Grant and Funding Opportunities

The purpose of the Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Grant Program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by assisting states, Native American Tribes, cities, counties/parishes, or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing, which must be target housing. In addition, there is Healthy Homes Supplemental funding available that is intended to enhance the lead-based paint hazard control activities by comprehensively identifying and addressing other housing hazards that affect occupant health in homes with lead-based paint hazards being treated under the grant.

Eligible applicants may include:

• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments

Award Ceiling: $7,850,000

Deadline: August 31, 2026.

Contact: Damian Slaughter, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, email: damian.l.slaughter@hud.gov

See more at: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362367

The Ohio History Fund was created to support the preservation and sharing of Ohio's heritage by funding local, regional, and statewide projects, programs, and events related to the broad sweep of the state's history and pre-history. The Ohio History Fund is a competitive matching grants program that is crowd-funded and made possible through voluntary contributions from people like you! Eligible projects fall into one of three grant categories: Bricks & Mortar, Organizational Development, and Programs & Collections. History Fund grants are competitive and require matching funds, goods, and/or services from recipients.

• Organizational Development grants focus on building capacity: providing the training and materials to help historical societies and like organizations help themselves. Grants in this category can include, but are not limited to: training for board and staff, professional assistance with organizational issues, improving governance structures, volunteer or membership program development, and assessments or strategic plans (including paid facilitators/consultants). Applications must explain the issue(s) faced by the organization and how the grant will address the issue(s). Solutions must align to the issues identified.
• Programs & Collections encompasses a variety of projects that further the study, recordation, interpretation, publication and dissemination of historical information, engagement of communities in history, or preservation of historical collections and archives. Projects funded under this broad category can include, but are not limited to, public programs, exhibits, care and management of archival materials and artifacts, digitization of collections, oral history, archeological/architectural/historical surveys, archaeological field work, nominations of historic buildings and sites to the National Register of Historic Places, preparation of historic preservation plans or feasibility studies, mobile or online applications, walking tours, and events.
• Bricks & Mortar projects can involve:
  • Rehabilitation, restoration, protection, or acquisition of historic properties and archaeological sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated by a local historic preservation ordinances (usually as a Certified Local Government).
  • Building work or construction directly related to the preservation of historical or archival collections regardless of the building's historic status. If an extant building is in the National Register, any addition "shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property."

Eligible applicants may include:

• Public entities in Ohio, such as units of local government, public libraries, and educational institutions.
• Ohio-based, nonprofit organizations in good standing, as defined by the Ohio Secretary of State's Office. Non-profit organizations registered in Ohio and public entities, including, but not limited to,
  • local historical societies and museums,
  • public libraries,
  • genealogical societies,
  • university archives and special collections,
  • historic preservation groups,
  • archaeological societies,
  • county records management offices,
  • and township governments,
  • incorporated "friends" groups of any of the above

Award Ceiling: $20,000

Award Floor: $1,000

Deadline: September 8, 2026

Contact: Andy Verhoff, Ohio History Fund & Outreach Manager, Local History Office Ohio History Connection; email averhoff@ohiohistory.org; phone: (614) 297-2341

See more at: https://www.ohiohistory.org/preserving-ohio/ohio-history-fund-grant/apply-for-a-grant/

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $589 million in competitive grants under the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program) for the purchase or lease of low-emission and zero-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities such as recharging, refueling, and maintenance facilities. In FY 2025, the program received applications for 179 eligible projects requesting a total of $3.1 billion. 103 projects were funded to 103 recipients totaling $1.6 billion. Award sizes ranged from $256,281 to $121,125,000.

Eligible applicants may include:

• County governments
• City or township governments
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• State governments

Deadline: September 21, 2026.

Contact: Kirsten Wiard-Bauer, Office of Program Management, email: FTALowNoBusNOFO@dot.gov;

See more at: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/ce5bd4c5-9911-4f2c-ba1b-15dfd9337d55

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) U.S. Standard grants are competitive, matching grants that support public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the U.S. that involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. The U.S. Standard program's goal is to promote partnerships between public agencies and groups interested in protecting, enhancing, and restoring an appropriate distribution and variety of wetland ecosystems and other habitats for wetlands-associated migratory birds and other fish and wildlife in North America; maintaining and improving the current distributions of wetlands-associated migratory bird populations; and maintaining an abundance of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and other populations of wetlands- associated migratory birds consistent with the objectives of the North American Page 4 of 10 Waterfowl Management Plan, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan, and other international obligations contained in the treaties and migratory bird conventions and other agreements within North America. A 1 to 1 match to grant ratio is a requirement.

