Selected Federal Agency Announcements and Related for the Week of May 21, 2018

The following is a selection of recent announcements gleaned from various federal sources and colleagues, and is provided to EDA’s Economic Development Integrators to increase our awareness of complementary resources for economic development. Special thanks to ETA and other federal partners for sharing content included below.

Also visit the following links on our updated EDI webpages at www.eda.gov/edi for additional information about federal resources that are available to support comprehensive regional economic development strategies, including:

Click here to view all weekly federal announcement posts.

Funding & Resource Announcements

Announcements of Federal Funding & Assistance Available:

 

Economic – Access to Capital

NEW! The Department of Agriculture Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Programs accepting applications.

The purpose of the program is to promote rural economic development and job creation projects.

USDA encourages applications that will support recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report to help improve life in rural America. (www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity). Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include:

  • Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
  • Developing the Rural Economy
  • Harnessing Technological Innovation
  • Supporting a Rural Workforce
  • Improving Quality of Life

USDA anticipates the following maximum amounts per award:

Loans                   $2,000,000

Grants                     $300,000

Interested applicants for funding under these Programs are encouraged to consult the Rural Development Web Newsroom website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas for funding information. Applications should be submitted in paper format to the USDA Rural Development State Office for the State where the Project is located.

A list of the USDA Rural Development State Office contacts can be found at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.

See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-22/pdf/2018-10866.pdf

 

New Market Tax Credits: Treasury Department Invites Applications for the CY 2018 Allocation Round

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) plays an important role in generating economic growth and opportunity in some of our nation’s most distressed communities. By offering tailored resources and innovative programs that invest federal dollars alongside private sector capital, the CDFI Fund serves mission-driven financial institutions that take a market-based approach to supporting economically disadvantaged communities. These mission-driven organizations are encouraged to apply for CDFI Certification and participate in CDFI Fund programs that inject new sources of capital into neighborhoods that lack access to financing.

Historically, low-income communities experience a lack of investment, as evidenced by vacant commercial properties, outdated manufacturing facilities, and inadequate access to education and healthcare service providers. The New Market Tax Credit Program (NMTC Program) aims to break this cycle of disinvestment by attracting the private investment necessary to reinvigorate struggling local economies.

The NMTC Program attracts private capital into low-income communities by permitting individual and corporate investors to receive a tax credit against their federal income tax in exchange for making equity investments in specialized financial intermediaries called Community Development Entities (CDEs). The credit totals 39 percent of the original investment amount and is claimed over a period of seven years.

NMTC Program applicants must be certified as CDEs by the CDFI Fund. For more information on CDE Certification, please see the CDE Certification page

The Treasury Department has published a May 11 inviting applications for the Calendar Year 2018 Allocation Round of the NMTC Program.

Electronic applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on June 28, 2018.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-11/pdf/2018-10109.pdf

 

Economic – Workforce Development:

DOJ Announces Funding Opportunity under the FY 2018 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program

Cites Collaboration with WIOA, Encourages Workforce Development Agencies to Apply in Collaboration; Sets June 18 Deadline for Proposals

Second Chance Act programs are designed to help communities develop and implement comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by incarcerated adults re-entering their communities and the workforce, as well as recidivism reduction. Several years ago, the Bureau of Justice Assistance within DOJ initiated a pilot project, the “Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies” project that sought to test an innovative approach to reduce recidivism and increase job readiness for offenders returning from incarceration and to integrate best practices in reentry and employment.

Building upon the pilot project, the FY 2018 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program will now provide funding for strategic planning grants to replicate the framework developed in the pilot project.

BJA welcomes collaborative applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award, including corrections, parole and probation, and workforce development agencies; however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees).  The applicant must be the entity that would have primary responsibility for carrying out the award, including administering the funding and managing the entire project. Under this solicitation, only one application by any particular applicant entity will be considered. An entity may, however, be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one application.

