This newsletter contains federal, state and foundation grants. The 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. Even though our concentration is providing direct assistance to member governments, we want to keep non-profits and other businesses informed of grant opportunities as well!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Thank you for your commitment to the Kerr-Tar region. Happy New Year!

Desiree Brooks

The purpose of the program is to support downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives that help local governments grow by leveraging downtown districts as assets for economic growth, development, and prosperity. Property is given to projects located in the 80 most distressed counties in the state and local unites of government working with the Rural Economic Development Division's NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center.

This program will support projects that:

• Provide public improvements that help retain businesses and attract customers to business districts.
• Support publicly owned downtown economic development initiatives that leverage main streets and downtown districts as economic engines.
• Facilitate publicly owned building improvements that are used for community-wide purposes or mixed-use development in properties that are publicly owned and controlled.

Eligible applicants are units of local government located in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, as well as rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties.

The maximum grant amount is $850,000 per grantee and may not exceed $12,500 per projected job created or retained.

Eligible Activities:

1. Public Infrastructure: Improvements to publicly owned infrastructure in a downtown district that serve a community-wide use, such as parking lots, alleys, streetscapes, waterfront developments, and parks. (Parking lot projects are NOT eligible.)
2. Public Buildings (Renovation or Additions): Improvements to publicly owned buildings in a downtown district that serve a public, community-wide use, such as a community center, theater, civic center, recreation center, or library. (New construction projects are NOT eligible.)
3. Mixed-Use Downtown Development (Renovation or Additions): Improvements to publicly owned property in a downtown district that may be zoned and developed for a mix of uses. The mix of uses may include two or more of the following: retail, restaurant, service, professional, nonprofit, governmental, institutional, or residential. (New construction projects are NOT eligible.)

Units of local government seeking funds from the Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant category are required to submit a formal application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce through the online grants management portal, Rural Connect Portal. 

Award: Up to $850,000

Match: 5%

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program 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 [as defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103) (TDHEs)], and local governments to quickly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness, persons experiencing trauma or a lack of safety related to fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and youth experiencing homelessness while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness;

• promote access to, and effective utilization of, mainstream programs and programs funded with State or local resources; and

• optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness

The goal of the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is to support the development and implementation of a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness and sharing that experience with and mobilizing communities around the country toward the same end. The population to be served by the demonstration program is youth ages 24 and younger who are experiencing homelessness, including unaccompanied and pregnant or parenting youth. HUD expects to make approximately 7000 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

Award: Of the $3,918,000,000 HUD is making available:

• Approximately $52,000,000 in funding is available for Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Bonus (DV Bonus) projects, described in sections IV.D.1.e and IV.D.1.f of this NOFO.

• Approximately $129,000,000 for the renewal of projects originally awarded as part of the Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness Supplemental NOFO. • Approximately $228,000,000 for the competitive renewal and replacement of expiring YHDP grants.

Match: 25%

The 2026 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant round is now open and seeks viable, well-planned proposals for projects that will initiate, expand, or improve waste reduction and recycling programs. Grant money may be used to help purchase physical infrastructure or equipment to divert materials from the waste stream, or to purchase, print and distribute educational materials to inform the public about waste reduction and/or recycling programs. 

2026 CWRAR priorities include projects that implement new or expand existing:

• Curbside recycling programs, or transition a curbside recycling program from bin or blue bag collection to a cart-based collection system;
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program; or
• Recycling program targeting lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, or other electronics.

Award: Up to $50,000

Match: 20%

The Division of Parks and Recreation, the North Carolina Trails Program and the North Carolina Trails Committee value trail projects that are legal, safe, managed and provide connectivity, reasonable public access and parking.

The Trails Program staff are ready, willing and available to assist in all phases of the application process of projects that are construction ready for grant funding. These sustainable, "shovel-ready" projects leverage local funds to meet recreational trail and trail needs, in an effort to provide low infrastructure economic development opportunities through natural resource tourism.

The Trails Program staff are also available to assist applicants with conceptual projects, in order to meet the technical requirements of an RTP Grant before applying.

Eligible Applicants:

North Carolina municipalities with less than 25,000 in population and located within 6 miles of an existing or planned segment of a state trail are eligible for CCST grants. Two or more local governments may apply jointly, with one serving as the primary sponsor. View the eligible municipalities HERE.

Award: Up to $100K

Match: 25%

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:

• 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.

This program provides funding for the development of essential community facilities in rural areas. Eligible projects must deliver critical services that support the orderly development of local communities and cannot be private, commercial, or business-related. Funding may be used to construct, expand, or improve facilities such as healthcare centers, public safety buildings, schools, and other essential infrastructure. Eligible applicants include public bodies, community-based nonprofit corporations, and federally recognized tribes. The program is available in rural areas, including cities, villages, townships, and tribal lands with populations of 20,000 or fewer, as determined by the latest U.S. Census data.

How may funds be used?

Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

• Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities
• Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements
• Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing
• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment
• Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools
• Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment
• Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses