State Recreation Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the development and improvement of public recreational trails and facilities, targeting local, state, and federal agencies, as well as qualified nonprofits and private organizations.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations, schools, and community groups in Hawaii to develop and sustain urban forestry projects that promote tree planting, care, and education while emphasizing equity and environmental justice.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and Indian Nations in New York State for purchasing land to protect natural resources, enhance outdoor recreation, and improve climate resilience.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to a single birthing hospital or facility in Washington, DC, to establish on-site emergency childcare for pregnant and birthing parents during medical treatments.

This program provides funding to local governments and organizations in Florida for small-scale transportation projects that improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, while also preserving cultural and environmental resources.

The City Parks and Open Space Grant, funded by 15% of REAP funds derived from gaming revenues, is a competitive grant program administered by the Iowa Legislature. This program is designed to support cities across Iowa in developing and maintaining their park and open space areas. The mission of this grant program aligns with fostering community well-being and environmental stewardship by providing accessible green spaces for public use. While not explicitly stating a foundation, the grant operates with a strategic priority of enhancing public spaces within cities through a state-level funding mechanism. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are cities across all counties in Iowa, which then, in turn, benefit their residents by providing enhanced recreational and natural areas. The overarching impact goal is to improve the quality of life for Iowa citizens by increasing the availability and quality of public parks and open spaces. This goal is achieved through the allocation of funds based on city size categories, ensuring equitable distribution and impact across different community scales. The grant prioritizes projects that focus on the development and improvement of city parks and open spaces, with a clear exclusion of facilities for organized sports, athletic fields, pools, and playgrounds. This focus ensures that the funds are directed towards passive recreational areas and natural spaces, promoting a specific type of outdoor engagement. The program's theory of change appears to be that by providing financial incentives for cities to develop and maintain these specific types of public spaces, the overall health, happiness, and connection to nature for residents will improve. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number and quality of accessible city parks and open spaces throughout Iowa. While specific measurable results like the number of new parks or acres of open space created are not detailed, the competitive nature and funding distribution by city size suggest an intent for widespread improvement. The grant's no-local-matching-funds requirement also serves to ensure that smaller or less affluent cities are not excluded, thereby maximizing the reach and impact of the program across the state. Applications for this grant are due by August 15, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical assistance to New York municipalities for projects that revitalize waterfront areas, enhance climate resilience, and improve public access and water quality.

This funding opportunity provides $10,000 to individual artists in Illinois to support their professional development and enhance community engagement through their creative practices.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local educational agencies and community organizations in California to create after-school programs that enhance literacy, academic achievement, and student safety for children in kindergarten through ninth grade.

This grant provides financial assistance to local agencies and organizations in California for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities that help recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage waste, promoting cleaner waterways and safer boating experiences.

This grant opportunity, offered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands, is aimed at the acquisition, development, and maintenance of new trailered boat launches. The program supports state and local governments, among other eligible entities, to enhance public access to waterways for recreational boating. Eligible projects must serve as the primary recreational boating access for the general public. A pre-approval site inspection is required for project eligibility. The funding cap for new trailered launch projects is $100,000.

The Tier 2 Regional Projects under the 2023 Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant aim to support larger, regional conservation-oriented, shovel-ready projects that provide recreational value and economic benefits to broader areas and multiple communities. These projects must be publicly accessible and demonstrate proven regional value. Eligible applicants include Tribes, Pueblos, Nations, municipalities, counties, nonprofits, public schools, colleges, soil and water conservation districts, and land grant associations. Projects must be completed within 24 months, with grants awarded up front and applications accepted on a rolling basis starting July 1, 2023 until funds are expended or June 30th 2024 (for FY24)

This program provides funding to Michigan cities and public transit agencies for projects that enhance public spaces, making them safer and more accessible for walking, biking, and transit use.

