The Tribal Climate Change Guide is part of the Pacific Northwest Tribal Climate Change Project. For more information, visit: https://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/. If you would like to add to or amend information included in this guide, please complete this Google Form. If you have additions or suggestions for this website, please email kathy@uoregon.edu.

 

Funding

The Tribal Climate Change Funding Guide is intended to provide up-to-date information on grants, programs and plans that may assist tribes in addressing climate change through a broad range of sectors. We will update this guide regularly, so please check back often. If you have questions or updates for this guide, email: kathy@uoregon.edu. Please note that for entries that are accepting applications continuously, the grant deadline column will list "12/31/2024" as the grant deadline. This ensures that those grants will appear immediately after those grants with a set deadline.

Title Organization Grant Deadline Description Funding Amount Sort ascending Geography Website
Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions - FY2024-2025 National Sea Grant BIL

Most recent deadline: December 14, 2023.  The Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions funding opportunity will support the creation of coalitions and partnerships among communities, groups, and localities, especially those that have been traditionally underserved, to address marine debris prevention and removal. Brief Description: The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates approximately $3,000,000 in FY 2024 and 2025 federal funds will be available to individual Sea Grant programs in order to support approximately 10-20 Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions. Each award will be no greater than $300,000. Applications DO NOT require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects. Eligible Applicants: This competition is open to all Sea Grant programs. Please carefully review the specific instructions for the National Sea Grant IIJA Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions opportunity found on Inside Sea Grant. 

Categories: Marine Debris, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BIL, Sea Grant

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Marine Debris Challenge Competition.

Deadline Passed:: January 31, 2024. The Marine Debris Challenge Competition will support original, innovative, and transformational marine debris prevention and removal research that pushes the boundaries of existing technologies and approaches, changes the current landscape of marine debris mitigation, and ties that research to tangible outputs. Brief Description: Sea Grant anticipates approximately $16,000,000 in FY 2024 and 2025 federal funds will be available to support research to application projects that will address the prevention and/or removal of marine debris, with award periods of three years. Applications DO NOT require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. Eligible Applicants: This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies. Applicants must submit proposals in partnership with a relevant Sea Grant program. Please note that it is not a requirement that investigators, including the PI, are part of a Sea Grant program. Applicants and awardees from the FY22 National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition are eligible to apply for these funds. Please carefully review the specific instructions for the Marine Debris Challenge Competition opportunity found on the Sea Grant Funding page. Questions about the competitions may be sent to oar.sg.marine-debris@noaa.gov.

Categories: Marine Debris, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BIL, Sea Grant

National Link
FY24 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Applicant Resources

Latest Deadline: October 27, 2023. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $24 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the removal of large marine debris throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. These removal projects should focus on large marine debris, including abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear, and other debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand. Required Letter of Intent Deadline: Friday, October 27, 2023 Full Proposal Deadline: Friday, February 23, 2024*

Categories: marine debries, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

National Link
FY24 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Applicant Resources

Deadline Passed. Most Recent Deadline: November 15, 2023. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $4 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the installation of proven marine debris interception technologies, throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. Projects will focus on the installation, monitoring, and maintenance of proven marine debris interception technologies that will capture marine debris at or close to known marine debris sources or pathways. Application Deadlines: Required Letter of Intent Deadline: Wednesday, November 15, 2023 Full Proposal Deadline: Friday, March 15, 2024*

Categories: Marine Debris, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

National Link
2023 Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program

Deadline Passed. Most Recent Deadline: November 6, 2023. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act established the NSFLTP Program to provide Federal financial assistance to projects of national significance for construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of transportation facilities within, adjacent to, or providing access to Federal or Tribal lands. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021, “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” or “BIL”) modified the program in several ways, including providing $55 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund, as well as authorizing up to an additional $300 million per year from the General Fund, for each of FYs 2022 through 2026. The BIL also reduced minimum project sizes from $25 million to $12.5 million, directed 50 percent of the funds towards Tribal transportation facilities, increased the Federal share of projects on Tribal transportation facilities to 100 percent and required funding of at least one eligible project submitted by the National Park Service for a unit of the National Park System with 3,000,000 annual visitors or more.

