USDA Rural Development Funding Opportunity - Deadline June 30th

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a new Rural Development funding opportunity. The purpose of the Strategic Economic and Community Development is to advance projects which support long-term community and economic growth strategies that reflect both multi-jurisdictional stakeholder collaboration and capitalize upon the unique strengths of the rural area. SECD prioritizes projects that support the implementation of multi-jurisdictional plans by setting aside up to 10 percent of annual appropriations for these purposes under the Community Facilities Program, Water and Waste Disposal Program, Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, and Rural Business Development Grant Program. In FY 2016, SECD set-asides total over $300 million and they must be obligated by June 30^th.  For more information click on: Strategic Economic and Community Development or contact the appropriate person listed on the attached Community Economic Development USDA Rural Development contact list.

HUD FY2016 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants Deadline - June 28, 2016

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  is soliciting applications for the FY2016 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants program.

The maximum grant award is $30 million. The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants support the implementation of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans that are expected to achieve the following three core goals:

1. Housing: Replace distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood;
2. People: Improve educational outcomes and intergenerational mobility for youth with services and supports delivered directly to youth and their families; and
3. Neighborhood: Create the conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods to offer the kinds of amenities and assets, including safety, good schools.

Deadline: Applications are due on June 28, 2016. Read the NOFA.  More information is available on HUD’s website.

FY17 EPA Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grant Competition: Get started early on preparing your proposal!

EPA anticipates that the next Brownfield Area-Wide Planning (BF AWP) grant competition will open later this spring. The Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released via www.grants.gov. Recognizing that some applicants find it difficult to prepare a BF AWP grant proposal within the typical amount of time (60 days) that the RFP allows until proposals are due, EPA is sharing information on how applicants can get started early on proposal preparation and the www.grants.gov submission process.

There are several activities that applicants can work on now, in advance of the RFP being made publicly available, that will support both proposal development and the www.grants.gov proposal submission. Please review both documents below. EPA hopes this information will help applicants prepare a thorough, well-organized, and timely proposal submission.

• Getting Started Early - Preparing your FY17 BF AWP Grant Proposal in advance of the RFP
• Tips for submitting FY17 BF AWP Proposals through www.grants.gov

#Brownfield Webinar - Tues., Nov 17 at 1PM EST

#Brownfields Webinar – Tuesday November 17 Tips for Successful Brownfields Grant Proposals Tuesday November 17, 1:00 – 2:15pm eastern time Registration is FREE: 1. Go to: https://njit.webex.com/njit/onstage/g.php?MTID=e2e37db72ee3c06870eec1571c193997e 2. Click "Register". 3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click "Submit". Learn key tricks of the trade as you prepare your FY 2016 grant applications. Hosted by NALGEP, the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR), the KSU Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities Program, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the webinar will focus on: How to maximize proposal points and avoid common mistakes while preparing your application;  What’s new with the FY 2016 grant guidelines;  The importance of building community support for your application;  Special tips for disadvantaged and small/rural communities;  And much more! Register  for the webinar today!