Grants and Funding Opportunities

Grants and Funding Opportunities

The following are known grants and funding opportunities for municipalities served by Nashua Regional Planning Commission. NRPC can assist our member communities with applying for and administering potential grants to implement their distinct goals.
We welcome input!  Send suggestions for additions/deletions to the list to Kathy Kirby.  Please note this page is not all-inclusive and is new as of February 2023 and still being populated.

NH Clean Diesel Grant Program 
Agency: NHDES 
Eligibility: state and local governments, schools & districts, colleges and universities, public and private transit companies, marine operators, private businesses.
Eligible Projects/Units: Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects. Units for replacement - engine model year 2009 & older diesel vehicles, engines, equipment.  Model year requirement is waived if replacing with an electric vehicle.  Schools & transit buses.  Vehicles & engines - Class 5-8 & Drayage.  Marine engines.  Locomotives.  Non-road units.  
Units must meet usage requirements, including be fully operational & in active use in NH; gained 7,000+ miles or 500+ hours per year for the two years prior; have three years of usable life remaining; existing units must be scrapped upon replacement.
Funding: Grant funding reimburses a portion of eligible project costs; the portion depends on the project type. For example, a project replacing a diesel vehicle with an electric vehicle can be reimbursed for up to 45% of the project cost; a project replacing an old diesel vehicle with a newer, cleaner diesel vehicle can be reimbursed for up to 25% of the project cost.
Deadline: Proposals due by MAY 24, 2024. 
For more information, visit the NH Clean Diesel/DERA Webpage

Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A)
Agency: USDOT
A competitive grant program to support planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians; bicyclists; public transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users; motorists; and commercial vehicle operators
Eligibility:  MPOs; Political subdivisions of a State of territory (e.g., cities, towns, counties); federally recognized tribal governments; multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of the aforementioned three types of entities.  
Eligible Project Types: develop a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan). Conduct supplemental safety planning to enhance an Action Plan. Carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or an update to, an Action Plan. Perform planning, design, and development activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan. Implement projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that address roadway safety problems.
Funding: up to $1,261,494,000 for FY 2024 grants under the SS4A program. Of the funding made available, up to $780 million is available to implement projects and strategies. The remainder, $461,494,000 must be awarded for developing Action Plans; conducting supplemental planning to update existing Action Plans; or carrying out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or updates to, Action Plans. 
Deadline: Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants have three deadlines:  • Thursday, April 4, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT) • Thursday, May 16, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT) • Thursday, August 29, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT).  Implementation Grant applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM (EDT) on Thursday, May 16, 2024.  Funds will be awarded to applications submitted after each deadline. Funding awards in later deadlines will be contingent on the availability of remaining funds.   
For more information, visit: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Asset Management Grant
Agency: NHDES
Eligibility
: to be eligible for funding, a CWSRF pre-application must be submitted by May 31, 2024.  If approved, you will receive a congratulations letter in the fall.  The funding will be reserved for your community if a grant application is submitted and subsequent requirements of the grant agreement are completed.  Work scopes, schedules for completion of work, budgets and report phase engineering contracts must be pre-approved by NH-DES prior to submitting the grant application and prior to initiating work.  Additional steps that must be taken prior to submitting a grant application: (1) attend an informational session, (2) Authority to accept grant funds, (3) QBS Procurement Process (if applicable), (4) Engineering contract (if applicable), (5) work scope approval.  
Eligible Project Types
: grant disbursements for work directly related to the AMP development, and included in pre-approved work scopes.
Funding: $30,000 maximum
Deadline: CWSRF pre-application must be submitted by May 31, 2024.  
For application forms, and more information regarding additional requirements, please visit: CWSRF Asset Management Grant Guidance Document (nh.gov)

Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP)
Agency: DOT Federal Highway Administration
Eligibility: Local or Regional Governmental Organizations; Multicounty Special Districts; State; Multistate Group of Governments; or An Indian Tribe.
Eligible Project Types: two different categories of grants: (1) Planning and Design Grants and (2) Construction Grants.  

The Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) projects will help improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of active transportation networks and communities; improve connectivity between active transportation modes and public transportation; enhance the resiliency of on- and off-road active transportation infrastructure and help protect the environment; and improve quality of life in disadvantaged communities through the delivery of connected active transportation networks and expanded mobility opportunities.  The ATIIP grants will allow communities to identify, prioritize, and implement improvements to the largest barriers to safe, accessible, and equitable pedestrian and bicycle network connectivity through the development of infrastructure that will provide substantial additional opportunities for walking and bicycling. Eligible organizations will be able to create plans or implement active transportation networks that connect destinations within or between communities or create plans or implement an active transportation spine connecting two or more communities, metropolitan regions, or States. The ATIIP also provides an opportunity for eligible organizations to enhance their overall transportation network by integrating active transportation facilities with transit services, where available, to improve access to public transportation.
Funding: up to $44,550,000 for two different categories of grants
Deadline: Monday, June 17, 2024, 11:59 p.m.   
For more information, visit: grants.gov/search-results-detail/353043


Arts For Community Engagement Project Grants
Agency: NH Department of Natural & Cultural Resources
Eligibility: any organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS and not-for-profit incorporation in the State of New Hampshire; state, federal, county, municipal, or government agency; or unit of a post-secondary educational institution that meets the following conditions: make all programs and facilities accessible to people with disabilities; have submitted all required reports on past State Arts Council grants, good standing with the N.H. Secretary of State’s Office and the N.H. Attorney General’s Office,  Arts organizations only: at least one-year of arts programming prior to the application deadline.
Eligible Project Types: projects occurring between 12/1/2024 - 11/30/2025.  Arts for Community Engagement (ACE) project grants support community enrichment and public benefit by providing access to high quality arts performances, activities, and programs presented by community-based organizations, Main Street programs, and municipalities.  This grant category supplies a wide variety of activities including performances, exhibits, workshops, community arts programming, and collaborative public arts projects that engage the arts and artists for the benefit of New Hampshire residents and communities.  
  • Click here to download the grant guidelines in PDF format.
  • Click here to download the budget form in MS Excel format.
  • Click here to download the budget form in PDF format.
  • Click here to start the online application. Please click here to download written instructions on how to fill out the online application.
Funding: Funding requests may be made for $1,000 - $8,000. Matching funds will be waived for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025). However,  applicants are encouraged to include in-kind or cash match as part of their budget to increase the strength of their application, deepen collaboration with community partners, and enhance the funding of their project.
Deadline: June 28, 2024, 11:59 p.m.
Hometown Grant Program
Agency: T-Mobile partnering with Main Street America and Smart Growth America
Eligibility: elected officials, town managers/employees, tribal leaders, or nonprofit community leaders from small towns with population less than 50,000
Eligible Project Types: no specific category.  Open to shovel-ready projects that foster local connections, such as technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, the arts, and community centers.  Applicant’s proposal must include plans, budget, timeline, anticipated impact, and up to five letters of support.
Funding: up to $50,000 
Deadlines: Applications will be open on a quarterly basis. Submissions for the second quarter (Summer) are now open and will close June 302024.
Summer: Applications open April – June
Fall: Applications open July – Sept.
Winter: Applications open Oct. – Dec.
Portal will close on the last day of each quarter and reopen for the new quarter on the first of the month.
For more information, visit the T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program website.

Community Facilities Program Disaster Repair Grants in Vermont and New Hampshire
This program provides grants to repair essential community facilities in rural areas that were damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters in Calendar Year 2022. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.  Funds are available until the funds are exhausted (beginning July 2023 & still available as of May 2024).  For more information, please visit Community Facilities Program Disaster Repair Grants in Vermont and New Hampshire | Rural Development (usda.gov)


Other Resources

AARP
AARP has a database of available grants which you may search here: https://grantstracker.aarpfoundation.org/grants-database.php.  Sign up for AARP's Grant Opportunities Distribution List. The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages.  the 2024 application deadline has passed.  The 2025 Community Challenge will most likely be announced January 2025.
Grants.gov
There are several federal grant opportunities available to municipalities for various purposes.  To search the latest funding opportunities, click on Search Available Grants at Grants.gov.  The search options menu on the left side of the screen allows for many search options including, Funding Instrument, Eligibility, and Category.  

National Endowment For The Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is making grants of up to $10,000 to help small and mid-sized institutions improve their ability to preserve and care for their humanities collections. Eligible applicants can include municipalities, schools, libraries, historic societies and other nonprofit organizations. The program encourages applications from small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant.  For more information, visit: https://www.neh.gov/grants/listing