Show Me The Money!
Traffic Safety Grants: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now accepting applications for the Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grants towards reducing roadway deaths and serious injuries. Townships are eligible to apply through January 17, 2025.
Eligible projects will implement evidence-based countermeasures, support a Safe System approach, and perform research to address traffic fatalities and serious injuries, and disparities in mobility safety and access. Past awarded projects include bike lanes, crosswalk enhancements, outreach and training programs on traffic violence, and virtual reality projects to simulate driving winter roadway conditions. For more information visit the Road to Zero grant page. Questions can be directed to RoadToZero@nsc.org.
U.S. DOT RAISE Grants: USDOT has announced the FY2025 funding round of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. This program is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for transportation infrastructure projects that improve safety, environmental sustainability, mobility, and community connectivity.
Townships are eligible to apply through January 30, 2025 for capital and planning projects, including:
- highway, bridge, or other road projects
- public transportation
- port infrastructure investments
- intermodal projects
- projects to replace or rehabilitate a culvert or prevent stormwater runoff to improve habitats for aquatic species
- planning, preparation, design, and other pre-construction activities
More information, including webinar recordings and frequently asked questions, are available on the RAISE grant page. Questions can be directed to RAISEgrants@dot.gov.
2024 Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants: The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) has up to $6 million in funding available under the Consumptive Use Mitigation Grant Program. Townships and municipal authorities are eligible to apply through January 31, 2025.
The 2024 grant program is aimed at projects focused on reducing or offsetting CU and improving the sustainability of both streamflows and groundwater during critical low flow periods including: Water storage and release projects; Projects that modify operations to increase drought resilience or improve environmental flows; Demand modification projects; and Environmental and water quality improvement projects. A minimum 20% cash match is required.
SRBC will host an informational webinar on November 20 to provide an overview of the grant program, demonstrate the online grant application, and answer questions. To register and for full details on the grant, please visit the SRBC website.
DEP Energy Savings Program: DEP has opened the Shared Energy Manager Program for 2025. This program helps municipalities hire experts from an engineering services firm to evaluate and assist with implementation of energy savings, sustainability/resiliency, and renewable energy installation projects. This program helped local governments identify over $2.8 million in annual energy savings last year. Townships are eligible to apply for the 2025 cohort through January 31, 2025.
Program services are tailored to each municipality’s needs and goals. Examples of specific technical assistance include: Energy Benchmarking; Renewable Energy Feasibility Evaluation; Audits & energy conservation recommendation for municipal buildings, streetlights, traffic lights, and wastewater treatment facilities. For more information, visit the application form. Questions can be directed to Chris Nafe at chnafe@pa.gov.
Broadband Development Grants: The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) launched its first round of applications for $1.16 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants to provide high-speed broadband to unserved and underserved Pennsylvanians. Applications are open until February 7, 2025.
Eligible applicants include local governments, utilities, internet service providers, and public-private partnerships. A 25% match is required and applicants are encouraged to collaborate with local governments for additional points. BEAD projects include high-speed broadband infrastructure, software upgrades, planning, and more. BEAD projects must serve eligible Broadband Service Locations (BSLs) identified on the PBDA’s map.
To learn more about this program, what your township can do to work with applicants, and what to expect, watch the PSATS On-Demand webinar for a presentation and question and answer session with the PBDA about this important program.
PROTECT Grants: The US Department of Transportation is now accepting applications under the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program to plan for and strengthen surface transportation to be more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters.
Townships are eligible to apply for four types of PROTECT grants through February 24, 2025:
- Planning Grants for resilience planning, development of data tools to simulate transportation disruption scenarios, including vulnerability assessments, or evacuation planning and preparation.
- Resilience Improvement Grants for construction projects to improve an existing surface transportation asset to withstand a weather event or natural disaster, or to increase the resilience of surface transportation infrastructure from the impacts of changing conditions, such as sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters.
- Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants for projects that strengthen and protect essential evacuation routes.
- At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants for townships bordering Lake Erie to strengthen or enhance the resilience of bridges, roads, walkways, bicycle lanes, and culverts to protect against a weather event, natural disaster, or changing conditions, including flooding, erosion, storm surge, or sea level rise.
PennDOT will consider providing support for regional grant proposals. The deadline to request PennDOT support is February 10, 2025 via email at RA-PDTRANSFEDFUNDOPP@pa.gov. For more information, view the PennDOT grant alert fact sheet.
