Community Development

Launching EFCN’s National Water Leadership Program

In April, the Environmental Finance Center Network’s (EFCN’s) Water Leadership Program announced the inaugural cohort of 38 water professionals from around the country who will participate in a three-month professional development program. The program aims to give rising water leaders the training and resources needed to face the challenges of utility management with confidence and improve the quality of life of their residents. Through the pilot program, water professionals will participate in three months of sessions focused on asset and data management, disaster resiliency and planning, environmental justice, strategic communications, culturally responsive leadership, and other subject areas that are critical in an increasingly diverse and rapidly changing water sector.

The program is funded by a grant awarded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program, which launched in 2021. The pilot program is one of several receiving a total of $3.8 million in funding to help build the water workforce and connect individuals to career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, as well as expand public awareness about job opportunities at drinking water and water treatment utilities.

New York Main Street Program

The purpose of the NYMS Program is to provide financial and technical resources to help communities with their efforts to preserve and revitalize mixed-use (commercial/civic and residential) main street/downtown business districts.

Eligible Applicants:
Eligible applicants must be a Unit of Local Government or an organization incorporated under the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, which includes community-based organizations, business improvement districts, and other similar entities that have been providing relevant service to the community for at least one year prior to application.

Eligible Projects:
The Project(s) must be located in an eligible target area. An eligible target area shall mean an area:

  • That has experienced sustained physical deterioration, decay, neglect, or disinvestment;
  • Has a number of substandard buildings or vacant residential or commercial
    units; and
  • In which more than fifty percent of the residents are persons of low income, or which is designated by a state or federal agency to be eligible for a community or economic development program.

Two activities are eligible for funding:

  1. Building Renovation: Matching grants to building owners for the renovation of mixed-use buildings.
  2. Streetscape Enhancement: Such as planting trees, installing street furniture and trash cans, providing appropriate signs, etc. and cannot be applied for on its own.

Funding Source:
New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation Office of Community Renewal

Funding Amount:
$50,000 to $250,000

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
Office of Community Renewal
Hampton Plaza
38-40 State St.
Albany, NY 12207
518-474-2057
Fax: 518-474-5247
MainStreet@nyshcr.org

More Information:
www.nyshcr.org/Programs/NYMainStreet/

The Community Fund

The Community Foundation seeks to invest in programs that provide services to residents of Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, and/or Tioga counties. Grant proposals should address a specific charitable, educational or cultural need, promote cooperation among agencies with similar programs, and incorporate a plan for tracking predicted outcomes.

Eligible Recipients:

  • Any 501(c)(3) where a grant will benefit significantly (but not necessarily exclusively) residents of the Foundation’s service area: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, and/or Tioga counties.
  • Certain local government agencies, municipalities and public school systems within the Foundation’s service area.
  • Organizations requiring a 501(c)(3) as a fiscal sponsor may be eligible to apply.

Eligible Projects:

  • Program—proposals that address a specific program need.
  • Capital—proposals for property purchase, equipment purchase, facilities improvement, and capital campaigns.
  • Operating Support—proposals from established organizations (minimum of 10 years) that are in financial distress due to a reduction in traditional funding sources for operations (e.g. individual contributions, event revenue, federal/state/local  budget reductions).

Funding Source:
The Community Foundation for South Central New York

Funding Amount:
$1,000 to $15,000

Deadline:
Varies

Contact:
Robert Jensen
607-772-6773
jensen@stny.rr.com

More Information:
http://donorswhocare.org/grant-seekers/the-community-fund.html

Community Development Block Grants

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD. The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to 1209 general units of local government and States.

The CDBG program works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. CDBG is an important tool for helping local governments tackle serious challenges facing their communities.

Eligible Recipients:
New York State cities, towns, and villages with a population under 50,000, and counties with an un-incorporated population under 200,000.

Eligible Projects:
Over a 1, 2, or 3-year period, as selected by the grantee, not less than 70 percent of CDBG funds must be used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. In addition, each activity must meet one of the following national objectives for the program: benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or address community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community for which other funding is not available.

Funding Source:
New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation – Office of Community Renewal

Funding Amount:
$100,000 to $750,000

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
Office of Community Renewal
Hampton Plaza
38-40 State St.
9th Floor
Albany, NY 12207
518-474-2057
Fax: 518-474-5247
HCRinfo@nyshcr.org

More Information:
www.nyshcr.org/Programs/NYS-CDBG/

 

Community Facilities Loans and Grants

Community Facilities Programs provide loans, grant and loan guarantees for essential community facilities in rural areas. Priority is given to health care, education, and public safety projects.

Eligible Recipients:
Public entities such as municipalities, counties, parishes, boroughs, and special-purpose districts, as well as non-profit corporations and tribal governments.

