Grants and Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program is a flexible, formula grant program to advance energy efficiency and conservation and reduce emissions. Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Villages & Corporations are eligible for non-competitive grants that can be used to advance community goals (e.g., weatherization, building upgrades, energy planning, and clean transportation). The deadline to apply is May 31, 2025.

• Apply

DOE will host a webinar to discuss this funding opportunity on September 25.

• Register

The next round of EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR)grants for Tribes and Tribal Consortia will provide approximately $20 million in awards ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million each. Tribes and Intertribal consortia are eligible to apply. SWIFR will assist local waste management authorities by supporting improvements to local post-consumer materials management, including municipal recycling programs, and assisting local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. The SWIFR grant program provides a critical opportunity to fund a wide range of projects to increase recycling, reduce contamination, and promote a circular economy for materials by investing in solid waste management infrastructure.

• Apply

EPA will host two webinars to discuss this funding opportunity: one on October 16 and one on October 29.

• Register

The Northwest Environmental Justice Center has created an up-to-date library of funding opportunities for communities across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

• View the table of funding opportunities, which can be sorted by funding type and state.

The Department of Energy’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program will provide non-competitive funds to Tribes to provide energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades to low- and middle-income households, including $4.5 billion in rebates for high-efficiency electricity upgrades in homes across the nation. Allocations for OR, WA, ID and AK Tribes include:

• $20 million total between OR, ID, and WA Tribes (between $155,549 and $1.407 million per Tribe)
• $50 million for Alaska Native Villages, Native Corporations and Regional Corporations (between $84,442 and $3 million per Tribe)

Tribes may conduct the work, or a third-party implementer can conduct the work on behalf of a Tribe’s HEAR program. Tribes may also form a Consortium with other Tribes to apply for the combined allocated funds as a single entity.

• View the fact sheet

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) offers two types of assistance through its Planning Assistance Program: technical assistance and comprehensive plans. Topics include flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and navigation, as well as water supply and water resilience. Tribes are eligible to apply; regional coalitions of governmental entities may also partner with USACE to develop water resources comprehensive plans. Detailed design, specification, and construction are not included.

Examples of past studies and activities completed under PAS include:

• Watershed planning
• Flood risk management
• Surface and groundwater quality
• Stormwater management
• Coastal resiliency
• Environmental Conservation and Restoration
• Water supply and demand
• Wetland delineations
• Stream assessments
• GIS mapping

Projects are cost shared with the study partner (50% federal funding and 50% non-federal funding). The non-federal cost share for preparing a water resources Comprehensive Plan may be provided either by direct funds or by in-kind support; the cost share for technical assistance must be provided in funds by the project partner. A cost-share waiver is available for eligible communities that meet the definition of economically disadvantaged communities.

Requests for assistance must be in the form of a letter that includes the location and problem to be investigated. To apply, submit a letter to your local USACE district:

• Alaska
• Pacific Northwest

On August 16, EPA obligated $27 billion in grants to Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund recipients under three competitions: the National Clean Investment Fund, Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, and Solar for All. Together, the programs will create a national financing network for clean energy and climate solutions. With funds now in hand, recipients can begin delivering financing for clean technology projects in communities across the country. Solar for All recipients will invest 100% of program funds in low-income and disadvantaged communities. National Clean Investment Fund and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator recipients will dedicate over $14 billion of program funds toward low-income and disadvantaged communities — including over $4 billion for rural communities and almost $1.5 billion for Tribal communities.

The new Clean Bus Planning Awards (CPBA) program from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) offers technical assistance to create action plans for transit agencies and school districts to get their electric fleets rolling. CBPA also offers deployment assistance for participating fleets, making it easier to transition from planning to implementation. The program connects transit and school bus fleets with technical experts to support planning for bus electrification. Fleets also have the option to receive free deployment assistance from NREL at the completion of their plan.  There is no specific deadline to apply.

• Apply

Funding: Up to $15,000 per award, available 2022-2026

Details: These grants can be used to produce Pest Management Strategic Plans, Crop Profiles or other IPM-related plans. Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.

Deadline: None

More information here.