Keystone Historic Preservation Grants: The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is now accepting applications for two types of historic preservation grants:
- Construction Grants support projects at historic, publicly accessible buildings, including preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation construction activities. Buildings must be listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
- Planning Grants support planning and pre-development projects at historic resources that are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Eligible projects include cultural resource surveys, National Register nominations, planning and project development assistance, and archaeological investigations.
Townships that own or support a publicly accessible historic property are eligible to apply for both of these opportunities through March 3, 2025 and a 50% match is required. For more information on these opportunities, visit pa.gov and search “historic preservation.” Questions can be directed to phmckeystonegrants@pa.gov.
FEMA Disaster Mitigation Grants Available: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened the Federal FY 2024 Non-Disaster Mitigation Grants. Townships are eligible to apply for funding through PEMA for two opportunities as a sub-recipient of the state:
- The Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities (BRIC) grant has $750 million available for projects to reduce or eliminate risk and damage from future natural disasters, risks, and hazards. BRIC funds may be used for capability and capacity building activities (including partnerships and building code activities) and mitigation projects (including property acquisition, dry floodproofing of structures, generators, and saferoom construction).
- The Flood Mitigation Assistance grant will have $600 million available for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program including: technical assistance, flood mitigation projects, localized flood risk reduction projects, project scoping, and other activities.
Interested townships must send a required, non-contractual Letter of Interest form to PEMA at RA-Shazmitoff@pa.gov in order to apply. All Letters of Interest must be sent to PEMA by February 14, 2025 to be considered for funding. The deadline for final non-disaster applications with PEMA approval is March 21, 2025. Questions can be directed to PEMA at RA-Shazmitoff@pa.gov.
Active Transportation Planning Grants: WalkWorks has announced its ninth round of Transportation Planning Grants to develop Active Transportation Plans. Grants and technical assistance are available to develop active transportation plans. Townships are eligible to apply through March 21, 2025.
Active transportation includes walking, biking, using a wheelchair, and accessing public transit. Plans may be a component of a comprehensive plan as required by the MPC, or a standalone document. The PA Department of Health will host an informational webinar on February 4. For more information, visit the WalkWorks website. Questions can be directed to pawalkworks@padowntown.org.
Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Grants: The Firefighters Association of the State of Pennsylvania (FASP) announced two funding opportunities to help support and enhance recruitment and retention efforts. Townships are encouraged to share this information with their local Fire Company Chief and President.
- Local Level Grants up to $5,000 to enhance recruitment and retention through core recruitment materials and programs in use and/or developed by FASP.
- Firefighter I and EMT training class reimbursement to local departments of up to $1,000 each to enhance recruitment and retention.
PA Fire and EMS agencies who are members of the FASP can apply for both opportunities through March 31, 2025. Additional information can be found at becomeapafirefighter.com.
Publicly Accessible, Loaner Laptops: Last year, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) distributed over 9,000 laptops to 117 applicants, including many municipalities and other institutions, across 42 counties through the Digital Connectivity Technology Program. A second round of the program will begin on April 1, 2025 to distribute the remaining laptops.
PBDA is hosting two informational webinars on January 29 and February 12 which will provide an overview of the program and address frequently asked questions. For more information, visit the program webpage. Questions can be directed to pbda_capitalprojectsfund@pa.gov.
Abandoned Mine Land and Acid Mine Drainage Grants: The state Department of Environmental Protection has opened the first 2025 funding rounds for the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Grant Program. Townships, councils of government, and municipal authorities are eligible to apply through the Commonwealth’s Electronic Single Application.
DEP will accept applications during the following application rounds:
- Application Round 1 — March 3, 2025 through April 25, 2025
- Application Round 2 — September 2, 2025 through October 24, 2025
Eligible projects must reclaim or enhance AML sites posing a threat to the environment and/or public health and safety. Sites must be determined to be eligible by the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, be entered into AML inventory systems, and, in most cases, be associated with a coal mine that was abandoned prior to August 3, 1977. For AML/AMD grant program guidance and application instructions, please visit DEP’s website. Questions can be directed to RA-EPAMGrantProgram@pa.gov or (717) 783-2267.
