Grants Update

Week of April 11, 2025

New Grant Opportunities

Department of Agriculture

FY 2025 OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative: Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees Program 

WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program assists private lenders in providing affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in rural areas. Projects must be located in rural areas with a population of 50,000 or fewer, excluding incarcerated populations. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Lenders with the legal authority, financial strength, and sufficient experience to operate successful lending programs. Lenders may request guarantees for the following borrowers: public bodies, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations.

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified

WHEN IS IT DUE? Rolling

Department Agriculture

FY 2025 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) Grant

WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to help small, financially distressed rural communities pay for predevelopment feasibility studies, design, and technical assistance for proposed water and waste disposal projects. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Most state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized tribes

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified

WHEN IS IT DUE? Rolling

Department of Agriculture

FY 2025 Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees Program

WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support the construction, maintenance, improvement, and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State and local governments; federally recognized tribes; nonprofit organizations, including cooperatives and limited dividend or mutual associations; and for-profit businesses that function as a corporation or limited liability company

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified

WHEN IS IT DUE? Rolling

Department of Transportation

FY 2025 Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program

WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program will provide loans and loan guarantees to finance the development of railroad infrastructure throughout the nation. The majority of funding is reserved for projects benefiting freight railroads other than Class I carriers. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Railroads, state and local governments, government sponsored authorities, interstate compacts consented to by Congress under Section 410(a) of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997, and joint ventures that include at least one of the above-listed eligible entities

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $35 billion

WHEN IS IT DUE? Rolling

Latest Grant News

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Funding for Communities to Improve Road Safety

READ MORE

Interior Department Disburses Over $13 Million to Revitalize Coal Communities

READ MORE

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.