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!

Federal Opportunities

DOI Accepting Applications for National Fish Passage Program   

The Department of the Interior (DOI) Fish and Wildlife Service is currently accepting applications for the National Fish Passage Program (NFPP). Applications from invited applicants may be submitted on a rolling basis before December 31, 2025, however regional deadlines may vary. Coordination with regional NFPP staff is required before submission.   

The program provides technical and financial assistance to remove instream barriers and restore aquatic connectivity, improve community safety, and support local economics. Eligible projects may include dam removals, culvert replacements, floodplain restoration, and the installation of fishways.   

Eligible applicants include small businesses, public housing and Indian housing authorities, public and private higher education institutions, city or town governments, Native American tribal organizations and tribal governments, non-profits, independent school districts, special district governments, county governments, state governments, and individuals.   

The maximum award amount is $1,000,000, with no award floor. The estimated total program funding is $10,000,000.   

See this opportunity and read the other requirements on Grants.gov.   

DOJ Accepting Applications for FY25 Restorative Practices Pilot Sites Program Until October 14 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women is currently accepting applications for the FY25 Restorative Practices Pilot Sites Program. Applications are due by October 14, 2025.   

Funding supports a 48-month funding opportunity that seeks to support, strengthen, enhance, and expand existing restorative practice programs that prevent or address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.   

Eligible applicants include, Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations, public and stated institutions of higher education, city or town governments, county governments, and non-profits.   

Awards will range from $900,000 to $1,000,000, with an estimated total program funding of $23,000,000.   

Read the full announcement, and other eligibility requirements on Grants.gov.   

USDA Accepting Applications for The FY 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant  

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service is currently accepting applications for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program. Applications are due December 5, 2025.   

Funding supports improving access to local foods in eligible Child Nutrition Program (CNP) sites through local sourcing and agricultural education programming. Examples of eligible projects includes but is not limited to:   

• Launching a pilot program that creates farm to CNP initiatives  
• Incorporating more unprocessed and value-added, minimally processed, locally or regionally sourced meal components into the CNP meals  
• Readying producers to participate in the CNP food marketplace by providing training on procurement regulations, Good Agricultural Practices, and other food safety-related topics  
• Improving infrastructure to accommodate new local ingredients or local menu items  
• Solving distribution bottlenecks that limit the feasibility of sourcing more locally or regionally produced items   
• Integrating agricultural education with career and technical preparation programs  
• Expanding experiential learning opportunities, such as creating school gardens, developing school-based farmers markets, providing support to agriculture/food clubs, or increasing exposure to local farms   
• Encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables through promotional activities, taste tests, and other activities featuring local products  
• Adopting agricultural education curricula that encourage the sharing of Indigenous traditional knowledge between generations, such as native plant varieties and planting practices  
• Developing and implementing integrated curriculum to reinforce food and nutrition-based learning throughout the school environment or on a local farm  

Eligible applicants include independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state governments, county governments, city or town governments, and non-profits.   

Awards will range from $100,000 to $500,000 with an estimated total program funding of $18,000,000.   

To learn more about this opportunity from the USDA’s website, and view this opportunity on Grants.gov.   

Maine Opportunities

MEMA Extended Deadline to Apply for April 3-5, 2024, Storm Disaster 

The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has extended the deadline to apply to MEMA for the April 3-5, 2024, Storm Disaster (FEMA-4785-DR-ME). The extended deadline is now October 17, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.  

Funding supports emergency work, repair, and replacement of public infrastructure and disaster damaged facilities. In May of 2024 Cumberland and York Counties were awarded a Public Assistance Disaster Declaration for the wind and flooding events of April 3-5, 2024. 

Eligible applicants include state and local governments, Tribes, and non-profits conducting critical services. A recording of the Applicant Briefing is available for viewing.  

Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to State Hazard Mitigation Officer Christine Whelan for the application and eligibility criteria. christine.n.whelan@maine.gov or hmagrants@maine.gov 

For more information visit MEMA’s website.  

