eligibility-Table.pdf