Grant Watch Wednesday

It’s Wednesday and we at Capital Strategic Solutions have compiled the best grant opportunities we’ve found across all the states we serve – just for you! This list covers a number of grants that can assist you in building a stronger community!

Connecticut Opportunities 

ConneCTed Communities Grant Program Round 2: Still Open 

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is still accepting applications for Round 2 of the ConneCTed Communities Broadband Infrastructure Grant. Round 2 has approximately $6.7 million still available in funding to support access to at least 100 Megabits per second of upload and download speed broadband.  

This program funds the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure to support universal access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband. DEEP is seeking applications that facilitate low-income, multi-family curb-to home and business infrastructure in underserved areas.  

Eligible applicants include:  

• Municipalities, Counties, Tribal governments, State and local agencies
• Commercial service providers
• Non-profit Community organizations and higher education institutions
• Co-operatives, mutual organizations, and utilities

All projects that receive funding must reach substantial completion before December 31, 2026. This funding has been allocated by Connecticut General Assembly through Capital Project Funds of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  

For more information visit the ConneCTed Communities Program website.   

Federal Opportunities

Funding Application for Public Impact Projects Celebrating America’s 250th Closes July 9, 2025

The National Endowment for the Humanities is accepting applications to the Public Impact Projects Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary program. The deadline to apply is July 9, 2025.  

This funding is designed to support cultural organizations in creating scholarship-based public programs that celebrate the people, events, ideas, and legacies of the Declaration of Independence and its signing. Eligible projects must connect public audiences to the ideas of the American Revolution through the scholarship of the humanities.  

Eligible projects may include:  

• Collaborating with scholars and interpretive consultants to develop plans 
• Implementing tours, exhibitions, and public facing interpretive programs 
• Training staff and volunteers in methods and best practices for public interpretation.

A total of $4 million in funds is available, with a maximum award of $200,00 to applicants. The period of performance is up to 2 years. Eligible applicants include states, counties, city or town governments, Federally Recognized Native American tribal governments, public and private higher education institutions, and 501(c)(3) non-profits.  

Prospective applicants can apply on Grants.gov and find additional information from the National Endowment of the Humanities.  

DOT Accepting Applications for FY 25 Competitive Funding: Buses and Bus Facilities Program until July 14th

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is accepting applications for the FY 25 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The deadline for applications is July 14, 2025. Approximately $39 million in funding is available.  

This funding supports the financing of buses and bus facility capital projects.  

Eligible project actions include replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing, or leasing bus-related facilities.  

Eligible applicants include states, city or town governments, county governments, and Federally recognized Native American Tribal governments.  

Apply for the grant on Grants.gov.  

Maine Opportunities

Round 6 of Maine Community Action Grants Now Open Until August 29, 2025 

Round 6 of the Community Action Grants is now open and accepting applications. The deadline to apply for this round is August 29, 2025.  

Communities that are enrolled in the Community Resilience Partnership are eligible for these funds. Round 6 offers a maximum award of $75,000 for individual community grants and $175,000 for joint community grants. 

Funding supports climate action across the state. Two grant options are intended to give communities flexibility to act in relevant and feasible ways. Community Action Grants fall into two categories of community climate action:  

• Actions from the Community Resilience Partnership List of Community Actions, which align with Maine Won’t Wait strategies: no local match required. 
• Other projects of community-defined climate and energy implementation priorities: local match required.  

To learn more about this program and it’s requirements visit maine.gov.
 
 

Round 6 of Service Provider Grants Now Open Until August 1, 2025 

Round 6 of the Service Provider Grants is now open. The deadline to apply is August 1, 2025.  

Funding supports regional collaboration, local capacity building, and community engagement for climate action, energy, and resiliency planning. This program has two funding tracks:  

• Community Enrollment Service Provider: to enable organizations to assist up to 5 communities in preparing for and enrolling in Community Resilience Partnership and applying for associated grant funds.  
• Community Vulnerability Assessment Service Provider Grant: to enable organizations to assist up to 5 enrolled or enrolling Communities to complete community vulnerability assessments to further climate action grants. 

Municipalities are generally not eligible for these funds. Eligible applicants may include: 

• Regional planning organizations  
• Councils of governments 
• Regional economic development organizations  
• County governments 
• Academic institutions and cooperative extension programs  
• Non-profits and for-profit enterprises 

To learn more about this program and it’s requirements, visit maine.gov.  

New Mexico Opportunities

New Mexico Water Project Fund Technical Assistance Program is Now Open!

The New Mexico Water Project Fund is now accepting applications for the Technical Assistance Program (TAP). This funding provides professional assistance to water and wastewater systems that do not have the means for their own technical assistance.  

TAP assistance is free, and the New Mexico Finance Authority provides oversight and management of contracts, scopes of work, deliverables, contract timelines, and pays contractors for completed deliverables.  

Types of assistance available include:  

• Engineering, Technical, or Hydrological Services  
• Geospatial Mapping Services  
• Accounting, Legal, or Facilitator Services  

Funding is awarded on a first come, first served basis. A total of $3.5 million is available.  

TAP prioritizes regionalization and individual system planning, with the goal of helping water and wastewater utilities be more efficient.  

For more information and to apply for funding visit the New Mexico Finance Authority’s Water Project Fund.  

NMED Accepting Applications for Clean Water State Revolving Funds on Rolling Basis 

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is accepting applications for the Clean Water Revolving Fund on a rolling basis year-round. Funding is available for planning, design, and construction loans. A loan subsidy may be available to applicants who incorporate sustainability features into projects. Loan terms are up to 30 years, with repayment beginning one year after project completion. Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans are available at rates from 0.01% for public entities who do not qualify for 0% rates, and 2.375% for private entities.  

Eligible borrowers include municipalities, counties, Tax Increment Development Districts, Water and Sanitation Districts, Mutual Domestic Water Associations, Pueblos and Tribes.  

Eligible projects may include:  

• Repair or replacement on publicly owned centralized wastewater treatment works 
• Implementation of non-point source management plan 
• Reducing, treating, or managing stormwater  
• Reducing demand through conservation  
• Watershed projects  
• Reducing energy consumption  
• Reusing or recycling wastewater or stormwater 
• Increasing security at publicly owned treatment works 

For more information about this and other funding opportunities visit NMED website. Questions may be direct towards NMENV-cpbinfo@state.nm.us or 505-469-3365. 

Let Capital Strategic Solutions assist with your grant writing, research, and compliance needs.