The following is a list of federal programs that provide grants, loans, and technical assistance for community-based economic development projects related to planning and governmental assistance. See additional lists of other federal programs here.
Programs and their requirements are subject to change, so please check department websites for current information.
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) Technical Assistance
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
Open Year-Round
The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) provides technical assistance training, research and publications for Tribes and Native Hawaiians engaged in tourism and hospitality. The technical assistance is designed to help identify areas where support is needed to allow Tribes, Tribal organizations and Native Hawaiians to participate fully in the tourism industry, and to provide the means and delivery of assistance to collaborate with others who have distinctive expertise and experience within tourism.
Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant
Department of Agriculture
Open Year-Round
The Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) Grant program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with pre-development feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects. Eligible areas are those which have a population of 2,500 or less and have a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan household income. Eligible applicants include most state and local government entities, nonprofits, and federally-recognized tribes.
Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program
Department of Agriculture
Open Year-Round
The Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Funds may be used to finance projects relating to water sourcing, sewer systems, solid waste, and stormwater. The program assists qualified applicants who are not otherwise able to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms. Eligible applicants include state and local government entities, private nonprofits, and federally-recognized tribes.
Water & Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees
Department of Agriculture
Open Year-Round
The Water & Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees Program helps private lenders provide affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in rural areas. Funds can be used to construct or improve facilities for drinking water, sanitary sewers, solid waste disposal, and storm water disposal facilities. Eligible applicants include federal and state-chartered banks, savings and loans, Farm Credit Banks with direct lending authority, and credit unions.
Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants
Department of Agriculture
Open Year-Round
The Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants program helps eligible low-income communities plan and develop applications for proposed USDA Rural Development water or waste disposal projects. Eligible applicants include most state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and federally-recognized tribes.
Water & Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands
Department of Agriculture
Open Year-Round
The Water & Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands program helps get safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal services to low-income communities that face significant health risks, are on federally-recognized lands, and that have populations of 10,000 people or fewer. Funds can be used to build basic drinking water and waste disposal systems, including systems to handle storm-water drainage. Eligible applicants include federally-recognized tribes, state and local governments, and nonprofits.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Formula Program
Department of Energy
Application Due: April 30, 2024
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Formula Program provides formula grants to support specific states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency. Grant funds can be used for a variety of projects relating to energy efficiency and conservation. A list of eligible applicants and local government, State, and Tribal allocations can be found on the EECBG Formula Program webpage.
Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Rolling Application
The Distressed Cities Technical Assistance (DCTA) program provides technical assistance to improve fiscal health and build administrative capacity for units of general local government that are economically distressed. The program offers a range of technical assistance, including governance and management, leadership development, data and research, building partnerships, community engagement, strategic planning, plan implementation, financial management, and program evaluation. Eligible applicants include local governments with populations of 50,000 people or fewer that meet HUD criteria for experiencing persistent poverty and economic distress.
Local Technical Assistance Program
Economic Development Administration
Rolling Application
The Local Technical Assistance Program provides grants to support the capacity of local, regional, or State organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective economic development programs. Under this program, projects may include feasibility studies, impact analyses, disaster resiliency plans, and project planning. Eligible applicants include a(n): District Organization; Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State; institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; public of private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State; private individual; or, a for-profit organization.
National Technical Assistance Program
Economic Development Administration
Rolling Application
The National Technical Assistance (NTA) program funds projects that provide technical assistance with a national scope. These projects support best practices among communities trying to solve problems relating to economic development goals, and can aid with implementation of economic development, best practices, and proven techniques. The NTA program supports activities that are beneficial to the economic development community nationwide and includes, but is not limited to, outreach, training, and information dissemination. Eligible applicants include a(n): District Organization; Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State; institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; public of private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State; private individual; or, a for-profit organization.
Planning Program
Economic Development Administration
Rolling Application
The Planning program provides assistance to help eligible recipients manage and coordinate the development and implementation of regional economic development plans. This program includes multiple types of planning support, including Partnership Planning, Short-Term and State Planning. Partnership Planning investments facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which are designed to help regions leverage their unique assets to help create and retain high-quality jobs. Short-Term and State Planning efforts are designed to stimulate and guide the creation and/or retention of high-quality jobs and private investment attraction. Eligible applicants for all types of Planning support include a(n): District Organization; Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State; institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; public of private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State; private individual; or, a for-profit organization.
Research and Evaluation Program
Economic Development Administration
Rolling Application
The Research and Evaluation (R&E) program provides funding that supports the development of tools, recommendations, and resources that shape Federal economic development policies and inform economic development decision-making. These investments provide critical, cutting-edge research, and best practices to regional, state, and local practitioners in the economic development field. Eligible applicants include a(n): District Organization; Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State; institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; public of private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State; private individual; or, a for-profit organization.
Community Change Grants
Environmental Protection Agency
Rolling Application; Application Deadline: November 21, 2024
Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Change Grants) provides funding and technical assistance that support environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. The program has two tracks. Track I, Community-Driven Investments for Change, is the primary emphasis for the Community Change Grants. Track I projects will be implemented through strong collaborations to achieve sustained impacts related to climate resilience, pollution reduction, community health, economic prosperity, and community strength. Track II, Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance, provides funding for facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes. Applicants eligible to apply are 1) a partnership between two community-based nonprofit organizations, or 2) a partnership between a community-based nonprofit and one of the following: a federally-recognized Tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education.