State Grants

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The $2 trillion economic relief package aims to protect the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Act 2A of 2020, known as the COVID-19 Emergency Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2019, appropriated $10,000,000 from the COVID-19 Response Restricted Account to the Department of Health. Through a sub-grant, the Department of Community and Economic Development will administer this program to eligible applicants for the rapid advancement of vaccines, treatments, and therapies in response to COVID-19. Financial Info: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The $2 trillion economic relief package aims to protect the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Act 2A of 2020, known as the COVID-19 Emergency Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2019, appropriated $10,000,000 from the COVID-19 Response Restricted Account to the Department of Health. Through a sub-grant, the Department of Community and Economic Development will administer this program to eligible applicants for the rapid advancement of vaccines, treatments, and therapies in response to COVID-19.

This program provides free energy audits to eligible farms in New York to help them identify ways to save on energy costs and improve efficiency.

This program provides funding to small local governments in Pennsylvania for community revitalization projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

This program provides financial assistance to Pennsylvania municipalities and agencies for the repair, rehabilitation, or removal of high hazard unsafe dams that threaten populated areas.

The Natural Heritage Conservation Act (NHCA) Program, facilitated by the State of New Mexico's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Forestry Division, seeks applications for conservation projects. Eligible entities include state agencies, public educational institutions, political subdivisions of the state, nations, tribes, or pueblos, with tax-exempt private nonprofit charitable corporations or trusts allowed to partner but not apply directly. The program primarily supports transactional costs for easement projects and land restoration projects, with a focus on enhancing New Mexico's conservation plans and strategies. $1.4 million from the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund is allocated for FY25, targeting a range of conservation activities outlined in the detailed scope of work. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Spring and Fall deadlines

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to municipalities and municipal authorities for the construction of essential drinking water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater management projects.

This funding is designed to help attract and support high-quality amateur and professional sports and e-sports events in Pennsylvania, boosting tourism and economic growth throughout the state.

This funding opportunity supports urban and community forestry projects aimed at increasing tree canopy in disadvantaged communities, available to public colleges, universities, and tribal entities in New Mexico.

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund an applied research and development project that will support research to assess the impact of consolidated packages of electrified retrofit measures on air quality and other related impact categories, including resilience to extreme heat, indoor comfort, and energy and cost savings in California homes. Description: This research will identify and assess non-energy benefits of home electrification and evaluate key stakeholders’ (e.g., residents, contractors) experience with the retrofitting process. Ultimately, this work will provide guidance on how these benefits could be considered in strategies and decisions to retrofit or replace gas-fueled appliances with electric. The proposed research is intended to provide crucial support to the state’s efforts to address challenges in building decarbonization and to minimize air quality impacts to its residents. The research responds to the 2021-2025 California Energy Commission (CEC) Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Investment Plan research initiative “Evaluating Air Quality, Health, and Equity in Clean Energy Solutions.” CEC’s California Building Decarbonization Assessment report, required by Assembly Bill 3232 (Friedman, Chapter 373, Statutes of 2018) suggests that efficient electrification in California’s buildings presents the most readily achievable pathway for this sector to achieve a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gases relative to 1990 levels by 2030 (Kenney, et al. 2021). The same report acknowledges significant challenges associated with residential building decarbonization including high upfront costs, potential for increased utility bills, limited awareness of technology options and their benefits, constraints faced by renters, and systemic inequality faced by low-income and disadvantaged communities. There are many non-market factors to consider in decisions to retrofit or replace appliances, such as the non-energy benefits of home electrification (e.g., health, comfort, and household economics) that many are not aware of. Additionally, there are many not-yet characterized potential benefits of electrification retrofits in existing homes (e.g., improved air quality). These existing homes pose challenges — as well as enormous potential benefits — related to electrification; however, they are not typically covered under the Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which apply only to new buildings and buildings undergoing permitted upgrades. Improvements in indoor air quality and related health outcomes are of particular importance to populations in low-income and disadvantaged communities, which are often disproportionately burdened by energy-related air pollutants. For example, in August 2023, the operating lives of three once through cooling (OTC) fossil gas power plants were extended through 2026 to provide reserve generation during power emergencies (CalMatters 2023, California Energy Commission 2023) and the emissions from OTC smokestacks can impact the outdoor and indoor air quality of residents living near those plants. In addition, wildfire-generated air pollution poses an added threat, possibly compounding already existing air quality issues in these communities. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Business Individual Nonprofit Other Legal Entity Public Agency Tribal Government This solicitation is open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities. Eligible Geographies: No local publicly owned electric utilities. Matching Funding Requirement: Match funding is required in the amount of at least 5% minimum of the requested CEC funds.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources administers the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program to strengthen the local food system, enhance equitable access to locally produced food, and improve resilience to supply and distribution disruptions. The program connects farmers, fishermen, and local producers to markets and builds the infrastructure required to produce and distribute healthy food efficiently and safely. Eligible projects are capital in nature and may include equipment purchases, contracted labor for implementation, and planning and design costs directly tied to capital improvements. Projects must address systemic inequities and expand access to fresh local food while improving the resiliency of the Commonwealths food system. Maximum funding per applicant is 500,000 dollars in both agriculture and local food system tracks. Applicants may be individuals, for profit entities, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, or other governmental entities that can meet application requirements and enter into contracts with the department. The grant period runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, and projects must be located within Massachusetts with benefits to residents statewide. Applications are due May 2, 2024. Additional information is available from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