Eligible Projects:
This program funds the development of essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Typical projects are hospitals, health clinics, schools, firehouses, community centers, and many other community-based initiatives.

Funding Source:
USDA Rural Development

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
USDA-RD
The Galleries of Syracuse
441 South Salina St. Suite 357
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-477-6400
www.rurdev.usda.gov/ny/
Or: Contact Local Field Office

More Information:
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program

Capital Grant Program

The Ford Motor Company Fund is committed to building stronger communities and capacity within the non-profit community to meet increasing needs in many areas.

Eligible Recipients:
Requests will only be considered to support the existing priorities of the Fund:

  • Education
  • Automotive safety
  • Community needs
  • The Arts

For the purposes of this program, the Ford Motor Company Fund defines capital as a physical infrastructure, construction of new and/or renovated space, and related equipment purchases. The Fund will not consider endowment funding as a part of this program. Vehicle purchases will also not be considered.

Funding Source:
Ford Motor Company Fund

Funding Amount:
The maximum grant amount that can be awarded per organization for any one year will be $100,000.

Deadlines:
Check website for new deadlines

Contact:
FordMotor@Easymatch.com

More Information:
http://corporate.ford.com/company/community.html

Organizational Capacity Building Grants

The mission of the foundation is to foster just and sustainable communities in the United States with a core focus on “sustainable environments.”  The organizational capacity building grants are aimed at strengthening the organizational capacity of nonprofit organizations.

Eligible Recipients:
Nonprofit organizations

Eligible Projects:
Projects may address issues including, but are not limited to:

  • Board/staff development
  • Marketing
  • Strategic planning
  • Strategic restructuring
  • Communication
  • Energy efficiency
  • Sustainable transportation networks
  • Urban water management
  • Artistic and economic development

Funding Source:
Surdna Foundation, Inc.

Funding Amount:
Varies

Contact:
(212) 557-0010
200 Madison Ave.
25th Floor
New York, NY 100176
grants@surdna.org

More Information:
https://surdna.org/prospective-grantees/

Rockefeller Family Fund

This is a grant that is awarded to advocacy efforts that are action-oriented and likely to lead to tangible public policy results.

Eligible Recipients:
Nonprofit

Eligible Projects:

  • Environment
    reduce carbon emissions; disrupt the coal life cycle from mining and burning to ash disposal and exporting; bring diverse and compelling new voices into the climate debate; and examine how special interests are distorting science and delaying constructive steps to deal with this impending global crisis.
  • Institutional Accountability and Individual Liberty
    This program encourages the active participation of citizens in government, seeks to make government and private institutions more accountable and responsive, and supports efforts to ensure that individuals’ rights and liberties under the Constitution are protected. Past grants have included support for work to overcome roadblocks to registration and voting; efforts to expand access to government information; advocacy to promote electronic disclosure of campaign contributions; and a broad range of program initiatives aimed at holding government agencies and public officials accountable for their actions.
  • Economic Justice for Women
    The Family Fund’s program for women’s economic justice seeks to improve the quality of life for working women and their families by advocating for equitable employment opportunities and updated employment standards. Working at the national, state and local levels, we support research, training, public education campaigns and advocacy efforts.

Funding Source:
Rockefeller Family Fund

Funding Amount:
Unspecified

Contact:
Rockefeller Family Fund
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 900
New York, NY 10115
Phone: +1 (212) 812-4252
Fax: +1 (212) 812-4299
http://www.rffund.org/contact

More Information:
http://www.rffund.org/grants

Corporate Grant Funds

Tyson Foods is one corporation that has established a fund for community-based projects. It provides charitable investments in communities through a strategic grant process.

Eligible Recipients:
Nonprofit

Eligible Projects:

  • Hunger Relief
  • Health and Nutrition
  • Education: seeking to support K-12, post-secondary and nonprofit programs related to the education and promotion of the following fields of study: Technical or STEM-related, Agriculture, English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL)/Diversity, and Food Safety/Research.
  • Community Development
  • Environment and Sustainable Agriculture: seeking to support programs that promote healthy and productive soil, water and air through conservation and rehabilitation efforts; programs that support food system partners to reduce emissions, materials, and waste at various points across the food supply chain (farm-to-table).

Funding Source:
Tyson Foods

Funding Amount:
$25,000
Requests of $50,000 and above will be reviewed by the Tyson Foods Corporate Charitable Giving Committee.

Deadline:
April 1, 2019

Contact:
Annetta Young
Director, Corporate Philanthropy
P.O. Box 2020, CP061
Springdale, AR 72765-2020
Phone: +1 (479) 290-4813
charitablegiving@tyson.com

More Information:
https://www.tysonfoods.com/who-we-are/giving-back/corporate-giving