Grants available for local governmentsCurrently open grant opportunities

Brownfields - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon post its updated proposal Guidelines for Brownfields grants, which are funded under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. In anticipation of the next request for proposals under these updated guidelines, EPA Region 5 is offering an online informational orientation to prospective communities that may wish to compete for these assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund grants. The orientation will take place September 7 and September 9, 2010 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

More information and to register for the orientation, click here . Questions, Contact Naheed Huq, SEMCOG Community & Economic Development Manager.

Firefighting - the application period for the 2010 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants is now open. The goal of the SAFER Grants is to enhance local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by NFPA and OSHA. Applications will be accepted through September 17, 2010.

More information, including the Program Guidance document, visit www.firegrantsupport.com.

Urban Farmer's Markets - the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announces the availability of funding to Michigan's entitlement communities to assist with existing urban farmer's markets. Applications can be submitted for a variety of projects, including businesses development, training, infrastructure and supplies, and marketing and advertising. This one-time allocation requires a minimum 75/25 local cash match. Grant funds will be available to individual qualifying communities in any dollar amount between $25,000 and $100,000. The total amount of grant funds available in connection with this RFP is $400,000. Eligible applicants include Michigan entitlement communities and non-profit organizations located in those communities for existing farmers markets only. See the Request for Proposals for a complete list of eligible communities. Questions from potential applicants are due via email to contracts&grants@michigan.org by August 18, 2010. Electronic grant submissions are due September 7, 2010 to contracts&grants@michigan.org. Mailed or hand delivered applications will not be accepted.

More information, view the Request for Proposals on the MEDC Web site. 

Weatherization - the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) announces the low-income Home Weatherization Assistance Program, a free service funded by the Federal Department of Energy (DOE) and administered by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS). The program provides free energy conservation services for eligible low-income households. Applicants must meet current federal income guidelines, and must be residents of Oakland or Livingston County. To apply for services, contact OLHSA by visiting www.olhsa.org or call 248-209-2760 or 517-546-8500.

Transportation - The U.S. Department of Transportation this week unveiled its highly anticipated Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Part II (TIGER II) discretionary grant program, a $600 million (FY 2010) competitive grant program for surface transportation projects covering all transportation modes.  Pre applications are due July 26 and final applications are due August 23.  View the Notice of Funding Availability here. Grant selections are expected to be announced after September 15, 2010.

Eligible applicants include state, tribal and local governments, transit agencies, port authorities, MPOs and multijurisdictional entities –for capital investments in highway or bridge projects; public transportation projects; passenger and freight rail transportation projects; and port infrastructure investments.

Individual awards can be $10-200 million, with up to 80 percent of project cost eligible for federal funding; $140 million is reserved for projects in rural areas, where 100 percent of project costs are eligible for funding and project awards can be as low as $1 million.  No one state can receive more than 25 percent of program funds.

Up to $150 million is available to support Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998 (TIFIA) program financing, and up to $35 million is available for transportation planning grants. 

USDOT received over 1400 applications totaling almost $60 billion for the $1.5 billion Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery Part I (TIGER I) grant program created under the original Stimulus bill last year.  In February 2010, 51 grants awards were provided to a variety of projects, less than half of which were in the traditional highway/bridge category.  Approximately three percent of applications received awards, with the average award being in the $30 million range. 

More information, contact Carmine Palombo at palombo@semcog.org.

Specialized Transportation - Applications for two Federal Transit Administration programs, New Freedom and the  Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) are currently being accepted. The due date is August 12, 2010. The available funds are for transportation projects serving low-income workers, job-seekers, and persons with disabilities.
Funds can be used to support up to 80 percent (80/20 match) for capital projects (including mobility management), and not more than 50 percent (50/50 match) of project costs for operating assistance.  Applicants are required to provide the local share from sources other than U.S. Department of Transportation funds or farebox revenue. 

Total funding available:
• New Freedom: $300,000
• Job Access Reverse Commute: $193,912

Eligible applicants are state or local government authorities, nonprofit organizations, or operators of public transportation.  Applications will be accepted for projects serving communities or portions of communities that are within the urbanized portions of Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties excluding the City of Detroit. Only projects serving this area will be considered for funding.

Complete information and the grant application are available here.

Contact: Lore Watt Corradino, Senior Planner, SEMCOG Transportation Programs atCorradino@semcog.org.

U.S. DOT and HUD Funding Available for Local Government Sustainability Planning -The U.S. Departments of Transportation (USDOT) and Housing & Urban Development (HUD) have released a joint notice of funding availability (NOFA) for planning grants to support sustainable and livable communities. HUD’s $40 million Community Challenge Planning Grant program will support localized planning for projects that integrate transportation, housing, and economic development. U.S. DOT’s $35 million transportation planning grants are being made available for planning, preparation or design of surface transportation projects including, but not limited to: highways, bridges, public transit, freight and passenger rail, and ports.

Applicants can apply for either program individually or as a joint project, and request up to $3 million in funding. A pre-application must be submitted by July 26, 2010 and full applications are due on August 23, 2010. Click here for more information on these grant opportunities as well as details on how to apply.

If you’d like to discuss a potential project with SEMCOG, we’d be happy to look at ways that we can be of assistance. Contact: Joan Weidner, SEMCOG Transportation and Environmental Senior Planner, at weidner@semcog.org.

More information: visithttp://www.allstate.com/foundation.aspx.


Grant writing resources
American Grant Writers' Association - find information on hiring a Certified Grant Writer.
Grant Writing USA provides grant writing and grant management workshops through the United States.

View a list of previous grant-funded projects within SEMCOG's AgileGov database.