Opportunities for Funding

Funds may be used to pay expenses associated with providing technical assistance and/or training (TAT) to: Identify and evaluate solutions to water problems relating to source, storage, treatment, or distribution; identify and evaluate solutions to waste problems relating to collection, treatment, or disposal: assist applicants, that have filed a pre-application with RUS, in the preparation of water and/or waste loan and/or grant applications; and/or provide technical assistance and/or training to water/wastewater system personnel that will improve the management, operation and maintenance of water and waste disposal facilities. Grant funds may not be used to duplicate current services, such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project; fund political or lobbying activities; pay for capital assets; purchase real estate or vehicles; improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property; pay the costs for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities; and pay costs incurred prior to effective date of grant.

Rural and remote areas often have higher energy costs and burden, less resilient energy systems, and fewer alternatives for accessing clean energy compared with their urban counterparts. Furthermore, small communities do not always have the available time, money, or other resources to pursue clean energy options. This program serves communities of 10,000 people or fewer. Applicants must propose projects that support at least one of these eligible activities:
A. Improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems;
B. Siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines;
C. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas;
D. Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities;
E. Developing microgrids; and
F. Increasing energy efficiency. Applications may include any technology that meets these eligible activities, as long as those technologies are commercially available.

Applicants must choose one of the four topic areas for their project’s application.

For further information, please see the Full Funding Opportunity Announcement at https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/.

All application materials must be submitted through the OCED Funding Opportunity Exchange.

This FOA builds on efforts by the DOE Office of Indian Energy and the authorities granted to the DOE Office of Indian Energy under EPAct 2005, to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technology on Tribal Lands. In addition to the $75 million committed to tribal energy projects selected in 2023, between 2010 and 2022, the DOE Office of Indian Energy invested over $120 million in more than 210 tribal energy projects implemented across the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. These projects, valued at more than $215 million, are leveraged by over $93 million in Recipient cost share. See the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy website for a map and summaries of these competitively funded projects.

Through this FOA, the DOE Office of Indian Energy will continue its efforts to advance Tribal
energy sovereignty and maximize the deployment of clean, reliable, affordable and local energy solutions.

The FOA is soliciting applications for:
1) Tribal Clean Energy Planning (Topic Area 1); or,
2) Comprehensive Clean Energy Feasibility and Viability Assessment (Topic Area 2); or,
3) Design and Development of Clean Energy Projects (Topic Area 3).

Projects selected under Topic Area 1 (Tribal Clean Energy Planning) are intended to result in
specific outcomes (measurable results or end-products) which may include, but are not limited to: a strategic energy plan, energy options analysis; energy audits; climate resiliency plan; development of an energy organization or office; establishment of energy policy, regulations or codes; and skills development and training. Funds under this Topic Area may be used for internal personnel costs (e.g., energy and infrastructure management roles) and for community outreach. See Section I.B.1 for more information.

Projects selected under Topic Area 2 (Comprehensive Clean Energy Feasibility and Viability
Assessment) are intended to result in a comprehensive project plan sufficient to move a project to the design and development phase of a clean energy project on Tribal Buildings or Tribal Land (see Topic Area 3). It is anticipated that the proposed comprehensive feasibility and viability assessment, as a minimum, is based on a completed energy options analysis (see Topic Area 1). See Section I.B.2. for more information.

Projects selected under Topic Area 3 (Design and Development of Clean Energy Projects) are intended to result in projects ready for deployment (final design, installation, commissioning and monitoring) of clean energy technology on Tribal Buildings or Tribal Lands. It is intended that the proposed development activities are the result of a comprehensive feasibility and viability assessment (see Topic Area 2). See Section I.B.3 for more information.

The Western Integrated Pest Management Center (“The Center”) engages a broad diversity of stakeholders in the West to identify strategic directions and set priorities for integrated pest management (IPM) research, education, and extension for pest management in all settings. Through these activities the Center promotes the USDA Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan goals of effective, affordable, and environmentally sound integrated pest management practices and improved response to emerging or reemerging pests of high consequence. The Center supports the National Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management (http://bit.ly/IPMRoadMap)

The Center works to reduce the risks that pests and pest-management practices pose to people, the environment and the economy of the American West by supporting the development and adoption of smart, safe and sustainable pest management. Our vision is a healthier West with fewer pests.

This RFA covers Planning Documents and Economic Analysis projects. This includes the development of Pest Management Strategic Plans, Integrated Pest Management Plans, Pest Management Prioritysetting for First Nation Food Sovereignty Initiatives, or similar planning documents, and Economic Analysis of IPM Systems.

Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs) are developed with a group of producers and other stakeholders to identify the pest management needs and priorities of a particular commodity, industry, system, site or setting. The plans document current pest management practices and those under research and demonstration trial development. The plans also indicate priorities for research to fill knowledge gaps, regulatory changes, and education or training programs to support adoption of integrated pest management practices.

There are two current models for producing PMSPs, and either is acceptable.
• Guidelines for producing a traditional PMSP can be found on the National IPM Database web site at https://ipmdata.ipmcenters.org/pmsp_workshopguidelines.pdf
• Guidelines for producing an Integrated Pest Management Strategic Plan, an approach pioneered by researchers at Oregon State University, can be found at https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9238

Pest Management Priority-setting for First Nation Food Sovereignty Initiatives may query producers, pest management professionals, IPM practitioners or other pest management stakeholders to gather information about the current pest management methods and challenges in a particular commodity, system, site or setting.

The Economic Analysis of IPM Systems assessment focuses on the economic impacts associated with IPM practices in commodity, industry, system, sites or settings. As an example, the Crop Pest-Loss and Impact Assessment Signature Program tracks the economic impacts associated with IPM implementation. For more information on Signature Programs, see the Center Projects section of the westernipm.org website. Additional recent examples include the economic analysis of the IR-4 program (available at www.ir4project.org/outreach/), the economic value of screening grapevines for viruses (available at doi: 10.5344/ajev.2020.19047) the University of California IPM program (2016 ARE Update University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics).

The Center for Heat Resilient Communities supports communities in determining the best locally-tailored strategies to advance heat resilience that are “shovel-ready” for investment. This first-of-its-kind opportunity will directly fund and support communities and tribal entities across the U.S. and internationally utilizing novel and complementary decision support tools to create a roadmap for equitable community heat resilience. The Center brings together teams of experts and over 50 cross-sector partners including scholar specialists, chief heat and resilience officers, municipal climate and sustainability networks, national and international advocacy groups, private climate services providers, and more.

Distinct from mapping-focused federal programs, the Center will help turn data into action by aligning local goals and strategies with the resources needed for action. As a convening space between local communities innovating new ways to address heat impacts and national governmental and non-governmental policymakers and funders, center outputs are designed to both position communities to be highly competitive for state, federal, and philanthropic funding AND prepare policymakers and funders to be responsive to local needs. The Center shares the Federal Government’s vision for a “Nation of Heat Resilient Communities” and will work with communities across the nation to ensure that the tools necessary to become heat resilient — protecting people’s health and well-being where they live, learn, work, and play — are available for all.

To fulfill this vision, the central objectives of the Center are to:

Develop a comprehensive Heat Resilient Communities Workbook

Enable the development of locally tailored heat-action blueprints in at least 30 communities in the U.S. and beyond

Recommend actionable strategies for NOAA, NIHHIS, and federal partners to prioritize and coordinate investments in communities.

Principal investigators for the project include:

Dr. V. Kelly Turner, Associate Director, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, University of California, Los Angeles (Lead Principal Investigator)

Dr. Ladd Keith, Assistant Professor of Planning and Sustainable Built Environments, University of Arizona (Principal Investigator)

Dr. Sara Meerow, Associate Professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University (Principal Investigator)

The collection of “The Center for Heat Resilient Communities” information is authorized under the OMB Control Number 0648-0828 included in the Paperwork Reduction Act and Privacy Act statements.

Visit this page and subscribe to the Heat Beat Newsletter for updates on the Center and the application. Questions can be sent to heat@ucla.edu and nihhis@noaa.gov.

The Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring will support community science observations and data collection on extreme heat so communities can observe, monitor and evaluate factors influencing heat risk at a local scale. The center will be based at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, N.C. with additional technical support from CAPA Strategies, Utah State University, and AQUEHS Corp. The center will also include three additional geographically dispersed sites, each serving a different region of the U.S. This will enable work to engage regional communities and connect with existing networks for public education and engagement. In addition to the Museum of Life and Science, these hubs include the Arizona Science Center, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Museum of Science in Boston. The center will build on eight years of NIHHIS efforts to map urban heat islands in over 80 U.S. and international communities.

The goals of the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring include:

A novel applied participatory action research approach to equitably support communities in co-creating new knowledge about extreme heat
Delivery and integration of decision-support data, information, and knowledge through comprehensive models to quantitatively evaluate heat distribution and exposure across heat-imperiled communities to community members, policymakers, and the Center for Heat Resilient Communities
Supporting communities by enhancing expertise, agency, and self-determination to make decisions on how to prepare for and mitigate heat
Increasing literacy and community support for ongoing on-the-ground work about the hazards posed by extreme heat and climate change to meaningfully reduce the amount of heat mortality in the U.S.
It is important to note that the Center for Collaborative Monitoring will be accepting applications from all types of U.S. communities- not just urban communities. Rural communities, Tribal Nations, U.S. territories, and states that have not previously undergone heat mapping are especially encouraged to apply.