Categories: Transportation, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BIL

National Link
Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities

Most Recent Deadline: December 19, 2023. $45 million in funding is available for projects that will advance the coastal habitat restoration and climate resilience priorities of tribes and underserved communities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Through this funding, NOAA will help support community-driven habitat restoration and build the capacity of tribes and underserved communities to more fully participate in restoration activities. Of the $45 million in funding available, $20 million is specifically available to U.S. federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and organizations that represent tribes through formal legal agreements, through direct awards or subawards: A direct award is an award where the tribe is the applicant, receives an award from NOAA, and administers the award. A subaward to a tribe is an award where a non-tribal applicant receives a direct award from NOAA, but provides a specific amount of funding to a tribe to carry out a portion of the award. The remaining $25 million will be available to all eligible applicants, to support opportunities for tribes and underserved communities to meaningfully engage in coastal habitat restoration activities.

Categories: coastal habitat, NOAA, IRA, BIL, Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Act

National Link
Evidence for Action: Indigenous-Led Solutions to Advance Health Equity and Wellbeing Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Most Recent Deadline: March 1, 2024. The purpose of this call for proposals (CFP) is to support Indigenous-led systematic inquiry to enhance the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples and generate approaches to improve health equity. This will be achieved by funding community-prioritized investigation, elevating and integrating Indigenous cultures and knowledge-building practices. To support a diverse range of projects tailored to different phases of development and scope, awards will be made through two tracks, as described later in this solicitation. Preference will be given to applicant organizations that are Tribal entities (including those that are state recognized, federally recognized, or have no formal recognition status) or Indigenous-Serving Organizations, including Urban Indian Organizations. Track 1: Initiating and Developing Research Capacity and InfrastructureThere is not an explicit budget cap for awards funded under this track, but we expect that grants will be in the approximate range of $100,000–$400,000 total. We anticipate much of the grant duration to involve relationship-building, trust development, and community feedback processes. Proposals must demonstrate a clear plan for ongoing and sustained collaboration and continued work with newly engaged partners.Track 2: Supporting Later-Stage, Sustained Research Efforts  There is not an explicit budget cap for awards funded under this track, but we expect grants will be in the range of approximately $500,000–$750,000 total. We expect project teams to demonstrate established, equitable partnerships with Indigenous communities who can begin testing a solution or strategy as part of their project.  

National Link
Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund US Department of Transportation

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: January 15, 2024. Transportation fatalities and injuries severely impact the quality of life in Indian country. Each year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), as enacted by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), 4% of the available TTP funds are set aside to address transportation safety issues identified by federally recognized Indian tribes through a competitive, discretionary program. Projects are chosen whose outcomes will reduce fatal and serious injuries in transportation related incidents, such as motor vehicle crashes.

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Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: January 23, 2024. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) is a $3 billion program, from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to support Tribal governments bringing high-speed Internet to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and digital inclusion initiatives. The program seeks to improve quality of life, spur economic development, and create opportunities for remote employment, online entrepreneurship, remote learning, and telehealth by expanding broadband access and by providing digital training and inclusion programs to Native American communities. This second round of funding from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program will make approximately $980 million available on Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian lands for deployment of Internet infrastructure, affordability programs, telehealth and distance learning initiatives.

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Native American Direct Loan US Department of Veterans Affairs 12/31/2024

Rolling deadline. If you’re a Veteran, and either you or your spouse is Native American, our Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program may help you get a loan to buy, build, or improve a home on federal trust land. You may also get a loan to refinance an existing NADL and reduce your interest rate. Find out if you qualify for an NADL—and how to apply. An NADL offers many benefits, including:

No down payment required in most cases.
No need for private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is commonly charged to conventional loan borrowers.
Limited closing costs (fees you pay for services and other costs related to getting a loan and buying a home).
A low-interest, 30-year fixed mortgage (a fixed mortgage means your interest rate will stay the same over the full life of the loan). The current VA interest rate for NADLs starts at 2.5%. To find out what your interest rate will be, contact an NADL coordinator by email at NADL@va.gov or by phone at 888-349-7541 (TTY: 711). We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
A reusable benefit, which means you can get more than one NADL to buy, build, or improve another residence in the future.
The ability to refinance a current NADL for a lower interest rate.
The ability to borrow up to the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac conforming loan limit on a no-down-payment loan in most areas—and more in some high-cost counties. You can borrow more than this amount if you want to make a down payment.