This program provides funding to municipalities, nonprofits, educational institutions, and other organizations in Pennsylvania for the development and improvement of parks, trails, and recreational spaces to enhance community livability and promote conservation.

This program provides funding to municipalities and organizations in Berks, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and York Counties for community infrastructure and economic development projects that enhance public welfare.

This program provides financial guarantees to support local governments and developers in revitalizing underutilized properties and stimulating economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth.

The Maine Department of Education invites applications to fund climate education professional development for local education providers, with priority for historically underserved communities. The program increases student access to current environmental and climate education by supporting schools that have lacked instruction, partnerships, or field opportunities. Allowable costs include hiring or contracting program staff, stipends or incentives for teachers and staff beyond compensated time, curriculum and instructional material development, supplies, space rental, and administrative expenses. The department plans multiple awards with typical award size around 750,000 dollars, subject to final budgeting. Projects should demonstrate expanded access and clear benefits for priority student populations. Eligible applicants are local education providers, including school administrative units, schools in unorganized territories, career and technical education regions and programs, and schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education. Applications should document community need, partnership approaches, and strategies to reach underserved students. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Grant duration is not stated. Additional information is available from the Maine Department of Education.

This program provides financial assistance to Pennsylvania municipalities facing fiscal challenges, helping them maintain essential services and develop recovery plans.

This program provides financial assistance to businesses and organizations in Pennsylvania for developing and implementing alternative and clean energy projects, helping to create jobs and promote sustainable energy solutions.

This program provides $11 million to law enforcement agencies to develop community policing initiatives that strengthen partnerships with local communities and promote collaborative problem-solving.

The Public Safety Academy Assistance Program provides financial support, up to $24,000 per recruit, for law enforcement training academy costs and salaries of recruits attending the academy, with a single agency able to fund up to 25 recruits.

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund applied research to increase California’s hydropower generation through precipitation enhancement (cloud seeding). Research funded by this solicitation will foster cost-effective, robust approaches to manage anticipated needs for zero-carbon, fast-ramping resources in the context of a rapidly evolving energy system and climate change.; The proposed research contributes to implementation of the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) 2021-2025 Investment Plan and responds to the strategic objective: “Inform California's Transition to an Equitable, Zero-Carbon Energy System that is Climate-Resilient and Meets Environmental Goals” (Chapter 7). Specifically, this solicitation supports the topic 44 within the Climate Resilience Initiative: “Integrating Climate Resilience in Electricity System Planning.” Hydroelectric power is an important source of zero-carbon, dispatchable power in California. It is a critical element of the state’s electricity system and in-state generation, providing peaking reserve, spinning reserve, and load following capacity, as well as transmission line support (Somani, et al., 2021). The percentage of the state’s electricity supplied by hydropower varies, as hydropower resources are strongly dependent on magnitude and timing of snowmelt runoff and rainfall. Between 2012 and 2021, hydropower (including in-state generation and imports) provided an average of 9 percent of California’s total energy mix (California Energy Commission 2022). As the state continues to contend with drought and other climate-driven impacts on water and hydropower resource availability, as well as develop more sustainable water management practices (California Water Action Plan, 2014), the proposed research will support opportunities for increasing and sustaining hydropower generation. Specifically, the research will contribute to more effective precipitation enhancement (cloud seeding) strategies.

The Preschool Development Grant is a three-year federal initiative designed to bolster Delaware's early childhood system, ensuring it is inclusive and integrated to support the development and learning of all children and their families from birth through age 5. With an $8 million award for its first year, following a $4.2 million PDG B-5 grant received in December 2018, the grant aims to provide high-quality early learning experiences and facilitate a smooth transition to kindergarten for children. Approximately $4.8 million of the grant is allocated to expand home-visiting services and state-funded preschool seats, while $3.2 million is dedicated to enhancing support for professionals, including technological advancements delayed by the pandemic. Key initiatives funded by the grant include expanding state-funded preschool programs, piloting the Family Connects home visiting model, updating family materials for resource and referral, enhancing workforce support for early childhood professionals, developing a mental health consultation program for home visitors, and updating the state’s strategic plans for a cohesive birth to five strategy.