The solicitation notes, in part:

Applicants must provide evidence of a history of collaboration between state, local and or tribal government agencies overseeing corrections, parole, probation, workforce development, and education, as well as an extensive discussion of the role of the corrections department in ensuring the successful reentry of offenders into communities, including securing and maintaining employment. Successful applicants will also describe how correctional, workforce development, and education funds such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) are leveraged to support correctional education or reentry services. For more information about WIOA and how it can be leveraged to support employment and education services for offenders, please see The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: What Corrections and Reentry Agencies Need to Know.
https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6.13.17_WIOA_What-Corrections-and-Reentry-Agencies-Need-to-Know.pdf

BJA expects to make up to six awards of up to $200,000 each, with an estimated total amount awarded of up to $1,200,000. BJA expects to make awards for a 12-month period of performance, to begin on October 1, 2018.

Proposals are due by June 18.  See: https://www.bja.gov/funding/SCAEMP18.pdf

 

Economic – Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialization

 

Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program

The funding opportunity announcements for FAST are now open: May 4, 2018 through June 20, 2018.  See www.grants.gov for full announcement information:

FAST-2018-R-0012 (general applicants, $2 million available for awards up to $125,000)

FAST-2018-R-0012A (SBTDCs, $1 million available for awards up to $125,000)

The FAST Partnership Program provides one-year funding for organizations to execute state/regional programs to increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals (through outreach and financial support); increase the number of SBIR/STTR awards (through technical assistance and mentoring); and better prepare SBIR/STTR awardees for commercialization success (through technical assistance and mentoring).

Eligible applicants for FAST funding include state and local economic development agencies, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), accelerators, incubators, Women’s Business Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), colleges, universities, and more. Only one proposal is allowed per state, with an accompanying letter from a state’s governor or equivalent.

More information on FAST at www.sbir.gov/about-fast

 

Economic- Technical Assistance

Economic Development Opportunities: IEED/NABDI Solicits Proposals from American Indian Tribes and Alaska Tribal Entities for TA Funding for Feasibility Studies

The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), through its Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI), is soliciting proposals from federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska federally recognized Tribal entities for technical assistance funding to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies of economic development opportunities. These feasibility studies will empower American Indian Tribes/Alaska federally recognized Tribal entities and Tribal businesses to make informed decisions regarding their economic futures. Feasibility studies may concern the viability of an economic development project or business or the practicality of a technology a Tribe or entity may choose to pursue.

Proposals are due by July 9, 2018.

See: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=304813

 

 

Education

NEW! Department of Education Invites Applications for New Awards under the Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship for High School Career and Technical Education Students Demonstration Program

The purpose of the Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship for High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Students (Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship grants) demonstration program is to support State efforts to expand and improve the transition of high school CTE Students to postsecondary education and employment through Apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including Computer Science, that begin during high school The Department will award competitive grants to States to support technical assistance, program development, and other capacity-building activities that will strengthen the connections between high school CTE programs and Competency-Based Apprenticeship opportunities in STEM fields and increase the number of high school CTE Students who enter such Apprenticeships during high school. The Department will require that projects be carried out in partnership with at least one employer and at least one postsecondary partner, such as a State Agency for Higher Education or one or more Postsecondary Educational Institutions. Because employers identify the skills that apprentices must learn, sponsor apprentices, pay wages, and provide on-the-job training, collaboration with employers is critical in developing and sustaining Apprenticeship pathways. Involving postsecondary partners, such as a State Agency for Higher Education or one or more Postsecondary Educational Institutions is essential because most of the related CTE instruction provided in an Apprenticeship is developed and delivered by such entities. They also may be helpful in making Apprenticeship programs more attractive to high school students by embedding dual credit opportunities in an Apprenticeship program so that high school students who decide against continuing in an Apprenticeship after graduation will have other postsecondary options. Moreover, in some States, the community and technical college system has taken a lead role in developing and expanding Apprenticeship opportunities as well as in providing postsecondary credit for knowledge acquired during an Apprenticeship that counts towards a degree or other credential.

 

NEW! Troops to Teachers Program: Department of Defense Announces Funding Opportunity;

Congress enacted the Troops to Teachers (TTT) Program in 1993 to assist eligible current and former members of the armed forces to transition into second careers as teachers.  Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, Force Education, is responsible for program policy, funding and oversight.  The TTT National Office, located within the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), is responsible for day-to-day operations and management of the program. Authorizing statute in 10 USC 1154(h) (2) (A), permits the Secretary of Defense to make grants to states or consortia of such states in order to support efforts of recruiting eligible current and former members of the armed forces for participation in the TTT Program and facilitating the employment of participants as elementary school teachers, secondary school teachers, and career or technical teachers.  More information can be found at www.proudtoserveagain.com.