Ongoing Opportunities:
Rural Water Loan Fund: The Rural Water Loan Fund, established through a grant from the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, provides low-cost loans for short-term repair costs, small capital projects, or pre-development costs associated with larger projects for water and wastewater utilities. Eligible systems must be township or authority-owned serving up to 10,000 persons, or in rural areas with no population limits.
Loan amounts may not exceed $200,000 or 75% of the total project cost, whichever is less. Projects eligible for loan funding include planning costs for infrastructure projects; replacement equipment, system upgrades, maintenance and small capital projects; energy efficiency projects to lower costs and improve system sustainability; and disaster recovery or other emergency loans.
Applications are accepted throughout the year. Townships may contact the PA State Rural Water Association for assistance in preparing and submitting required documents.
Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program: USDA Rural Development’s Electric Infrastructure Loan Program provides insured loans and loan guarantees to finance the construction of electric distribution facilities in rural areas. Funds may be used to finance maintenance, upgrades, expansion, energy efficiency, renewable energy systems, and replacement of distribution, sub transmission and headquarters (service, warehouse) facilities.
Applications are accepted throughout the year. Townships in rural areas must contact the Pennsylvania General Field Representative to determine whether the proposed service area qualifies as rural as several factors will determine eligibility under this program. For more information about the program, contact USDA’s Office of Loan Origination and Approval at 202-720-1422.
EPA Free Water Technical Assistance: The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of Water Technical Assistance program to help communities address challenges in providing safe drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services to their residents. Townships are eligible to apply for free technical assistance services that will support communities and their water utilities. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis to: Identify water infrastructure or water quality improvement needs; plan for capital improvements; build technical, managerial, and financial capacity; and prepare for, and develop, application materials for financing a project through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs or other programs under the funding agency.
Statewide Waterway Access Mini Grants: The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is now accepting applications for the Statewide Waterways Access Grant (SWAG) Program, funded by the PA Fish and Boat Commission and DCNR for projects related to public access to Pennsylvania waterways, including acquisition, design and engineering, construction, or upgrade and rehabilitation of non-motorized access areas and launches. Townships are eligible to apply, and applications will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis through January 1, 2025. For more information, visit the grant page or contact Janet Sweeney, POWR, jsweeney@pecpa.org.
Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grants: USDA Rural Development administers the Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program to provide clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, and storm water drainage in eligible rural areas. Townships with populations of 10,000 or less are eligible to apply for funding to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of:
- Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution
- Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal
- Solid waste collection, disposal and closure
- Storm water collection, transmission and disposal
Applications are accepted year-round and may be filed electronically using RD Apply or through your township’s Local RD office.
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants: USDA Rural Development administers Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants to help communities prepare for, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Events that qualify as an emergency include, but are not limited to, droughts, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and chemical spills. Townships with populations of 10,000 or less are eligible to apply for funds for the following purposes:
- Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply
- Water source grants up to $1,000,000 for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water (water source up to and including the treatment plant)
Applications are accepted year-round. Interested townships are encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania state program specialist prior to filling out any forms or applications for this opportunity.
Municipal Assistance Program: DCED’s Governor’s Center for Local Government Services offers the Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) to provide funding to assist local governments to plan for and efficiently implement a variety of services and improvements, and soundly manage development with an emphasis on intergovernmental approaches. Funding is available for two groups of activities: shared services, and community planning. Townships are eligible to apply throughout the year to cover up to 50 percent of eligible costs related to:
- Community Planning: Planning activities to support community and economic development, including, the development of comprehensive community plans, land use ordinances, and Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) studies
- Shared Services: Intergovernmental cooperation initiatives including, regional police and fire services, shared personnel agreements, and boundary change studies
For more information including program fact sheet, guidelines, and link to apply, visit DCED’s MAP website.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Grants: The Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road Maintenance Program is a non-point source pollution control program for local municipal road officials. Under this program, the State Conservation Commission provides grant funding through county conservation districts to townships to eliminate stream pollution caused by runoff and sediment from dirt, gravel and low volume roads
Grants may be used for expenses related to the implementation of environmentally sound road maintenance practices on dirt and gravel roads and low volume paved roads. Townships may apply to the conservation districts for grant funding. Conservation districts establish their own grant application periods. Applicants must attend a two-day “Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance” training. For additional information, contact your county DGLVR program specialist.