The Prop 302 Maricopa County Marketing Grant Program provides funding to municipalities/destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to promote tourism in Maricopa County. Financial Notes: Each eligible applicant's award will be calculated based on DOR percentages for lodging and rental car revenues generated within the eligible applicant's municipality. Once awarded, a projected award will be provided. AOT will provide an updated projection at the mid-year. Awards are provided in 12 monthly installments. Please note, that due to the nature of these funds, the final award amount may be less or more than the original projection.

This program provides financial support to local governments, conservation groups, and nonprofits in Colorado to improve fishing access and enhance aquatic habitats for public angling.

The Rancho Cucamonga Community & Arts Foundation (RCCAAF) offers Community Arts Grants designed to support and enhance arts programs, events, and activities within Rancho Cucamonga. The foundation's mission, though not explicitly stated as a "mission statement," aligns with fostering community engagement and providing accessible arts experiences for residents. The grant program directly serves this purpose by funding initiatives that bring art to the community, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of Rancho Cucamonga. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program include community-based non-profit organizations, local schools, and individual artists or groups. The overarching impact goal is to provide arts programs, events, and activities that benefit Rancho Cucamonga residents, or anyone seeking arts experiences within the city's borders. This broad scope ensures that a wide range of individuals and groups can access and participate in artistic endeavors. The program prioritizes a variety of arts-related projects. These include one-time arts projects such as murals, art installations, public art contests, and exhibits. It also supports start-up for new arts organizations, clubs, and performance groups, as well as new school-based arts programs that expand student experiences and provide community benefit. Additionally, the grant funds programs, events, or performances available to the public, the purchase of equipment or supplies to enhance arts programs, and community-accessible arts events like festivals. Expected outcomes and measurable results are addressed through the selection criteria, which include evaluating the proposal's project goals and objectives, community need and benefit, future funding to sustain the program, and an estimated project line-item budget. While specific quantitative metrics for "measurable results" are not detailed in the provided text, the emphasis on a project timeline and evaluation method suggests an expectation of tangible progress and successful implementation of funded initiatives. The grant's duration of one year and project period from July 1, 2024, to June 1, 2025, indicate a focus on short-to-medium term impact.

This funding program provides financial support to improve tourism attractions and events in Illinois, helping local economies thrive by increasing visitor engagement.

The 2024 Texas Rural Woman Grant, offered by Texas Woman's University, aims to foster economic development in rural Texas by empowering woman-owned small businesses to undertake innovative projects. This grant aligns with the university's mission to support women entrepreneurs and stimulate economic growth in underserved areas of the state. The program seeks to address the unique challenges faced by rural businesses, contributing to the overall economic well-being of Texas communities. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are existing rural, woman-owned small businesses in Texas. These businesses must be at least 51% directly owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizen women who also reside in Texas. The grant focuses on for-profit corporations, partnerships, LLPs, LLCs, or sole proprietorships located and operated within eligible rural Texas counties. The impact goal is to encourage and enable these businesses to undertake new and innovative projects, thereby creating greater economic development activity in rural Texas. The grant prioritizes projects that involve the purchase of machinery, equipment, or technology; farm implements or machinery; the addition or acquisition of new inventory or raw materials; the purchase and installation of fixtures or display units; property improvements that will result in increased sales and revenue; and marketing or advertising campaigns. Any other business-related activity deemed aligned with the program's purpose by the Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) is also eligible. This focus ensures that funding directly supports tangible growth and operational enhancements for the recipient businesses. The expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful implementation of new projects by ten woman-owned businesses, each receiving a $5,000 grant. Recipients are required to complete a small business training course, engage in three hours of small business advising/mentoring, and submit an approved business plan with three years of financials. These requirements are designed to not only provide immediate financial support but also equip business owners with the knowledge and resources for sustainable long-term success and growth, leading to increased sales and revenue for their businesses.

This program provides financial assistance to private landowners and organizations for planting new forests on non-forested lands of five acres or more in New York, helping to combat climate change and support local economies.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Montana cities, towns, nonprofits, and tribal governments for innovative urban forestry projects that enhance community forests and promote ecological resilience.