The purpose of a grant opportunity announced this week (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=305238)  is for one or more, consortia of such States, to receive grant funding to develop and implement a replicable model for attracting and assisting eligible members and former members of the armed forces to obtain employment as teachers.  Efforts may encompass projects to address the following goals:

  • Attract and increase the number of eligible current and former members of the armed forces participating in the TTT Program;
  • Reduce barriers that prevent veterans from meeting teacher certifications requirements for transitioning into teaching careers;
  • Implement educational models to award academic credit for prior career experience and/or other relevant military training;
  • Provide individualized counseling to assist TTT participants with meeting the educational and certification requirements to transition into a teaching career;
  • Support state and local education agencies with hiring motivated, experienced and dedicated eligible members and former members of the armed forces; thereby, increasing the number of veterans employed as teachers;
  • Address geographic areas with critical teacher shortages, especially in high-need schools (as defined in subsection (a) of such section 1154), in particular the shortage of science, mathematics, special education, foreign language, or career or technical teachers; and in elementary schools or secondary schools, or as career or technical teachers.

 

Infrastructure

 

USDA Accepting Applications for Funding under the Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program

Under the Community Facilities Technical and Assistance and Training grant program, USDA Agency makes grants to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, (such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations) to provide associations Technical Assistance and/or training with respect to essential community facilities programs.  The Technical Assistance and/or training will assist communities, Indian Tribes, and Nonprofit Corporations to identify and plan for community facility needs that exist in their area.

USDA’s Rural Housing Service announced on May 3 it is accepting FY 2018 applications under this program.  Applications must be submitted by July 2.

USDA encourages applications that will support recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report to help improve life in rural America (www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity). Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include:

  • Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
  • Developing the Rural Economy
  • Harnessing Technological Innovation
  • Supporting a Rural Workforce
  • Improving Quality of Life

See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-03/pdf/2018-09351.pdf

Previously Announced Federal Funding Opportunities Closing Soon:  

Below is a list of previously highlighted funding opportunities that are still open. Enter the Opportunity Number in Grants.gov to see announcement details. You can also search Grants.gov for a full list of current federal opportunities, including programs not listed below.

 

Opportunity Number Opportunity Title Agency Posted Date Close Date
USDA-AMS-TM-SCBGP-G-18-0003 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill USDA-AMS 03/07/2018 05/24/2018
USDA-NRCS-PR-CIG-001 NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for FY 2018 – Caribbean Area USDA-NRCS 03/30/2018 05/30/2018
FMCS-2018 Labor-Management Cooperation Grant Program FMCS 03/12/2018 05/31/2018
RUS-18-01-DLT Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program USDA-RUS 04/05/2018 06/04/2018
USDA-NIFA-FSMA-006549 Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grant Program 2018 USDA-NIFA 04/16/2018 06/07/2018
NNH18ZDA001N-DISASTERS ROSES 2018: Earth Science Applications: Disaster Risk Reduction and Response NASA-HQ 02/15/2018 06/14/2018
DE-FOA-0001755 Industry Partnerships for Cybersecurity of Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) Research, Development and Demonstration DOE-NETL 04/16/2018 06/18/2018
NSF 17-590 Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources NSF 08/22/2017 10/01/2018

Public Meetings, Events and Training

NEW! National Environmental Justice Advisory Council to Meet on May 31

References:  Department of Labor’s Environmental Justice https://www.dol.gov/asp/ej/ and Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will meet on May 31 starting at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. The meeting is open the public.The meeting discussion will focus on several topics including, but not limited to, the discussion and deliberation of the final report from the NEJAC Youth Perspectives on Climate Change Work Group.  Registration for the public teleconference will be processed at https://nejac-may-31-2018-public-teleconference.eventbrite.com. Pre-registration is required.  Registration for the meeting closes at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Full background / registration / contacts at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-16/pdf/2018-09556.pdf

 

NEW! Department of Education to Offer TA Webinars on Ensuring Websites and Online Programs are Accessible to Individuals with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced yesterday (May 17) it is launching a new technical assistance initiative to assist schools, districts, state education agencies, libraries, colleges and universities in making their websites and online programs accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Through webinars, OCR will provide information technology professionals with vital information on website accessibility, including tips for making their online programs accessible. The initiative announced today, on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, builds on OCR’s history of providing technical assistance on this issue to hundreds of stakeholders.