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Community Change Equitable Resilience Technical Assistance Environmental Protection Agency 11/21/2024

This technical assistance program is in conjunction with the EPA Community Change grants. To apply, visit: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/09501b3dad374a81a5ee857fc31648ce. The Community Change Grant Equitable Resilience technical assistance will provide free design and project development assistance, community engagement, and partnership development workshops that support climate resilience and environmental justice activities in disaster-prone areas. This program will help eligible entities develop applications for to be submitted for grants under the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) Community Change Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which is expected to be issued in the fall of 2023. Community Change Grants will invest approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds for environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to respond to environmental and climate justice challenges. Eligible projects for this technical assistance must be located in a disaster-prone area and benefit a disadvantaged community.

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Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Inflation Reduction Act) Environmental Protection Agency 11/21/2024

Deadline: November 21, 2024. Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program. EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

National Link
Marine Energy University Foundational R&D.

Most recent Deadline: February 20, 2024. Marine Energy University Foundational R&D. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) has released a $14.5 million funding opportunity for pioneering research in marine and ocean renewable energy at U.S. colleges and universities. The funding opportunity will fund projects across four topic areas, which includes up to $1.5 million for projects that advance potential synergies between offshore wind and/or marine energy and aquaculture development (topic area descriptions from the solicitation are copied below). We would appreciate your helping sharing this announcement with relevant contacts and network. We’ve also shared this with NOAA Office of Aquaculture. For more information and the link to apply: Funding Notice: Marine Energy University Foundational R&D | Department of Energy. Concept papers are due by 5 p.m. ET on February 20th, 2024 and are required to be eligible to submit a full application. https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/funding-notice-marine-energy-universi…

National Link
National Sea Grant Law Center Coastal Resilience RFP

National Sea Grant Law Center Coastal Resilience RFP. Letters of Intent due: March 8, 2024. The National Sea Grant Law Center is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications from eligible applicants to conduct research on the effectiveness of laws and policies related to a wide range of coastal resilience issues including sea level rise, flooding, amplified storm surge, increased frequency and intensity of storms, land use, or other environmental factors, and whether those policies are achieving desired policy changes. The 2024 Coastal Resilience Program grants have a recommended funding level of $75,000, and the Law Center anticipates selecting up to two projects for funding. Matching funds will not be required. Please see the attached RFP for more detail. The RFP is also available on our Funding Opportunities webpage. General questions about the Coastal Resilience Program and the scope of projects considered should be directed to Stephanie Otts, Director of the National Sea Grant Law Center, via email, sshowalt@olemiss.edu, or phone, (662) 915-7714. General questions about the application process should be directed to Lauren Fremin, Project Coordinator for the National Sea Grant Law Center, via email, lrfremin@olemiss.edu. For more information, visit: https://nsglc.olemiss.edu/funding/.

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CRESCENT Seed Grant Program Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: February 1, 2024. We are delighted to announce the CRESCENT Seed Grant Program and request proposals for funding. Any researchers in the US that are part of an institution or organization that is eligible for regular National Science Foundation funding are invited to apply. The CRESCENT Seed Grant Program has the dual goals of broadening community participation and increasing the breadth of scientific investigations related to the center’s scientific goals. Achieving these goals relies, in part, on inviting the community to participate in addressing top priorities and key challenges identified through three major pillars: i) science, ii) geoscience education and inclusion, and iii) partnerships and applications. Proposals that respond to one or more of the priorities in each of these pillars as outlined in the Request for Proposals will be considered for funding. Please visit our website to review the request for proposals and to apply.