The Pipeline Investment Program Grants: The Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE) provides grants to construct the last few miles of natural gas distribution lines to business parks, existing manufacturing and industrial enterprises, which will result in the creation of new economic base jobs in the commonwealth while providing access to natural gas for residents. Funds may be used for acquisition, construction, and site preparation costs associated with extending natural gas pipelines to serve eligible applicants. Townships are eligible to apply for funding throughout the year. A 50% match of the total project cost is required. For more information, visit DCED’s website or email ra-dcedsitedvpt@pa.gov.
Peer and Circuit Rider Local Capacity Building Project Funding: The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources offers grant programs to fund projects that help municipalities, multi-municipal partnerships, and council of governments to increase local capacity for recreation, parks and conservation.
- The Peer Program is available to assist municipal entities with hiring a professional consultant to study specialized small-scale issues. A minimum ten percent (10%) local cash match is required.
- The Circuit Rider Program provides grant funds for regional organizations, including Council of Governments and multi-municipal entities, to hire a professional, full-time staff person. This is a four-year commitment of funding. Match is variable based on the year of funding.
Townships are eligible to apply for funding throughout the year. All applicants must contact Kelly Rossiter before applying at 717-772-3319 or krossiter@pa.gov. For additional information, including frequently asked questions and grant instructions, visit DCNR’s Grants website.
Clean Energy Tax Credits: The U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service issued guidance on accessing clean energy tax credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA’s “elective pay” provisions allow townships, for the first time, to be able to receive a payment equal to the full value of tax credits for building qualifying clean energy projects. Townships can also transfer certain tax credits through a process known as “transferability” to other parties.
Tax credits eligible for direct payment or transferability include projects that generate clean electricity through solar, wind, and battery storage projects; installing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure; and purchasing clean vehicles for vehicle fleets. Please note, the tax credit for commercial EVs is up to $7,500 for vehicles under 14,000 pounds and up to $40,000 for vehicles over 14,000 pounds. Only certain vehicles are eligible for the credit, as there are manufacturing and final assembly requirements.
Townships can refer to the National Association of Towns and Township’s Guidance to Accessing Clean Energy Credits for additional information, as well as the IRS’s Frequently Asked Questions document or the White House fact sheet on direct pay.
Pilot Program for Economic Development: The Shapiro Administration announced a new pilot program, PA SITES, which will make $10 million in grant funding available to help municipalities and authorities prepare “shovel ready” sites to attract and retain businesses. Grants may be used for transportation access improvements, utility extensions, or grading of pad-ready sites, including redevelopment of previously used or underused sites. Click here for the press release and here for program guidelines.
USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is currently accepting applications for the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program. Rural townships with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible to apply for grants and low-interest direct loans to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.
Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and/or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment, and pay related project expenses. Essential community facilities include public facilities (municipal buildings, courthouses, street improvements); community support services (community centers, fairgrounds); public safety services (fire departments, police stations, public works vehicles or equipment); and more. Townships are eligible to apply for funding throughout the year. For more information, visit the Community Facilities Program website or call the PA Rural Development office at (717) 237-2299.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has grant funding to support the recruitment of approximately 2,000 new full-time law enforcement officers throughout the commonwealth. This solicitation is open to local law enforcement agencies to support Act 120 mandatory training and recruitment activities for law enforcement officers provided through the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC).
Supported by funding through the Local Law Enforcement Support (LLES) Grant Program established under Act 54 of 2022, eligible law enforcement agencies that do not cover the costs of Act 120 training can request up to $7,000 per new officer to support costs associated with the training or, if they currently hire officers that are already Act 120 trained or the agency already covers training costs, apply for up to $5,000 per new officer to support stipends, signing bonuses, or marketing efforts. Priority consideration in awards will go to law enforcement agencies serving areas with high rates of violent crime and that have low clearance rates for violent crimes.
Applicants can find more information on funding requirements and how to apply on PCCD’s active funding announcements webpage. The solicitation will remain open until all funding is committed. Awards will be announced on a rolling basis.
U.S. Department of Transportation Grant Dashboard: The DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard is a helpful resource developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide communities with an overview of grant opportunities related to transportation infrastructure needs. Townships can use the “Eligible Applicants” dropdown tool and select “Local Governments” to see all eligible grant opportunities or narrow down the search to just those related to specific activities, transportation types, and match requirements. The dashboard is updated weekly and will also soon include a Rural Grant Applicant Toolkit to assist rural townships in utilizing the dashboard.
