Welcome to the Friday Update from the Federal Funding Hub!
This message shares news and resources so that our region can make the most of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and other federal funding.
Did you hear about DEED’s new workforce re-entry program? Check out the press release and webinar link below.
News from MSP Cities and Counties
Dakota County: City, county, state and federal officials broke ground Tuesday on a new county library in South St. Paul, to be located on the corner of Marie and Seventh avenues. Dakota County Commissioners approved funding for the $11.3 million, 16,000-square-foot project — the 10th library in the county system — in early September. The county will use funding from the federal American Rescue Plan to pay for it.
Excelsior: A crumbling bridge connecting two Lake Minnetonka bays is getting a nearly $270,000 grant to plan future fixes. The St. Albans Bay Bridge between Greenwood and Excelsior is among 23 across the United States to benefit from the first round of funding through the federal Bridge Investment Program, a component of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law.
Minneapolis: The City of Minneapolis created three grant programs to help create lead-safe and healthy homes. The renovation programs are funded under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant.
St. Paul:
The City Council on Wednesday voted to continue to work with a coalition of nonprofit organizations intent on developing six units of deeply affordable housing at 652 Sherburne Ave. in Frogtown, even though the project likely would entail $1 million in future city funding. The Sherburne Collective plans to rely on $1.68 million from Ramsey County, which has created a deeply affordable housing fund backed by federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act.
St. Paul waives fees for some youth sports thanks to $1.5M from American Rescue Plan. The initiative is part of $1.5 million investment in parks and rec thanks to a federal grant.
Minnesota News
DEED: The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) released a Request for Proposals for its new Pilot Re-Entry Competitive Grant Program. Approved by the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board (MJSP), $3,000,000 is available in Fiscal Years 2023-2024 to help reintegrate justice-involved Minnesotans into the workforce.
National ARPA News
ARPA Oversight: For over a year, House Republicans have complained to the Biden Administration about how states and localities are spending Covid-19 relief funding for things like pickleball courts and tourist attractions. But the lawmakers say that the administration has largely rebuffed their inquiries into whether the money is being used appropriately. Now, with a chance to take control of the House in November’s elections, leading Republicans are vowing to use the authority they’d regain to ramp up scrutiny of the billions of dollars Washington is sending to the state and local level under the American Rescue Plan Act.
U.S. Treasury: The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the approval of 11 additional state plans for up to $1 billion in funding under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Treasury has now announced the approval of 31 state plans for approximately $4.8 billion in SSBCI funding. The American Rescue Plan reauthorized and expanded SSBCI, which was originally established in 2010 and was highly successful in increasing access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) News
Applying for Federal Grants: The Biden administration announced two new efforts Thursday to help vulnerable communities get no-cost help applying for federal grants to improve their infrastructure. Administration officials unveiled opportunities for both providers of technical assistance, and would-be recipients of it, as part of an effort the White House is calling the Thriving Communities Program. Congress set aside $25 million for the initiative this spring.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) News
Quick Impacts: Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards welcomed on Wednesday the announcement of a major new decarbonization collaboration between ExxonMobilXOM +3.5%, CF Industries and EnLink Midstream focused in his state. Billed by the Governor as an “unprecedented” project in method, scale and scope, it also provides a proof point showing that the incentive provisions contained in the recently-enacted Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are already having an impact.
USDA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public comment on how it should implement Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a provision that aims to provide assistance to the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. Section 22007 provides a transformative opportunity for USDA to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners impacted by discrimination in USDA farm lending programs.
CHIPS Act News
CHIPS Act spending: The CHIPS and Science Act, which President Biden signed into law in August, includes more than $52 billion in federal subsidies for chip manufacturing. Here's how the White House is planning to spend that money.
Upcoming Webinars
DEED: An informational webinar providing an overview of the Pilot Re-Entry Program will take place on Tuesday, October 18, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Proposals are due Tuesday, November 22, 2022, by 5:00pm (CST). Anticipated grant notification to applicants is expected by the end of the year. More information about the federal funding will be shared with the community as details are solidified. Register here.
DOE Virtual workshop to gather information and structure funding opportunity: Stakeholders are invited to participate in an Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) workshop. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) has planned three workshops to inform the ERA program in preparation for a future funding opportunity announcement.
November 1-2, 2022. Virtual workshop
Resources
Great Lakes Federal Grant Navigation Program: NLC (National League of Cities) launched a free grant navigation program called the Great Lakes Federal Grant Navigation Program to assist local government staff with collecting the necessary data and applying for federal grants. Sign up here.
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program: The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program provides credit assistance for qualified projects of regional and national significance. The TIFIA credit program is designed to fill market gaps and leverage substantial private co-investment through supplemental, subordinate investment in critical improvements to the nation's transportation system. Key Links:
Upcoming Funding Deadlines
Grid Resilience and Innovative Partnerships (GRIP) due October 14th, 2022 by 4pm CDT
Collection, Transportation, Sorting, Processing, and Second-Life Applications for End-of-Life Lithium-Ion Batteries due October 14, 2022, by 4 pm CDT
Clean Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transport, and Utilization to Enable a Net-Zero Carbon Economy due October 25, 2022, by 10:59 pm CDT
ReConnect Loan and Grant Program due by November 2nd
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Due November 7, 2022
State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program due November 15, 2022
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program due November 18, 2022
Advanced Transportation Technologies and Innovation (ATTAIN) Program due November 18, 2022
Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program due November 21, 2022, by 3:00 pm CT
Rare Earth Element Demonstration Facility (DOE) due November 21, 2022,
Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup (MARC due November 22, 2022
The types of awards are as follows:
Assessment Grants provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants provide funding to capitalize loans that are used to clean up brownfield sites.
Cleanup Grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the applicant.
Multipurpose (MP) Grants provide funding to conduct a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities at one or more brownfield sites in a target area.
Job Training (JT) Grants provide environmental training for residents impacted by brownfield sites in their communities.
State and Tribal Response Program Grants provide non-competitive funding to establish or enhance State and Tribal Brownfields response programs.
Carbon Capture Technology Program, Front-end Engineering and Design for Carbon Dioxide Transport due November 28th
Hydrogen Shot and a University Research Consortium on Grid Resilience due December 1st, 4:00 pm CT
Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program due on December 1, 2022
Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response Research, Development and Demonstration Funding Opportunity due December 5th, 7:00 pm CT
The Thriving Communities Program due December 6th,2022
Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects due December 9, 2022
Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization due December 20th, 2022, by 4pm CT
Notice of Intent (NOI)
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): The DOE launched more than $28 Million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for research and development (R&D) projects that will advance and preserve hydropower as a critical source of clean energy. This Notice of Intent (NOI) will offer three funding opportunities this fall to support research, development, and deployment of hydropower, including pumped storage hydropower, which can play a key role in integrating variable renewable energy sources on the electric grid.
Have a great weekend, all!
Allison
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