Principal investigators for the project include:

Mr. Max Cawley, Director of Climate Research and Engagement, North Carolina Museum of Life and Science (Lead Principal Investigator)

Dr. David Sittenfeld, Director of the Center for the Environment, Museum of Science, Boston (Principal Investigator)

Dr. Vivek Shandas, Founder and Advisor, Climate Adaptation Planning and Analytics (CAPA) Strategies (Principal Investigator)

Dr. Wei Zhang, Assistant Professor of Climate Science, Utah State University (Principal Investigator)

Dr. Daniel Mendoza, Founder and CEO, AQUEHS, Corp (Principal Investigator)

Questions regarding the application can be sent to info@collaborativeheatmonitoring.org and nihhis@noaa.gov.

Helping deploy the next generation of community clean energy projects
Rural, tribal, and low-income communities are most in need of climate solutions that deliver energy independence and resiliency, lower costs, reduce pollution, and improve public health. Thanks to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, we have an unprecedented opportunity to unlock access to capital for clean energy projects in underserved communities; but many of them need pre-development funds, support, and technical assistance to access project capital.

That’s why we’re launching Climate United NEXT, a pre-development grant program to help nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, Indian tribes, and Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) accelerate early-stage clean energy projects through planning to project financing. Through grant funding for planning, technical assistance, and community engagement, communities will identify solutions that meet their unique needs and lay the groundwork for projects including solar, green buildings, and electric transportation.

Program Goals
Help communities successfully deploy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, and lower energy costs.

Increase the capacity of community-based organizations so that they can access federal and state financial assistance and other forms of capital for climate projects.

Build demand and help transform the market for community-benefitting zero emission technologies in LIDACs across the country.

Provide equitable access to clean technologies for underserved communities and geographies, such as rural and Native communities.

Climate United has ambitious goals of ensuring that 60% of its financial assistance is deployed in what the EPA has defined as Low Income and Disadvantaged Communities, 20% in rural communities, and 10% in Native communities. Climate United NEXT will provide pre-development grant funding to all of these communities in the coming months and years.

Eligible Uses of Funding
Feasibility & environmental impact studies

Project planning

Technical assistance for funding opportunities

Community engagement

Related pre-development activities

Process
Pre-development grants of up to $300,000 will be awarded over the course of multiple application rounds. The first round of Climate United NEXT grants will support clean energy projects in Native communities and will be open to non-profit organizations, state and local government entities, Indian tribes, and Institutions of Higher Education (IHE).

The deadline to apply for the first round of Climate United NEXT grants is January 10, 2025, with awards announcements planned for late February. Join us on December 6th at 2pm ET for an informational webinar about the first round of applications.

Climate United will solicit applications for funding in each cycle by sector. We are starting this Fall with projects focused on benefiting Native communities. In 2025, we will have additional rounds focused on other underserved market segments. We intend to provide up to $30M in grant funding over the next five years to equip small- and mid-sized organizations to unlock public and private capital for climate projects.

This program seeks to actively support early career IPM professionals and practitioners in their search for educational opportunities and networking experiences. The program is focused on supporting a deeper understanding of a wide variety of technology, pest management, sustainability, business, and government issues. The program also hopes to help young pest management professionals build a strong, enduring network of peers, and business and government contacts, not only in the academic realm but from private industry as well. Participants can apply to attend events and professional science society meetings or participate in internship programs that provide experiential learning so that students can explore potential careers and build professional networks or participate in other learning opportunities. Internship programs that include both research and extension or outreach are strongly encouraged.

Fellowship applications are capped at $1,000. The award should be used to fund travel to meetings or other professional development opportunities, meeting registration, costs associated with internships with private companies, research and Extension programs or other professional development opportunities.

The Western IPM Center announces the availability of funds and requests proposals to address special issues in the West – specifically time-sensitive issues that cannot wait until the next regular RFA period. Special issues grants may be requested to bring together groups to address emerging pests.

The Western IPM Center will give priority to requests that are multi-state/island/tribal nation in scope. Projects must be completed within one year of funding and be single-issue oriented. Funds are available until exhausted. The maximum amount of a request can be $5,000.

Do you envision a world where every child and family sees the road to success? Where a community’s future is determined by the people who live there?

A world where all kids receive nurturing early care and education. Health care for mothers, birthing people and babies is readily available where they live. Good food is a given, along with support for the people who grow it. Parents and caregivers land career pathways that sustain their family.

And where everyone can heal from the harms of racism and contribute to a more equitable world.

That’s the world we want to see, too! If you work every day to make that world a reality – advancing innovative, community-driven solutions –we want to hear about it.