OPEN NOW! The 15th round of the Regional Economic Development Initiative through the Consolidated Funding Application has launched.

Helpful Links:

REDC Guidebook

REDC Available CFA Resources

REDC CFA Manual

CFA Portal

Program Summary – Prepared by Lewis County Department of Planning and Community Development

$5.9 million is available for community-based organizations to complete projects that address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks.

Eligible applicants include:

1. Tribal Organizations and not-for-profit (NFP) community-based organizations having 501(c)(3) status; or

2. Community-based organization may partner with a NFP that will serve as their fiscal sponsor.

Eligible projects must address a community’s exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks and include a new research component that will be used to expand the knowledge of the affected community.

This new grant is designed to increase organic dairy in schools, child-care centers, and other youth-based programs while supporting small and mid-sized organic dairy producers. Grant funds can be used to purchase organic dairy products for program meal services.

Eligible applicants include:

1. Licensed dairy processors

2. Distributors who primarily serve wholesale and/or institutional buyers;

3. Youth institutions including K-12 schools, colleges, afterschool programs, and summer feeding programs that are currently eligible to participate in federal child nutrition programs.  

Grants will range from $50,000 – $500,000 with no match requirement. $1,750,000 is available this round. This is the first of two times that this grant will be offered.

This grant supports Northeast dairy processors in modernizing their facilities. Funding is available for upgrading or adding specialized dairy processing or packaging equipment that is necessary for business growth and viability.  

Funding can also be used for activities like training, business planning, hiring professional consultants, marketing, or improving supply chain logistics as long as they directly support the project. Projects that involve assistance from a service provider or business planner will be more competitive.  

Grants will range from $15,000 to $250,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required. Approximately $1,000,000 in total funds are available.

This funding is designed to support flood-prone communities in implementing transformative green infrastructure projects that combat the effects of extreme weather. There is $60 million available in this round of funding. 

Informational Webinar: May 21, 2025, 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Register Here!

This funding supports municipalities and nonprofit organizations in building or renovating community centers that promote physical health, mental well-being, and community connections for youth and older adults.

NY BRICKS will offer grants to fund design, construction, renovation, and land acquisition for these centers. Priority will be given to projects in underserved communities, as well as those offering affordable services like childcare, eldercare, and mental health counseling. The program aims to make transformative, high-impact investments in local  communities.

BRICKS offers grants between $250,000 and $15 million to acquire, design, construct or reconstruct facilities, provide major renovations, improvements, and modernization or rehabilitation of community centers.

Match: 20% 

The Department invites eligible entities to apply for funds through the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Grant Program, which will allow SNAP participants to access the popular Community Supported Agriculture model by partially subsidizing the cost of weekly share purchases. The goals of this program are to:

• Support producers in New York State by allowing greater access to their products statewide;

• Allow SNAP participants in New York State the opportunity to access shares of fresh, locally grown farm food products; and

• Strengthen the bonds between the farming and SNAP communities to raise awareness of the bounty of New York farm products across the state.

Awards for this opportunity will be made on a rolling basis to eligible and to qualified applicants until funds are depleted. A total of $250,000 in funding is available through this round of Request for Applications.

Eligible Applicants Include:

• Not-For-Profit Organizations

• Indian Tribal Organizations

• Public Educational Institutions

• Local or Municipal Governments

More resources on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) here

Naturally Lewis, Inc. has announced their 2025 funding opportunities:

1. Building Business Fund,

2. Business Retention Fund,

3. Community Connections Fund,

4. Launch Lewis County,

5. Small Things, Big Impacts Fund,

6. Vacant Property Revitalization Fund.

Applications for all programs are currently open.

Please contact Kaylee Tabolt at kaylee@naturallylewis,com with any questions.

The NEA is committed to supporting excellent arts projects for the benefit of all Americans. Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. 

The EDA Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program makes approximately $1.45 billion available to support economic recovery activities in areas that received major disaster declarations because of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. President Trump and Secretary Lutnick are committed to unleashing the potential of the American economy, affording all Americans the opportunity to pursue their version of the American dream. EDA’s FY 2025 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aims to support communities recovering from major disasters and set them on a path to exceed pre-disaster conditions and transform their local economies in new and vibrant ways.

The NYS HOME-ARP Program provides resources to create and preserve high-quality affordable rental housing and non-congregate shelter for Qualifying Populations. Funding is available to non-profit organizations to increase permanent supply of housing for qualifying populations, making less than 30% of Area Median Income.

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant programs provide funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. The program funds projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas.