“As more educational opportunities are delivered online, we need to ensure those programs, services and activities are accessible to everyone,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, “OCR’s technical assistance will help us continue to forge important partnerships with schools for the benefit of students and parents with disabilities.”

OCR will offer the first three webinars on the following dates:

  1. Webinar I: May 29, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT
  2. Webinar II: June 5, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT
  3. Webinar III: June 12, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT

If you are interested in participating in any of these webinars, please send your request to [email protected]; include your name, preferred webinar and contact information. You are encouraged to invite your vendors to attend these webinars.

 

June 8 Meeting – Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee

The Census Bureau has announced a meeting of the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee (FESAC). The Committee advises the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, the Directors of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Census Bureau, and the Commissioner of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on statistical methodology and other technical matters related to the collection, tabulation, and analysis of federal economic statistics.

The June 8 meeting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the U.S. Census Bureau Conference Center,4600 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746. Register by Friday, June 1, 2018 at: https://www.regonline.com/fesac_june2018_meeting. An agenda will be accessible before the meeting at the following link: https://www.census.gov/fesac

 

President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council to Meet on June 14; Session Open to the Public

The President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) will meet Thursday, June 14, 2018, in Washington, DC. This 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. meeting will be open to the public. The NIAC shall provide the President, through the Secretary of Homeland Security, with advice on the security and resilience of the Nation’s critical infrastructure sectors. The NIAC will meet to discuss issues relevant to critical infrastructure security and resilience, as directed by the President. The Council will discuss future taskings and host a cross-sector panel discussion about various risks facing critical infrastructure. All Powerpoint presentations will be posted prior to the meeting on the Council’s public web page; www.dhs.gov/NIAC. Agenda I. Opening of MeetingII. Roll Call of MembersIII. Opening Remarks and IntroductionsIV. Approval of November 2017 Meeting MinutesV. Long Duration Power Outage Scoping StudyVI. Public CommentVII. Discussion of New NIAC BusinessVIII. Closing RemarksIX. Adjournment For additional information, please consult the NIAC website, www.dhs.gov/NIAC, or contact the NIAC Secretariat by phone at (703) 235-2888 or by email at [email protected]. See:  https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-10/pdf/2018-09946.pdf

 

 

Reports, Tools and Data

NEW! Federal Reserve’s “Following the Money” Tool Allows Users to Explore Grant Funding for Community and Economic Development

Local community and economic development depends on a combination of public and private funding. Grant dollars are an important source of funding for initiatives that create better-paying jobs and infrastructure to support revitalization, affordable housing, or improved systems for education or health care. The Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Philadelphia’s analysis of foundation grants for community and economic development found that the geographic distribution of grant funding is highly uneven. On a per capita basis, grant dollars flow to some metro areas much more readily than to others.

The updated Following the Money tool allows users to explore data on grant funding for community and economic development from a variety of sources. In addition to the original research—which relied on data provided by the Foundation Center that captured grants of at least $10,000 made by the 1,000 largest foundations between 2009 and 2014—the tool brings in two new data sources on grantors: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and intermediary grantors. From HUD, the tool incorporates data on grants to entitlement communities from three of its largest community development programs: HOME Investment Partnership Program, Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and Community Development Block Grant. The tool also brings in an exciting new data set on the activities of national re-grantors, also known as intermediary grantors, which are nonprofits that distribute funds to community development entities nationwide. Check out the interactive data tool and instructional videos on the Following the Money web page.

 

NEW! USDA Invests $243 Million in Rural Community Facility Improvements in 22 States

Funding Supports Infrastructure, Schools, Libraries, Municipal Centers, Opioid Treatment, Prevention and Recovery, and Other Community Needs

May 16, 2018 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $243 million in 50 rural community facility projects In 22 states.

