Funding Opportunities
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Public and Indian Housing
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Program
HUD announces the availability of new funding to help local communities across the country to redevelop severely distressed public and HUD-assisted housing and transform surrounding neighborhoods.
HUD anticipates awarding approximately 4 Planning and Action Grants not to exceed $2 million each, and approximately 4 Planning Grants not to exceed $500,000 each. If funds are appropriated by Congress, HUD may, at its discretion, use additional FY2016 Choice Neighborhoods funding to make additional awards under this NOFA.
Bonus Points
In support of certain inter-agency initiatives, HUD awards bonus points to projects where the preponderance of work will occur in a designated zone, community or region. These points will be awarded only if the application otherwise meets or exceeds the Program's minimum fundable score based on the rating factors of this NOFA.HUD will award two (2) points for qualified activities within a designated zone or area and supporting either or both initiative(s). In no case will HUD award more than two bonus points for these activities.
To receive Promise Zones Bonus Points, applicants must submit form HUD 50153, Certification of Consistency with Promise Zone Goals and Implementation, signed by the Promise Zone Official authorized to certify the project meets the criteria to receive bonus points. To view the list of designated Promise Zones, please go to the Promise Zones website. For more information, please refer to pages 48-49 of the application.
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant funds are available for public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and tribal entities. Applicants must submit a completed electronic application through www.grants.gov by February 9, 2016.
Read HUD’s Funding Notice.
Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
FY 2016 Economic Development Assistance Programs
Application submission and program requirements for EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs.
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) Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement, 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 FFO, EDA solicits applications from rural and urban communities to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic condition.
Special Need Criteria: For the purposes of determining eligibility based on a “Special Need”, an applicant must provide current and appropriate economic and demographic statistics for the applicable Region to support the identified Special Need. EDA will base its Special Need eligibility determination on whether the proposed project meets the specific requirements outlined below, or in cases where specific thresholds are not identified, on whether the data and information provided by the applicant presents a compelling case that the Region meets the Special Need criteria, as defined by EDA.
A project may be eligible pursuant to a Special Need if the project is located in a Region that meets the criteria described below (among others):
- Designation of the project region as a “Promise Zone.” In order to receive consideration for this Special Need, applicants must submit a letter from the lead organization of a designated Promise Zone attesting to the contribution that the proposed activities would make, and supporting the application. A list of designated Promise Zones and lead organizations can be found on the Promise Zones website. For more information, please refer to page 11 of the application.
Deadline: EDA is employing a new two-phase review process for proposals/applications submitted under this FFO. There are no submission deadlines. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new EDAP FFO. Proposals will be reviewed by EDA within 30 days of receipt; and following the proposal review, full applications will be reviewed within 60 days of receipt. Please see Section IV of this FFO for complete information on EDA’s two-phase review process.
Read EDA’s Funding Notice.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Development
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program
The USDA Rural Development Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP) program provides eligible utilities with low-cost federal financing for energy efficiency and conservation in rural communities of a population of 20,000 or less. Utility borrowers design their own Energy Efficiency programs and can re-lend Rural Development funds to end-users to meet their energy needs. Borrowers can also upgrade their systems to furnish the energy needs of their customers more efficiently. Learn more about the EECLP program.
More information is available on the USDA Rural Development website.
