Grants Update

Week of March 14, 2025

New Grant Opportunities

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

FY 2025 Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program: Expert Match

WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to provide free, short-term technical assistance to address near-term clean energy challenges and questions. Rather than providing monetary awards, this program will match relevant experts with community stakeholders who have decision-making power or influence in their community but need access to additional clean energy expertise to inform key upcoming decisions. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Community stakeholders including local governments, tribes, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning organizations, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, municipal or cooperative utilities, and institutions of higher education

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Rather than providing monetary awards, this program will match communities with relevant experts who will provide free, short-term technical assistance to address near-term clean energy challenges and questions

WHEN'S IT DUE? Rolling

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

FY 2025 Clean Bus Planning Awards

WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to reduce barriers to zero emission bus deployment. Rather than providing monetary awards, this program connects transit and school bus fleets with technical experts who provide free technical assistance to support the development of comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State and local governmental entities providing bus service, private school bus fleets with an active contractual agreement to serve a public school district, nonprofit school transportation associations, tribes and tribal organizations, tribally controlled schools, and direct or designated recipients of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants, including state and local governmental authorities and tribes

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Rather than providing monetary awards, this program connects transit and school bus fleets with technical experts who provide free technical assistance to support the development of comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans. Fleets also have the option to receive free deployment assistance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at the completion of their plan

WHEN'S IT DUE? Rolling

National Science Foundation

FY 2026 Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program supports the education of science and engineering technicians for the high-technology fields that drive the nation's economy at the undergraduate and secondary-school levels. Projects may target specialized technology courses or core science, mathematics, and technology courses that serve as immediate prerequisites or co-requisites for specialized technician education courses/programs. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Two- and four-year institutions of higher education, nonprofit and non-academic organizations, for-profit organizations, local and state governments, and American Indian or Alaskan Native tribes, bands, nations, pueblos, villages, or communities

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $74 million

WHEN'S IT DUE? October 2, 2025

The grant experts of the NSDA Grants Program continue to closely monitor this evolving situation and are committed to helping special districts understand the federal funding landscape and adjust to the changing priorities. As always, our team is here to help you! If you have any questions about specific grants – whether on the pre-award or post-award side – we encourage you to connect with us during NSDA Office Hours or submit a project through the NSDA Project Idea Portal for advice on potential funding opportunities. Special districts may also access additional grant resources on the NSDA Website. If you have any questions, please contact nsdagrants@tfgnet.com.