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Monthly Newsletter

May 2023

Heart twister cactus

Message from the Executive Director


In the month of May, the staff and I will be hard at work on connecting our disaster-impacted communities with funding opportunities for recovery and resiliency. At the top of the list is EDA Disaster Supplemental funding, described below. We are also awaiting the announcement of two new EDA opportunities--TechHubs and Recompete--which will be open to our entire region.


To recap on the month of April, on April 12, we had a special visit from Alejandra Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Commerce for Economic Development. Assistant Secretary Castillo spoke at the REDI Summit held by the Regional Development Corporation, and she facilitated two roundtables with stakeholders in our region. Thank you to all who attended! I also want to thank our Board of Directors for an amazing board meeting on April 27 where we heard about each community's needs and priorities.


Please enjoy the beautiful weather now that we can officially celebrate spring!

EDA Announces Disaster Supplemental and University Center Funding Opportunities

EDA logo

EDA is now accepting applications through the FY2023 Disaster Supplemental Funding Notice of Funding Opportunity.


The awards are designed to support regions impacted by wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters (2021-2022). See the NOFO HERE.


Locations in New Mexico will qualify under FEMA's DR-4652-NM disaster declaration. Applicants from these New Mexico counties are eligible to apply: Colfax, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Mora, Sandoval, San Miguel, and Valencia Counties.

 

Funding will help communities devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies through a variety of construction and non-construction projects. Eligible applicants include Tribal nations, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, district organizations like NCNMEDD, and state, county or city subdivisions engaged in economic or infrastructure activities. Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible for funding under this NOFO. 

 

For more information, visit EDA’s Disaster Recovery Program. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) at sfgrants.eda.gov. If you have questions about this opportunity, please reach out to Felicity Fonseca at 505-356-9098.

University Center Logo

New Mexico Eligible for University Center Funding


The EDA University Center program leverages university assets to build and expand regional economic ecosystems that support innovation and high-growth entrepreneurship that are both resilient and inclusive. 


The deadline for receipt of applications is July 10, 2023.



Accredited institutions of higher education, including community colleges, junior colleges, tribal colleges, Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), or other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that meets EDA’s eligibility requirements as an accredited institution of higher education, or a consortium of accredited institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for and receive funding under the University Center Economic Development Program. 


Learn more about the 2023 University Center competition NOFO at an upcoming informational webinar and Q&A session, to be announced soon. 

Meet Clarity Collins,

Disaster Recovery Coordinator for Mora,

San Miguel and Colfax Counties

Clarity Collins

Hello new friends and coworkers! My name is Clarity Collins and I am the Disaster Recovery Coordinator for San Miguel, Colfax, and Mora County. My formal education and background in emergency management is supported by in-field deployment experience in domestic and international disaster response. I've been deployed to 6 large scale disasters and been honored to serve with FEMA, the Red Cross, regional medical systems, numerous NGOs, and now the people of North Central New Mexico.  


As a veteran traveler, I have been 'on the road' for much of my career with a special focus on humanitarian aid in developing nations in Latin America. I strive to be adaptable, innovative, and persistent in the face of challenges.  I enjoy building relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders both inside and outside of my organization. 


Outside of work, I enjoy a ridiculous amount of hobbies from chainsaw carving to natural building. The great outdoors is my happy place and I look forward to exploring all that New Mexico has to offer. I look forward to getting to know all of you over the coming weeks and months. 


Reach out to Clarity at [email protected] or 505-356-9600.

New Mexico Environment Department Now Accepting Applications through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund

This program offers low interest loans of 0.01%

with up to a 30 year repayment term. Eligible borrowers are Municipalities, Counties, Water and Sanitation Districts, Mutual Domestic Water Consumer Associations, Pueblos and Tribes.


These kinds of projects are eligible: wastewater and stormwater, publicly owned centralized wastewater treatment works (construction, repair, and replacement), watershed projects, projects reducing, treating, or

managing stormwater, non-point source management plan, and decentralized systems treating domestic sewage.


See this overview of eligibilities and Learn More Here.

NM Env. Dept. logo

NMDFA Announces Capacity Building Grant

DFA logo

State Announces $2M in Capacity Building Grants for Local Governments


New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) announces the 2023 New Mexico Capacity Building Grants for council of governments and local and tribal governments to secure grant writers and grant managers/administrators.


"We want to provide local governments with every necessary resource to access additional federal funding for their communities," said DFA Cabinet Secretary Wayne Propst.


Th Informational Webinar will be on

May 12, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.


The Application Submission Window is

May 12, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. to May 26, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.


Register for the Webinar Here

USDA Housing Funding

Home Repair Photo

USDA Grants to Help People Repair Homes

Damaged in Forest Fires in 2022


The grants are being made available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from USDA to repair their homes.


Residents in the following counties may be eligible for the funding:

  • Mora
  • San Miguel
  • Colfax


Funds will be available until expended.


For more information, visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-rural-disaster-home-repair-grants.

Adobe home

USDA Housing Preservation Grant Program


The Housing Preservation Grant program provides grants to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by low- and very-low-income rural citizens.