Community Water Justice Awards The Joint Futures Initiative

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: February 1, 2024. The Joint Futures Initiative is thrilled to announce the first-ever call for Community Water Justice Awards funded by a state budget allocation. Apply now! Awards up to $50,000.00. For questions, please contact Dr. Alai Reyes-Santos at alai@uoregon.edu. For more information, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMKE7Rw9udzBuDQyDR6Z3y47AoGy0….

Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program Funding California Strategic Growth Council

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: February 5, 2024. California Strategic Growth Council has released the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and Application for SGC’s newest grant program, the Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program. The pilot program provides funding and technical assistance to California Native American tribes to build staff capacity to advance tribes’ climate-related work. Eligible applicants include California Native American tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) Contact List, including federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes. A non-federally recognized tribe is eligible to apply if they are registered as a nonprofit, a for-profit corporation, or a limited liability company. SGC will award between $150,000 and $250,000 to each tribe selected for the pilot two-year grant term.  Please feel free to reach out to the CACE team directly at CACE@sgc.ca.gov with questions and/or concerns.

Tribal Cultural Affairs Program Grant Funding Opportunity for Washington Federally Recognized Tribes.

Most Recent Deadline: February 29, 2024. In 2023, the Washington State Legislature allocated funding to ArtsWA (Washington State Arts Commission) to bolster arts and culture in Washington Tribal Communities. This funding can be utilized for a wide range of artistic and cultural endeavors. For instance, it can be used to enhance cultural teachings within a community, support the artistic practices of community members, procure necessary supplies, promote creative entrepreneurial opportunities for tribal individuals or groups within the creative economy, and support other arts or cultural initiatives suitable for each particular community. Each Tribe has the opportunity to submit one application, which can cover multiple projects if needed. For this cycle, the maximum funding amount per application is $18,000. The application provides space for each Tribe to indicate any additional funding requests. These requests will be evaluated if further funding becomes available or if some Tribes do not apply. Any funding that remains unrequested by the closing date will be reallocated as additional funding to those who have applied, amending their original funding. Comments and questions? Please contact Cheryl Wilcox, Tribal Cultural Affairs Manager, via email at cheryl.wilcox@arts.wa.gov. For more information, visit:

Categories: Washington State, Culture, cultural initiatives, art

Washington Link
Coastal Nature-Based Solutions - Small Grants Program Coastal Quest

Deadline to apply: April 16, 2024. Coastal Quest provides technical assistance, offers small grants, delivers webinars and virtual learning opportunities. Our goal is to work with our partners to accelerate the development and implementation of their coastal natural solutions to build resilient coasts and communities.

Categories: Climate mitigation, adaptation, Biodiversity protection, Clean water, Increased access to nature, public health, Livelihoods, strong economies, Food security, food sovereignty
Cultural resources

Pacific Northwest Link
2023 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Funding Opportunity Federal Emergency Management Agency 1/15/2025

Deadline for Applications, January 15, 2025. The Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current (Swift Current) effort provides funding to mitigate buildings insured through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) after a major disaster declaration following a flood-related disaster event to reduce risk against future flood damage. Structures that are considered substantially flood-damaged during and after a flood event are eligible for Swift Current. Once a disaster declaration is issued, the local community can submit a project for consideration. 

Categories: flood, flood mitigation assistance, disaster, emergency management

National Link
Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet (CHIRRP) National Science Foundation

Most Recent Deadline: June 1, 2024. The Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet Program (CHIRRP) invites projects focusing on innovative and transformative research that advances Earth system hazard knowledge and risk mitigation in partnership with affected communities. Hazards compounded by changing climates, rising populations, expanding demands for resources, aging infrastructure, and increasing reliance on technology are putting our economy, well-being, and national security at risk.

CHIRRP projects will demonstrate convergence of three essential elements: (1) Equitable Community Partnerships; (2) an Earth System Science approach to advance knowledge of hazards, impacts, and risks and (3) Actionable Solutions that increase resilience.