Local utility organizations use USDA funding to establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLF). Loans are made from the revolving loan fund to projects that will create or retain rural jobs. When the revolving loan fund is terminated, the grant is repaid to USDA.

To receive funding for a grant and/or loan an entity must be:

• Current Rural Utilities Service (RUS), electric or telecommunication borrower,

• Any former RUS borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, direct or guaranteed loan under the Rural Electrification Act,

• Or any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or direct loan under such Act.

The USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:

• Help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.

• Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

The following are eligible to be a Microenterprise Development Organization:

• Nonprofits.

• Federally-recognized tribes.

• Institutions of higher education.

The following are eligible to apply for a loan from the MDO as an ultimate recipient:

• Businesses located in an eligible area with 10 or fewer full-time employees.

Eligible Areas Include:

• Rural areas outside a city or town with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents. Urbanized areas near a city of 50,000 or more may not be eligible.

• The borrower’s headquarters may be based within a larger city so long as the project service area is located in an eligible rural area.

• The lender may be located anywhere.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Build America Bureau has announced the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program offers $54.2 million in technical assistance grants to rural and tribal communities for the planning and design phase development of transportation projects. There is no local funding match required to participate in this program.

Funds may be used to hire staff or advisors to assist with planning and design phase activities. This program has two types of grants:

• Single project grants: $200,000 to $750,000 each, and;

• Multi-community grants, composed of at least 3 eligible communities: $500,000 to $2.25 million.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) American-Made program transforms innovative ideas into real energy solutions through prizes, collegiate competitions, vouchers, and opportunities to work with its network of experts. American-Made activates innovators, entrepreneurs, and everyday Americans to help science and technology solutions go further, faster.

Browse more than 100 American-Made Challenges to find prize, competition, or voucher details—including how to join to bring bold new possibilities and energy solutions to light. 

This USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program provides funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An ‘essential community facility’ is one which provides an essential service to the local community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

Eligible borrowers include:

• Public bodies

• Community-based non-profit corporations

• Federally Recognized Tribes

Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.

ConnectALL will provide up to $5 million in total funding to deploy innovative, scalable solutions that can address gaps in wireless cellular coverage in New York State.

Eligible applicants include:

• Municipalities (including counties)

• regional planning boards

• regional economic development organizations

• Tribal governments

• municipal utilities

• internet service providers

• mobile network operators

• system integrators and/or equipment manufacturers

• Businesses with an innovative use case for connectivity

Get reimbursed for $4,000 per charging port installed at a public facility, or $2,000 per charging station installed at a workplace or multi-dwelling location.

Get reimbursed for 50% of your septic system project, up to $10,000.

The CEC program provides the tools and resources you need to take your community to the next level, with new High Impact Action items and increased access to grant funding.

The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program is designed for small cities and towns (population 2,500-30,000) provides $10,000 in funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to start the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization.

In partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, the DANC Value-Added Agriculture Program is soliciting loan requests from producers located in Jefferson, Lewis or St. Lawrence Counties that create value-added products for retail consumption. Agribusinesses are a significant and growing segment of our regional economy. The first round of applications will target maple producers in order to increase the production of syrup for sale in the marketplace.

The Program is initially funded with $200,000. Awards will be made to applicants in the form of low-interest loans to be repaid over five years. Applications will be reviewed in order of receipt and loans will be approved to the extent that funds are available.

Maximum loan: $40,000

Additional Program Details Here

Contact Matthew Siver, Project Development Specialist, for details, at msiver@danc.org, or 315-661-3200. 

DANC is soliciting loan applications from farms or small businesses with 100 or fewer employees located in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex and Hamilton counties, for projects which establish, maintain or expand an agricultural operation.

Eligible expenses include:

1. Facilities and/or markets for the production, processing, manufacture, warehousing, distribution or sale of crops, livestock or livestock products.
2. Improvements and purchase of real estate, machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures.

Funds cannot be used for construction financing but may be used as permanent financing upon completion of the construction project. Lodging and residential uses are ineligible. 

Maximum loan amount: 40% of the total project cost, or $250,000; whichever is less. 

Additional Program Details Here

Contact Michelle Capone for more details, at mcapone@danc.org, or 315-661-3200.

The Farmland Drainage Program offers low interest loans to the farming community to increase crop production yields through farmland drainage, which enhances crop yields, crop quality, and improves timely planting and harvesting conditions. 

Maximum Loan amount: $20,000, with 50% of total loan amount in cash equity required. 

Additional Program Details Here

Contact Michelle Capone for more details, at mcapone@danc.org, or 315-661-3200.