“Rural communities represent a wealth of opportunity,” Hazlett said. “Under Secretary Perdue’s leadership, USDA is a partner in bringing those opportunities to life – whether attracting jobs, accessing additional capital, or improving the quality of life in these towns through access to modern community services.”

USDA is making the investments through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. The recently passed 2018 Omnibus bill increased the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget for the program to $2.8 billion, up $200 million from FY 2017.

More than 100 types of projects are eligible for funding, such as schools, health care facilities, libraries and infrastructure improvements. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally and state-recognized Native American tribes in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less. There is no limit on the size of the loans. Loan amounts have ranged from $10,000 to $165 million.

In April, Hazlett said USDA will prioritize investments to address the opioid crisis in rural communities. In the Community Facilities Grant Program rural communities, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes can apply through the usual Community Facilities grant application process for grants up to $150,000 for innovative projects such as mobile treatment clinics. Community Facilities grants may fund up to 75 percent of an eligible project.

Last year, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

NEW! Apprenticeships and Community Colleges: Do They Have a Future Together?

The authors:

Jorge Klor de Alva is president of Nexus Research and Policy Center and chairman of the board of the University of Advanced Technologies. Mark Schnei­der is a former visiting scholar in education policy studies at AEI, former vice president of the American Institutes for Research, and former president of Col­lege Measures.

The American Enterprise Institute has released a new report on apprenticeships and community colleges.

https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Apprenticeships-and-Community-Colleges.pdf)

Key Points

  • Apprenticeships, which combine on-the-job training and academic coursework, are often considered the gold standard of workforce training and have attracted substantial bipartisan support.
  • Apprentices who complete their programs secure employment at high rates and regularly earn family-sustaining wages. In 2017 there were 533,607 active apprentices across 22,488 apprenticeship programs.
  • Community colleges—institutions that already represent one of the nation’s most important venues for career and technical education—are presently considering what role they can play in satisfying the growing interest in apprenticeship programs.
  • Community colleges face cultural, organizational, and financial challenges in delivering and expanding apprenticeships, including developing relationships with employers, registering programs with the US Department of Labor, and facing potential competition from emerging entities called apprenticeship service providers.

USDA Modifies Policy Regarding Review of Economic Development Plans or Community Development Plans; Moves from Set-Asides to Priority Points

Section 6025 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) provides the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to give priority to projects that support strategic economic development or community development plans. USDA has the authority to reserve funds for those programs (referred to as the “underlying programs”) included in Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD), for projects that support multijurisdictional strategic economic and community development plans.

USDA has published a May 10 FEDERAL REGISTER notice which supersedes the SECD fiscal year 2016 (FY) notice that published on March 17, 2016 and identifies that for FY 2018 the Agency will utilize priority points under the SECD provisions, as opposed to set-aside funding.

To apply for SECD priority points, applicants must now submit Form RD 1980-88, “Strategic Economic and Community Development (section 6025) Priority,” by the underlying program application deadlines or September 30, 2018, whichever comes first.

 

See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-10/pdf/2018-09912.pdf

Disaster Recovery Resources & Info

Primary site for Disaster Recovery Assistance: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

Funding Assistance for Recovery Efforts:

 

LSC Announces Funding Opportunity for Grantees to Assist Clients Impacted by Storms and Wildfires

The Legal Services Corporation today announced the application and award process for up to $14,250,000 of grants to support delivery of legal services related to the consequences of all cyclone and hurricane stages of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and of the calendar year 2017 California wildfires. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. E.S.T. on Monday, June 4, 2018.  Application must be submitted electronically at lscgrants.lsc.gov. These grants will fund necessary expenses for grantees to provide (1) mobile resources, (2) technology, and (3) disaster coordinators for pro bono volunteers, all of which must be necessary to provide storm-related services to LSC-eligible clients in the areas significantly affected by the 2017 Hurricanes and California Wildfires.  Application materials and descriptions of eligible activities can be found at www.lsc.gov/disastergrants.  LSC will post all additional information regarding this grant process at that website. LSC strongly encourages existing LSC grantees to apply for funding through these grants for any activities that meet the grant criteria. For disaster-related needs that are beyond the scope of these grants, LSC grantees may also apply for grants from LSC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Grant Program, which is not limited to specific disasters or specific types of activities. www.lsc.gov/disastergrants. LSC has only $2,000,000 available for those Disaster Relief grants. Entities applying to both the 2017 Hurricanes and California Wildfires and LSC’s  Disaster Relief Emergency Grant Programs should submit those applications at the same time and explain how the activities described in each application relate to each other.  See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-09/pdf/2018-09881.pdf