A portion of this funding is for organizations to help people repair homes they own or rent that were damaged in calendar year 2022 Presidentially declared disaster areas.


Eligible applicants include most State or local governmental entities, federally recognized Indian tribes, nonprofit groups and faith-based organizations.


Applications are due June 5.

DFA ICIP Training Series 1 Begins in May!

DFA logo

2023 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP)

May Series 1 Training Workshops


The Department of Finance & Administration-Local Government Division (DFA-LGD) in collaboration with the NM Association of Regional Councils (NewMARC) invites you to participate in the 2023 ICIP Virtual Training Series.


The ICIP PLANNING TOOL encourages entities to develop and update their five-year plan annually which is submitted to the State. It provides an opportunity for communities to assist and assess any critical needs and identify funding opportunities.

Training for Series 1 includes presentations on

  • ICIP 101
  • The Audit Act Tiered System of Financial Reporting
  • Creative Ways to Develop Cost Estimates
  • Arts in Public Places
  • Capital Outlay Process
  • FUNDIT
  • Local Government Road Fund & Transportation Project Fund 
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • NM Outdoor Recreation - How to Best Incorporate Outdoor Recreation Planning in Your ICIP

Register here.


More training will be available in Series 2 - June schedule.

Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

 

Transportation Update

Espanola crosswalk

U.S. DOT recently announced the next round of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant, with applications due via Grants.gov by July 10, 2023. The funding is split into two categories:

  • Planning and Demonstration Grants (replacing Action Plan Grants from FY 2022), which now have the budget range of $100,000 to $10 million for comprehensive safety action plans, including supplemental safety planning, and/or safety demonstration activities.
  • Implementation Grants, which now have the budget range of $2.5 million to $25 million to implement strategies or projects that are consistent with an existing Action Plan.



Federal funding is limited to 80% of the project costs, requiring at least 20% match.

 

If you have transportation safety concern or a prior federally funded safety study that you’d like to implement, please contact Paul Sittig and we can help you develop your application with our on-call grant writing, professional engineering, and GIS support.

 

Grants for Tribes Under IIJA and IRA

US DOE logo

By Maxine Paul

Maxine Paul built the Santa Ana Pueblo Environmental Division from the ground up, and now works at Adelante Consulting.


Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, Deadline May 30.

DOT grants to install EV and other alternative fuel charging stations and address associated needs. Tribes are eligible to apply. Webinar directed at tribes is available here


Environmental Justice Thriving Community Grant Program, Deadline May 31.

The FOA linked above is for a few large centers that, once established, will provide access to environmental justice planning funding. It was established to recognize broad financial needs that don’t fit under other programs but involve environmental justice. Apply for or keep an eye out for these centers as they become established. They may be good sources of funding for a variety of environmental and climate justice needs for tribes.  


Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from EPA, Deadline June 14.

This is a non-competitive program for its first phase, developing a Climate Pollution

(i.e. Greenhouse Gas) Reduction Plan and a Climate Action Plan for tribal

governments, with a goal of decarbonization as well as decreasing toxic air pollution. The tribal set-aside is $500,000 per tribe and $1M for consortia of two or more tribes. You are only eligible for the second phase for implementation of plans if you apply for this first phase. You can contact Aunjanee Gautreaux ([email protected]) at EPA Region 6 if you have any questions.

Transitioning Tribal Colleges and Universities to Clean Energy, Deadline July 27.

Grant funding for clean energy projects and curriculum planning for tribal colleges and universities, requires a 10% match. 10-15 projects are expected with a total pool of $15M available in federal funds. Webinar recording is available on the website and technical assistance is available.


Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program 

Don’t forget about USDA Rural Development! Tribes are eligible for these on-going loans and loan guarantees for electrical infrastructure maintenance, upgrades, expansion, energy efficiency, renewable energy systems, and replacement of facilities. 

 

Finally, read some important changes to Energy Infrastructure Deployment grants guidance Here 

Local and Regional Events

Connect New Mexico Regional Broadband Meeting


Join Connect New Mexico for a Broadband Meeting in your region. Meet state and local officials, learn about broadband initiatives and funding opportunities, and participate in development of the statewide New Mexico Broadband and Digital Equity Plans. 


May 11: Springer 

(Region 4 in Colfax County)

Learn More and Register to Attend

 

May 16: Hernandez 

(Region 2 in Rio Arriba County)

Learn More and Register to Attend


May 24: Buffalo Thunder, Santa Fe

(NTIA Broadband Statewide Meeting)

Details to Follow

New VISTA Volunteers start in June for Santa Fe County and STEM Santa Fe!

Nancy at Outreach Event

VISTA leader Nancy Kastning and Santa Fe County staff, one of our subsites, attended a St. John’s College AmeriCorps recruitment event on April 25.


If there is a good community or volunteer recruitment event happening in your community, please invite us! We'd like to attend! Email Nancy Kastning with info about your local event.


Las Vegas San Miguel Community Foundation will be joining the NCNMEDD VISTA program. Their VISTA assignment will work on long term recovery from the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon (HPCC) wildfires. We are excited to have them join our program!