AGH Firewood Bank Assistance Program Accepting Applications on Rolling Basis  

The Alliance for Green Heat (AGH) is currently accepting applications for the Firewood Bank Assistance Program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  

Funding enables the acquisition of more wood and larger processing equipment. The level of funding is scaled based on the number of cords processed (both federal and non-federal). 

• 15-24 Cords: up to $15,000 
• 25-49 Cords: up to $25,000 
• 50-99 Cords: up to $35,000 
• 100+ Cords: up to $50,000 

Eligible applicants include Tribes, non-profits, volunteer groups, faith-based groups, mutual aid organizations, state or local governments. Businesses are also eligible if they lead a community firewood bank project, have a separate UEI and checking account in the name of the firewood bank. Past recipients are eligible to apply as long as past grant reports are complete.  

Funding is provided by the USDA Forest Service, which awarded AGH $1.4 million for this program. For the FY26 round, firewood banks must source some or all firewood from federally managed lands.  

View the new FY26 requirements and the application on AGH website.  

Massachusetts 

FY 26 Green Communities Competitive Grant Applications Due October 22  

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is Accepting Applications for the Green Communities Competitive Grant. Applications are due October 22, 2025.  

Funding supports opportunities to reduce municipal energy use and costs in municipal buildings, facilities and schools through funding, support, and technical assistance. This program opportunity notice offers three pathways for communities to receive funding,  

• Prescriptive Measures 
• Traditional Energy Conservation Measures 
• Building Decarbonization 

Applicants mut be a designated Green Community and meet eligibility criteria for each block at the time of application and when the grant is awarded. Eligible Green Communities may submit a grant application to fund all, or a portion, of the costs of constructing and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. A total of $30,000,000 is available in funding for Fiscal years 2026 and 2027. DOER anticipates four funding blocks.  

View this opportunity and related resources on COMMBUYS. And rewatch the informational webinar.  

Rhode Island  

DEM Will Be Accepting Applications for Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Grant Until December 5  

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will be accepting applications for the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) grant. Applications open October 6, 2025, and close December 5, 2025.  

Funding supports the growth, development, and marketing of local food and seafood in Rhode Island.  It is made possible by funding from the State of Rhode Island. Funding priorities for this round include:  

• Support the entry, growth, and/or sustainability of Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning, Small, Women, and veteran agriculture and aquaculture producers and fishers. 
• Support climate-smart agriculture mitigation activities   and Climate Change related agricultural adaptations. 
• Support the development of new marketing, promotion, sales, and/or distribution channels, including connecting local farms and fishers with Rhode Island’s food insecure communities. 
• Support the development of new products, including value added processing capacity. 
• Foster new cooperatives, partnerships, and/or collaborations among Rhode Island agriculture and aquaculture producers, and fishers and supporting organizations. 
• Protect the future availability of agricultural land for producers, including farm transition planning and implementation. 
• Assist with on-farm Food Safety improvements including FSMA and HACCP Compliance. 
• Support second-generation farmers and succession planning, including intergenerational transfer of knowledge, skills, and operations to ensure the long-term sustainability of Rhode Island agriculture and aquaculture. 

This round has approximately $450,000 in funding. The maximum award is $20,000.  

Learn more on the Rhode Island Grant Portal, and on DEM’s website.  

Vermont  

VAAFM Currently Accepting Applications for Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant Until October 29  

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM), is currently accepting applications for the Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant. Application deadline is October 29, 2025.  

Funding supports Vermont-based early childhood providers and Vermont schools in building and strengthening farm-to-school or farm-to-early childhood programs. Funding supports programs designed to integrate the classroom, cafeteria, and community.  

Eligible applicants include, Vermont licensed early childhood education centers, registered family childcare home providers, independent schools participating in any federal child nutrition programs, individual K-12 public schools for school-based pre-K programs, and supervisory unions (SU) or educational districts on behalf of a K-12 public school or pre-K program, or a consortium of K-12 public schools and pre-K programs.  

A total of $300,000 in program funding is available. Awards will range from $10,000 to $30,000. No matching funds are required, and pre-award costs may be available with permission from the grant program manager.  

Register for the informational webinar on October 2, 2025, read the RFA, and register in WebGrants to apply.  

Learn more on the program page.  

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