 

 

EDA Issues NOFO for $587M in Supplemental Funding for Areas Impacted by 2017 Hurricanes, Wildfires and Other Disasters

As noted above, EDA has issued a NOFO (EDA-2018-DISASTER) inviting applications for $587 million in grants available to eligible entities to address economic challenges in disaster-impacted areas. These grants will support disaster recovery activities in areas receiving a major disaster designation as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and wildfires and other 2017 natural disasters. EDA plans to accept proposals on a rolling basis until all funds are obligated. See listing above and these links below for details:

 

HUD Awards Nearly $28 Billion to Help Nine States, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands from Major Disasters

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded nearly $28 billion to support long-term disaster recovery in hard-hit areas in nine states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These funds are provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program and will address seriously damaged housing, businesses and infrastructure from major disasters that occurred since 2015.

The grants announced by HUD represent the largest single amount of disaster recovery assistance in HUD’s history and include more than $12 billion for major disasters that occurred in 2017 and nearly $16 billion to support ‘mitigation’ activities in areas that experienced major Presidentially declared disasters since 2015.  Mitigation can broadly be described as actions taken to protect communities from the predictable damage from future events.

The listing of all States and territories with subtotals and totals can be found at https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_028

 

EPA Announces Puerto Rico Youth and the Environment Program – Apply by May 25

EPA-R2-CWD-FO-001: Puerto Rico Youth and the Environment Program. Posted 04/12/2018.

EPA Region 2 is soliciting grant applications from eligible applicants for the development of projects in Puerto Rico for eligible post-Hurricane Maria restoration activities in the (1) Vieques Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay; and (2) San Juan Bay Estuary, that involve training, studies and/or demonstrations relating to the reduction of the sedimentation load; elimination of water pollution; and/or the development of an environmental education program and materials through the Youth and the Environment program. Project activities may include, but are not limited to the training of no fewer than 2 ten (10) youths in their respective communities of Vieques and San Juan Bay. The youths will work 10 hours each week for 16 weeks, and will be employed from June to October. The young participants who are recruited will be trained primarily on environmental and community assessment, skills development and mentorship. Eligible activities must support the post-Hurricane Maria environmental restoration and relief effort.  Link to Additional Information https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=303173

 

USDA FY18 Conservation Innovation Grants Avail for PR and USVI

USDA-NRCS-PR-CIG-001  USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has posted a Funding Opportunity for its FY18 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) – Caribbean Area. Applications will be accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the USDA Caribbean Area: Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. CIG grants are designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. A total of up to $250,000.00 is available for CIG in FY 2018. The maximum for a single award is $75,000.00.  FY18 Proposals must explicitly state which priority(ies) and sub-prority(ies) are being addressed. Caribbean Area CIG Priorities for FY 2018 are:

  1. Steep land Agricultural Technology;
  2. Renewable energy on Agricultural Enterprises and
  3. Risk Prevention and Management of Natural Resources affected by Natural Disasters.

See full announcement for subpriorities and additional instructions: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=302405

APPLICATIONS DUE by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on May 30, 2018. Submit electronically through grants.gov. In addition, a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to [email protected].

 

Related Resources – NonFederal:

Updates on FEMA Response in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

 

Where to Find Federal Disaster Declarations

  • Is your home, business or community included in a federally declared emergency or disaster area? You can find the latest federal emergency and disaster declarations, as well as prior declarations for other areas, on FEMA’s disaster declarations webpage.

Amended Declarations

Existing Declarations may be subsequently amended to expand covered areas, provide notification that an incident has been closed, or make other necessary changes.

These are posted in the Federal Register here: https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-emergency-management-agency#documents

Economic Recovery Support

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