Categories: Earth system hazards, risk mitigation

National Link
SeaDoc Society 2024 Call for Grant Proposals Washington Sea Grant

SeaDoc Society 2024 Call for Grant Proposals. Most Recent Deadline: May 15, 2024. Open Call for Tribal and First Nations Grants (SeaDoc Society) The SeaDoc Society anticipates funding $100,000 for Tribal and First Nations projects. This application is only for Tribal- and First Nation- and Indigenous-led projects. Funding for individual projects will be limited to $50,000. The SeaDoc Society is pleased to launch our annual competitive grants program with the goal of supporting science where more information is needed and expected to directly improve the health of the Salish Sea. Thanks to private donors, we plan to fund a minimum of $250,000 in projects for 2024 with funding for individual projects limited to $50,000. We anticipate awarding two Tribal, First Nations, or indigenous-led projects and three or more through our Open Call for proposals.

Our goal is to support science that results in positive conservation outcomes for pressing environmental issues facing the Salish Sea. Analysis of past SeaDoc-funded work showed that successful projects that (1) defined the conservation need a priori, (2) collaborated with personnel from government agencies, and (3) where researchers built and maintained relationships with natural resource managers and policy makers before, during and after the research. Accordingly, we plan to fund projects where more science will benefit conservation and where investigators can demonstrate plans for including these three components.

Categories: Salish Sea, conservation, environmental issues

Pacific Northwest Link
Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center - FY 2025 Research Grants Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Most Recent Deadline: May 23, 2024. Fiscal Year 2025 Project Solicitation: Now Accepting Proposals. The NW CASC invites Statements of Interest for our Federal Fiscal Year 2025 research portfolio, for which we are seeking projects that focus on developing knowledge and resources to address 1) the effectiveness of management or adaptation strategies, 2) climate adaptation strategies for estuaries and coastal ecosystems and 3) management and climate adaptation strategies for sagebrush and juniper ecosystems, with a focus on the Great Basin. Proposals developed in response to this project solicitation should focus on developing scientific information and products that can be directly applied to specific management challenges, either locally or broadly across landscapes in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and western Montana. For more information and to apply, visit: https://app.smartsheetgov.com/b/publish?EQBCT=cda7be78c3a348a582c88258a81e0b75

Categories: climate adaptation, coastal ecosystems, estuaries, sagebrush, juniper

Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana Link
Indian Energy Purchase Preference Inquiries

Solicitation Opens for Tribes to Sell Clean Energy Credits to Federal Agencies under Indian Energy Purchase Preference. Most Recent Deadline: May 20, 2024. The GSA has opened a solicitation for 47,500 MWh of clean energy credits from Tribes in a move that both boosts opportunity for Tribal energy businesses and advances federal clean energy goals of running on 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030 (E.O. 14057). The solicitation has the potential to lead to the first ever procurement under the Indian Energy Purchase Preference. 

  • The solicitation is for Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), which include Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), and allow for the clean attributes of energy production to be purchased without having a direct connection to the energy source. One EAC is equivalent to 1 MWh of clean energy production.
  • Tribal-majority-owned energy businesses with carbon pollution-free electricity, or who compile carbon pollution-free electricity from other sources are eligible to compete in the solicitation.
  • EACs must have been generated between April 1, 2023, and Dec. 1, 2024, from generation sources that were put in service on or after Oct. 1, 2021. The EACs will be procured independently from physical power produced by Tribal sources.
  • The solicitation deadline is May 20, 2024. It is available athttps://sam.gov/opp/d2585e6204de4d42b6c3ba6663b2b7ba/view
  • WHCNAA, GSA, DOE, and DOD committed to implement the Indian Energy Purchase Preference at the 2022 Tribal Nations Summit and in 2023 DOE Secretary Granholm re-emphasized the need to implement the whole preference, which allows for buying energy byproducts such as EACs.
  • DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program and the Office of Indian Energy have been raising awareness on processes to sell EACs to the federal government, with office hours: Thursday May 9, 2024 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM: Register Here