AmeriCorps VISTA projects empower individuals and communities in overcoming poverty.  


To learn more, apply to be a VISTA, or apply to be a VISTA subsite in our region contact Nancy Kastning at 505-819-9449 or [email protected] 

Grant and Funding Opportunities

For the most up to date information on funding, sign up for the New Mexico Economic Development Department Weekly Resource Wrap Up and the Congressional Delegation Grant Advisory.  Also, subscribe to the New Mexico Broadband Connections newsletter for updates and information about broadband opportunities through the state. 


USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, applications accepted year round. Loans and grans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.


EDA Disaster Supplemental Funding, Rolling deadline until funds are expended.

Eligible NM counties: Colfax, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Mora, San Miguel, Valencia. To devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies through non-construction and construction projects.


USDA Value Added Producer Grants, Deadline May 11.

To help agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.


DOE Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands, Deadline May 16. 

Topic areas including installing clean energy generating systems and energy efficiency measures for tribal buildings.


SAMSHA Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers, Deadline May 16.

Two awards nationally to establish or implement comprehensive treatment and recovery centers.


Americorps Volunteer Generation Fund, Deadline May 16. 

Supports organizations to boost the impact of volunteers on critical community needs and rebuild the volunteer infrastructure after the covid pandemic.


NEH Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants, Deadline May 17.

For the purchase, design, construction, restoration, or renovation of buildings or sites of national, historical, architectural, or cultural significance and facilities that house humanities collections or are used for humanities activities. Match required.


DOE Clean Energy to Communities Program Deadline May 17.

Funding to help rural and metropolitan communities develop roadmaps to achieve their clean energy goals, and provide support from U.S. National Laboratory staff as they apply modeling and analytical tools adapted to each community's unique conditions.


DOT Emergency Relief Grants for Public Transportation Systems Affected by Major Declared Disasters in Calendar Years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022, Deadline May 26.

For FTA recipients affected by major declared disasters in calendar years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Projects may include costs for disaster response, recovery, and rebuilding activities. Costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not eligible for this funding. 


EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Program, Deadline May 31.

To make subawards to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible subrecipient groups representing underserved and disadvantaged communities.


USDA Inflation Reduction Act for Urban and Community Forestry, Deadline June 2.

These are cooperative agreements and grant funding for tree planting and related activities, with a priority for projects that benefit underserved populations as found in the White House Center for Environmental Quality's Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) mapping tool. Unexpended funds will be available until 2029.


HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants, Deadline June 6.

To revitalize severely distressed public housing and/or HUD-assisted housing and the surrounding neighborhood.


USDA Community Connect Program, Deadline June 20.

To provide broadband service in rural, economically challenged communities where service does not exist.15% Match required.


USDA Broadband Technical Assistance Program, Deadline June 20.

Cooperative agreement funding to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training that promotes the expansion of broadband into rural areas.


EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program, Deadline June 15.

Formula funding for tribes to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Direct questions about this opportunity to EPA Region 6 contact Aunjanee Gautreaux at [email protected].


DOI Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, Deadline June 23.

To support the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats and species of Tribal cultural or traditional importance, including species that are not hunted or fished.


Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas, Deadline June 28. To provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions that are replicable and scalable.


NEA Grants for Arts Projects, Deadline July 6.

Grants from $10,000 to $100,000, match required.


DOT Safe Streets and Roads For All, Deadline July 10.

To support planning and demonstration activities, as well as projects and strategies to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, personal conveyance, and micro mobility users, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators.


HHS Community Economic Development Planning grants, Deadline July 12.

For the planning, developing, or managing of low-income housing or community economic development activities.


USDA NIFA Agricultural and Food Research Initiative-Sustainable Agricultural Systems,

Deadline July 13. Wide variety of eligible applicants. For projects that improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity.


DOT FAA Airport Improvement Program Discretionary Grants, Deadline July 14.

To fund airport capital improvements and rehabilitation projects.


DOE Buildings Upgrade (Buildings UP) Prizes Deadline July 18.

This program offers cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America with winning ideas to accelerate widespread, equitable energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades.


USDA Local Meat Capacity Grant, Deadline July 19.

To expand processing capacity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors.


USDA Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program, Deadline July 19.

To support traditional harvesting methods, indigenous animals, and community animal protein processing operations.


USDA Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers, Deadline July 25.

To provide education, training, and technical assistance on available USDA resources.


EPA Clean School Bus Program, Deadline August 22.

For the replacement of existing school buses with low and zero-emission school buses


F23AS00103 Refuge Enhancement/Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure,

Deadline September 10.

The goals of the initiative are to enable local communities to play a more active role in increasing outdoor recreation opportunities on refuge lands and waters, and to enhance wildlife habitat.


DOI FWS Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment, Deadline September 10.

The purpose of Service Public Lands Corps Programs is to provide work and education opportunities for youth (defined as ages 16-30 inclusive, and up to age 35 for veterans) participants in the areas of natural and cultural resource conservation, development, and scientific research. 

Work with NCNMEDD! See our

Contract and Employment Opportunities.