Eligible applicants may include:

• Small businesses
• County governments
• City or township governments
• State governments
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• Other Native American tribal organizations
• Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
• Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)

Award Ceiling: $3,000,000

Deadline: September 25, 2026.

Contact: DBHC Office; email: DBHC@fws.gov;

See more at: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/e83aae66-837e-47e0-98f5-7a15dd60ba6c

ODOT is hosting a special solicitation for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient, and accessible transportation option for all Ohioans. A variety of pedestrian and bicycle related projects are eligible for this opportunity with an emphasis on projects that can begin construction before July 2026.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is hosting a special solicitation for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient, and accessible transportation option for all Ohioans. A variety of pedestrian and bicycle related projects are eligible for this special solicitation, including:

• Plans and Studies - the development of pedestrian and/or bicycle related plans or studies at the state, regional, local, or corridor level.
• Data Collection - the collection of data related to walking and biking.
• Education and Promotion - activities that educate on bicycle and walking matters and those which promote walking, biking, and transit as a transportation option.
• Short Term Infrastructure Projects - engineering, design, and/or construction of pedestrian and bicycle projects that can begin construction by June 30, 2026.
• Traditional Infrastructure Projects - engineering, design, and/or construction of standalone pedestrian and bicycle projects of statewide significance.

Eligible applicants include:

• political subdivisions (i.e. city, village, township, county, school district, health district, park district, etc.),
• regional planning organizations, and
• other non-profit agencies with support from a political subdivision

Award Ceiling: Cost should be commensurate to the potential impact. Projects for over $3M are highly unlikely to be fully funded through this solicitation.

Deadline: Electronic applications can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed and awarded quarterly (January, April, July, and October) based on funding availability.

Contact: Caitlin Harley, Safe Routes to School & Active Transportation Program Manager, phone: 614-466-3049, email: Caitlin.Harley@dot.ohio.gov

See more at: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/traveling/bicycling-and-pedestrians/Resources/pedbikefunding

The Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program will award approximately $250 million to provide safe, reliable drinking water in areas that lack infrastructure, bring sewage treatment capacity to unsewered areas, and develop regional infrastructure to serve multiple communities. This presentation offers more information.

Water and wastewater construction projects are eligible for up to $5 million in grant funding, and infrastructure engineering design projects are eligible for up to $250,000.

Examples of water infrastructure construction projects include, but are not limited to:

• Sewer/wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion
• New/replacement sanitary sewer lines
• Excess sanitary sewer infiltration/inflow correction
• Improvements to public drinking water treatment facilities
• Drinking water line improvements or extensions
• Repair, replacement, and construction of drinking water storage towers

Deadline: Ongoing

Contact: Matt Lindsay at mlindsay@mvrpc.org to discuss potential projects in your community.

See more at: https://businesshelp.ohio.gov/pdf/07302021-Water-and-Wastewater-Infrastructure-Grant.pdf

Through its Planning and Local Technical Assistance programs, EDA assists eligible recipients in developing economic development plans and studies designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. The Planning program helps support organizations, including District Organizations, Indian Tribes, and other eligible recipients, with Short Term and State Planning investments designed to guide the eventual creation and retention of high-quality jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nation's most economically distressed regions. As part of this program, EDA supports Partnership Planning investments to facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which articulate and prioritize the strategic economic goals of recipients' respective regions. The Local Technical Assistance program strengthens the capacity of local or State organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible recipients to undertake and promote effective economic development programs through projects such as feasibility studies and impact analyses.

Please see the Federal Funding Opportunity for full information on how to apply. Also note that any applicants who are in the process of developing an application under the previous FFO will need to apply under the new FFO and use the associated new forms.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received. This Planning and Local Technical Assistance opportunity will remain in effect until superseded by a future announcement.

Contact: Ellen Heinz, State of Ohio Economic Development Representative, (312)505-4953, eheinz@eda.gov

See more at:
https://www.eda.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/fiscal-year-2021-2023-eda-planning-and-local-technical-assistance
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=280447