The Federal Access Center is a one-stop resource hub to help coal communities secure public funding for local economic solutions.
With historic levels of funding for economic development available through a range of federal agencies, The Center will help the most economically distressed coal communities secure the level of federal investment needed to create and sustain successful economic transition.
Read our announcement press release.
Billions of dollars in public funds are currently available to coal communities.
The opportunity to leverage federal funding to strengthen local economies has never been greater. But this funding is difficult to access for capacity-constrained organizations and localities. A range of barriers—such as high matching fund requirements, time-intensive application processes, and lack of access to experts—currently prevent many effective organizations from submitting competitive proposals. The Center will help to ensure that coal communities are able to overcome these barriers and take full advantage of this historic opportunity.
Projects We Support
We aim to help local organizations submit competitive federal applications for community-led transition projects that advance equitable and inclusive local economies. The Center’s grants and technical assistance support organizations to apply for federal funds and conduct early-stage planning efforts to scale projects that advance Our Transition Framework:
Community Economic Development
Community economic development projects in promising sectors, including, but not limited to: clean energy, sustainable agriculture, reclamation, tourism, and the knowledge economy.
Workforce Development
Workforce development projects that train coal-affected workers and community members for living-wage, 21st-century jobs in these sectors.
Broadband Access and Affordability
Broadband access and affordability projects that create economic development opportunities and reduce economic and social inequities.
Types of Support
We currently offer two types of support based on your project stage:
Now Open
Application Ready
Do you already have an economic development project and are you ready to apply for federal funding?
We offer grants of up to $100,000, proportional to the size of the potential federal funding amount. Grants support a range of costs associated with developing applications, including hiring a grant writer or other experts and qualifying as private matching funds. We also offer technical assistance, including helping identify funding programs your project is eligible for and reviewing the federal proposal before submission. Learn more about our Application-Ready support here and fill out our inquiry form to schedule a call with someone on our team.
Application Window Closed
Early Stage
Are you working to define an economic development project and need support before you’re ready to apply for federal funding?
Meet the inaugural cohort of our Coal Communities Get Ready! Challenge winners! Through the Challenge, we identified a cohort of 12 organizations that are building readiness to apply for federal funds. This opportunity is designed for organizations that have little to no experience applying for federal funds. Each awardee will receive one-year grants valued at $250,000 and customized technical assistance that will together help build readiness to apply for and manage federal funding. Meet the 2024 winners and stay tuned for future announcements for early-stage support.
Take the First Step
Let us know about your project with our interest form, and we’ll reach out directly to learn more.
Eligibility
- 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and local governments serving coal communities are eligible to apply for grants and technical assistance. If you are a private company interested in developing a project in an energy community and are interested in our assistance, click here to learn more about how we can help.
- We welcome proposals from coal-impacted communities across the nation.
- We prioritize proposals from those communities that have been economically hardest hit by the decline of the coal industry and that have the highest concentration of marginalized populations.
Contact Natalie Roper at [email protected] if you aren’t sure whether you qualify for assistance.
Now Open
Get Started
If you’re interested in support from the Federal Access Center, please complete our interest form. This information will help us know which Federal Access Center resources are right for you. We will follow up to request more information about your project and needs.
Application Ready Grants
We offer grants of up to $100,000, proportional to the size of the potential federal funding amount. Grants support a range of costs associated with developing applications, including hiring a grant writer or other experts and qualifying as private matching funds. We also offer technical assistance, including helping identify funding programs your project is eligible for and reviewing the federal proposal before submission.
Projects We’ve Supported
Our 2022 federal access grants have already helped our local partners leverage $71 million in public funding, with the potential to unlock another $60 million once pending funding decisions have been made.
Expanding Remote Work and Education Opportunities in West Virginia
Bringing Universal Broadband Coverage to Colorado
Expanding Internet Access in the Navajo Nation
Improving Health Outcomes Through Internet Access in Appalachia
Making Internet Access Affordable for Families in Pennsylvania
Bringing Affordable Broadband to Families in Wyoming
Prioritizing Affordable Internet in Eastern Kentucky
Strengthening Broadband Infrastructure in Illinois
Get Started
Complete our simple interest form to get started. We will follow up to learn more about your project and needs.
