Tools

Federal Funding Opportunities

The Federal Funding Opportunities database contains a curated summary of existing federal programs supporting broadband and smart city projects. Community leaders familiar with federal funding programs should explore the database below and follow the links provided to the relevant agency site for further details. Sectors covered in the database include: Transportation, Big Data, Infrastructure, Energy, Healthcare, Broadband, Economic Development, Education, Public Safety and Information Technologies.

For users who are less familiar with federal funding programs the Opportunity Wizard to the right offers a quick way to identify the best funding for your projects.

Find your perfect funding opportunity

Answer 5 easy questions and find federal funding for your project.

funding

Cyber-Physical Systems

Agency
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Transportation (DOT), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Science and Technology Directorate, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sector
Advanced Manufacturing, Education & Workforce, Information Technologies, Other
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The CPS program aims to develop the core research needed to engineer these complex CPS, some of which may also require dependable, high-confidence, or provable behaviors. Core research areas of the program include control, data analytics, and machine learning including real-time learning for control, autonomy, design, Internet of Things (IoT), mixed initiatives including human-in- or human-on-the-loop, networking, privacy, real-time systems, safety, security, and verification.
Go visit Cyber-Physical Systems

funding

Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG)

Agency
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sector
Agriculture, Education
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The purpose of this program is strengthen the capacity of Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology.
Go visit Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG)

funding

Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC)

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Sector
Advanced Manufacturing, Big Data, Broadband, Economic Development, Education, Education & Workforce, Energy, Information Technologies, Infrastructure, Privacy, Research
Deadline
Open, Open for at least 30 days
The purpose of this solicitation is to broaden participation in innovation ecosystems that advance emerging technologies (e.g., advanced manufacturing, advanced wireless, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum information science, semiconductors and microelectronics) by supporting capacity-building efforts at institutions of higher education (IHEs) interested in growing external partnerships.
Go visit Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC)

funding

Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grants

Agency
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Sector
Community Development, Economic Development, Education & Workforce, Infrastructure, Public Safety, Transportation
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
RAISE grants are for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact.
Go visit Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grants

funding

Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT)

Sector
Advanced Manufacturing, Community Development, Digital Equity, Digital Inclusion, Economic Development, Education, Education & Workforce, Information Technologies, Workforce Development
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
ExLENT funds career exploration and experiential learning activities such as internships, co-operative programs, service-based learning, and research opportunities that help individuals who historically have not had equal access to STEM careers, create nontraditional educational pathways into emerging technology fields and serve a broad range of learners including secondary school youth, military, veterans, and adults at any stage of career development
Go visit Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT)

funding

Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) Grant Program

Agency
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sector
Business Support, Economic Development, Innovation, Small Business, Workforce Development
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The purpose of this program is to establish and operate Agriculture Innovation Centers (Centers) that provide technical and business development assistance to Agricultural Producers seeking to engage in developing and marketing of Value-Added Agricultural Products.
Go visit Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) Grant Program

funding

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG)

Agency
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sector
Community Development, Economic Development, Education & Workforce, Entrepreneurship, Information Technologies, Innovation, Research, Workforce Development
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations to promote rural economic development and job creation projects.
Go visit Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG)

funding

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

Agency
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sector
Energy, Information Technologies, Infrastructure, Innovation, Small Business
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Go visit Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

funding

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program

Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Sector
Community Development, COVID-19, Economic Development, Education & Workforce, Healthcare, Innovation, Workforce Development
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
This program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations to build collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions to environmental or public health issue(s) at the community level.
Go visit The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program

funding

Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG)

Agency
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sector
Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Community Development, Economic Development, Education & Workforce, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Information Technologies, Infrastructure, Public Safety, Transportation, Workforce Development
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
This program provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses, help fund distance learning networks, and help fund employment related adult education programs. To assist with business development, RBDGs may fund a broad array of activities.
Go visit Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG)

funding

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants

Agency
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sector
Community Development, Economic Development, Education & Workforce, Entrepreneurship, Small Business, Workforce Development
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas.
Go visit Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants

funding

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program

Agency
Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Sector
Accessibility, Climate Change, Community Development, Equity, Infrastructure, Sustainability, Transportation, Workforce Development
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a new competitive grant program created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work, urban and rural areas alike, in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles.
Go visit Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program

funding

Long-Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA)

Agency
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate
Sector
Big Data, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare, Information Technologies, Infrastructure, Innovation, Privacy, Public Safety, Research, Transportation
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
The Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) Long-Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) is a standing, open invitation to the scientific and technical communities to fund pioneering research and development (R&D) projects in support of our nation’s security. Its purpose is to advance our scientific and technical knowledge and to apply such advances to the department’s operational environments.
Go visit Long-Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA)

funding

DHS S&T-NIST Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Challenge (SC3)

Agency
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Sector
Advanced Manufacturing, Big Data, Broadband, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare, Information Technologies, Infrastructure, Innovation, Public Safety, Research
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
This program encourages GCTC participants to adopt designed-in cybersecurity for "smart city" systems that are more secure, reliable, resilient, and protective of privacy.
Go visit DHS S&T-NIST Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Challenge (SC3)

funding

Internet of Things (IoT) Security (IoTSEC)

Agency
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Sector
Public Safety
Deadline
Open for at least 30 days
RFP Summary provided by the agency The research and development of tools and techniques to aid DHS mission and operations components, law enforcement entities, and Critical Infrastructure (CI) asset owners and operators (to include IT and Internet Infrastructures) in addressing the security gaps between existing traditional IT networks and the broad range of new IoT devices being designed and dep…
Go visit Internet of Things (IoT) Security (IoTSEC)