All funding opportunities in this newsletter are federal grants. Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is committed to vetting funding for member governments throughout the region. If you have a project that does align with the opportunities listed here, please reach out to our office so that we may provide technical assistance in supporting project development.

Thank you for all you do for the Kerr-Tar region,

Desiree Brooks

The Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program (Cybercrimes Enforcement Program) supports efforts by States, Indian Tribes, and units of local government to prevent, enforce, and prosecute cybercrimes against individuals with a focus on adult and young adult cybercrime victims. Cybercrimes against individuals are defined as criminal offenses that involve the use of a computer to harass, threaten, stalk, extort, coerce, cause fear to, or intimidate an individual, or without consent distribute intimate images of an adult, except that use of a computer need not be an element of the offense. (See 34 U.S.C. § 30107(a)(2)). Cybercrimes against individuals do not include the use of a computer to cause harm to a commercial entity, government agency or nonnatural person. Note: The term computer includes a computer network and an interactive electronic device. NOFO

Award: $0 - $700,000

Match: None

RCDI grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas. Public bodies, Non-profit organizations, Qualified Private (for-profit) Organizations, and Federally recognized Tribes may apply. Any area other than a city or town with a population greater than 50,000, and the area adjacent to such a city or town is an eligible area. Funds may be used to improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas. NOFO

Award: $50,000 - $500,000

Match: 1:1

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Research Programs is accepting applications for the Scholarly Editions and Translations program. This program supports collaborative teams who are editing, annotating, and translating foundational humanities texts that are vital to generating new scholarship but are inaccessible or only available in inadequate editions or translations. NOFO

Award: $1 - $450,000

• Planning: Up to $65,000 
• Implementation: Up to $100,000 per year in outright funds, plus an additional $50,000 in matching funds, for a maximum of $150,000 per year and a maximum of $450,000 per award. 

Match: None

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant programs provide funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. USDA provides grants to local utility organizations which use the funding to establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLF). Loans are made from the revolving loan fund to projects that will create or retain rural jobs. When the revolving loan fund is terminated, the grant is repaid to USDA.

Who may apply?

To receive funding for a grant and/or loan an entity must be:

• Current Rural Utilities Service (RUS), electric or telecommunication borrower,
• Any former RUS borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, direct or guaranteed loan under the Rural Electrification Act,
• Or any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or direct loan under such Act.

How much funding is available to local utilities?

• Maximum Grant Amount: $300,000 to establish the Revolving Loan Fund.
• Up to 10 percent of grant funds may be applied toward operating expenses over the life of the Revolving Loan Fund.
• Maximum Loan Amount: $1 million.

How may funds be used?

The local utility passes the funding to ultimate recipients for such eligible projects as:

• Business incubators.
• Community development assistance to nonprofits and public bodies (particularly for job creation or enhancement).
• Facilities and equipment to educate and train rural residents to help economic development.
• Facilities and equipment for medical care for rural residents.
• Start-up venture costs, including, but not limited to, financing fixed assets such as real estate, buildings, equipment, or working capital.
• Business expansion.
• Technical assistance.

The NEA is committed to supporting arts projects for the benefit of all Americans. Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. We welcome applications from first-time and returning applicants; from organizations serving rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities of all sizes; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets. We fund arts projects in the following disciplines: Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Award Range: Applicants may request an amount between $10,000-$100,000.

Local Arts Agencies only: Designated local arts agencies that are eligible to subgrant may request $30,000 to $150,000 for subgranting programs. See the Local Arts Agencies Application Instructions below for more information on subgranting eligibility.

1:1 Cost-share/match required. Sources may include both cash and in-kind.

The EPA has selected Research Triangle Institute to serve as a pass-through entity for the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) to address environmental justice and public health issues in underserved communities. They will provide subgrants to community-based nonprofits and other eligible subrecipients for assessment, planning, and project development activities. They will alleviate much of the burden that the federal grants process places on small, resource-constrained community-based organizations supporting underserved communities and marginalized populations.

Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ

Dates to Submit for Funding:

• April 30, 2025
• July 31, 2025
• October 31, 2025 (Last date for 2-year projects)
• January 31, 2026
• April 30, 2026
• July 31, 2026
• October 31, 2026 (Last date for 1-year projects)
• January 31, 2027
• April 30, 2027 (Last date for 6-month projects)

Match: No

Program Fact Sheet: One-pager

The Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.  

Who may apply?

This program assists qualified applicants who are not otherwise able to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms. Eligible applicants include:

• Most state and local governmental entities
• Private nonprofits
• Federally-recognized tribes

What is an eligible area?

Areas that may be served include:

• Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less -- check eligible addresses
• Tribal lands in rural areas
• Colonias

What kinds of funding are available?

• Long-term, low-interest loans
• If funds are available, a grant may be combined with a loan if necessary to keep user costs reasonable.

How may the funds be used?

Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of:

• Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution
• Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal
• Solid waste collection, disposal and closure
• Storm water collection, transmission and disposal

In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as:

• Legal and engineering fees
• Land acquisition, water and land rights, permits and equipment
• Start-up operations and maintenance
• Interest incurred during construction
• Purchase of facilities to improve service or prevent loss of service
• Other costs determined to be necessary for completion of the project
• See 7 CFR Part 1780.7 and 1780.9 for a complete list

Through the AIC program, RBCS makes grants to Centers that provide Producer Services to Agricultural Producers seeking to develop and market Value-Added Agricultural Products.

Matching Funds Requirement:

Matching Funds are required for at least one-third of the total project budget. For example, if the total project budget is $1,500,000, matching funds must be at least $500,000. Matching funds may be provided in cash by the applicant or a third party or in-kind by a third party. They must be available for use during the period of performance, and they must be used for allowable expenses.

How may funds be used?

Grant and matching funds may be used to operate an agriculture innovation center, and to provide the following services to agricultural producers:

• Business development services, such as feasibility studies and business plans.. 
• Market development services, such as marketing plans, branding, and customer identification.
• Organizational assistance, such as legal and technical advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business. 
• Financial advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business, such as assistance with obtaining credit for operating costs, training on using financial management software, and guidance on use of cash flow. 
• Process development services, such as engineering services, scale production assessments, and systems development.
• Product development, such as idea generation, concept testing, feasibility and cost analysis, product taste-testing, demographic and other types of consumer analysis, production analysis, recipe development, evaluation of packaging and labeling options, and brand development for a value-added agricultural product.
• Value chain coordination, or directly working with an agricultural producer to connect that producer to a distribution system, processing facility, or commercial kitchen.
• Grants to agricultural producers for the above services, where the individual award does not exceed $5,000.