For inquiries about selling power to federal entities under the IEPP, see the Office of Indian Energy’s pag

Categories: clean energy credits

National Link
Tribal Climate Resilience Program Grants in Washington Washington State Department of Commerce

Most Recent Deadline: June 7, 2024. The Washington State Department of Commerce has consulted with tribes within Washington state to co-design a strategy for the distribution of $50 million of Climate Commitment Act (CCA) dollars that the Washington Legislature appropriated for tribal climate resilience in the 2023-2025 biennium. https://www.commerce.wa.gov/program-index/tribal-climate-resilience-program-grants/

Categories: Resilience, Climate Committment Act

Washington state Link
WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2024 DOI Bureau of Reclamation 11/13/2024

This Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of renewable energy; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States. 

Categories: energy efficiency; renewable energy

National Link
WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects 2024 DOI Bureau of Reclamation 3/11/2025

The United States Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of DOI’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. This Environmental Water Resources Projects NOFO provides funding for water conservation and efficiency projects, water management and infrastructure improvements, and river and watershed restoration projects and nature-based solutions that provide significant ecological benefits, have been developed as part of a collaborative process, and help carry out an established strategy to increase the reliability of water resources.Reclamation’s WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects provide support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and is aligned with other priorities such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The Environmental Water Resources Projects also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resiliency Partnership.11 For more information, see E.O. 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (January 27, 2023), https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tacklin…; Justice40 Initiative, https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/; Addendum to the Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice 40 Initiative, M-21-28, on using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), M-23-09, (January 27, 2023), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CE….

Categories: water supply, nature-based solutions, drought

National Link
WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects For Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 DOI Bureau of Reclamation 1/14/2025

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. WaterSMART provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (E.O. 14008) and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (E.O. 13985). The WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resiliency Partnership. These grants will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Established by E.O. 14008, the Justice40 Initiative has it made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Federal agencies are using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to help identify disadvantaged communities. The objective of this NOFO is to invite States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on small-scale on-the-ground projects that seek to conserve, better manage, or otherwise make more efficient use of water supplies. Proposed projects that are supported by an existing water management and conservation plan, System Optimization Review, or other planning effort led by the applicant are prioritized. This prioritization will help ensure that projects funded under this NOFO are well thought out, have public support, and have been identified as the best way to address water management concerns. Reclamation has simplified the evaluation criteria and streamlined the application process for this category of WaterSMART Grants to ensure that the process works for smaller entities. Simplified evaluation criteria are intended to provide each applicant with an opportunity to succinctly explain how the proposed project would meet a defined need identified through a prior planning effort

Categories: water management, water efficiency

National Link
Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grants 9/5/2028

Applications Due: September 5, 2024. Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance grants support projects that remove hazardous fuels from national forests and grasslands to a location where the materials may be used for various wood products and services. This program contributes to the Wildfire Crisis Strategy implementation by removing hazardous fuels from forests and supports local forest product facilities and rural economies. The forest products industry and infrastructure are key are partners to maintain forest health and resilience while reducing wildfire risk. Successful forest restoration and implementation of the 10-year Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy are dependent on a robust forest products industry. The Forest Service is partnering with industry to discover creative solutions and explore new markets. For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/forest-management/products/hazardous-fuels-transport-assist-grants. Detailed information about the application process, selection criteria and eligible expenses can be found in the Forest Service Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Program Notice of Funding Opportunity and Frequently Asked Questions Public webinars will be hosted in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation. 

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Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program 11/14/2024

The Agricultural Risk Protection Act (ARPA) of 2000, Public Law 106-224 authorized the Secretary of USDA, acting through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, herein referred to as NIFA, to carry out the program Partnerships for Risk Management Education. Under this authority NIFA partners with four regional Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Centers to carry out a national competitive grants program in Risk Management Education to educate agricultural producers about the full range of risk management activities. Community-based organizations, higher education institutions and eligible tribal entities can play a critical role with training that provides decision tools, practices and other risk management strategies that producers can adopt to improve their economic viability.

Categories: agricultural, crops, risk management

National Link