Grant News

By Amanda Day, Grants Development Consultant (State and Local Government)

The 2026 federal budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) offers valuable insight for agencies, municipalities, and partners pursuing federal transportation funding. Focus areas this year include aviation modernization, maritime and port investments, and traditional highway and rail maintenance. Many programs continue to be funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed by the Biden Administration in 2021.

The most significant increase in funding is directed at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A landmark $22 billion investment has been allocated to air traffic controllers to address staff shortages.. An additional $4 billion is set aside for infrastructure modernization, including facilities and equipment, with $450 million specifically earmarked for radar modernization to replace aging systems.

By Meghan Jacobsen, Grants Development Associate

In March of this year, Senators Amy Klobachar (D-Minn.), Tedd Budd (R-N.C.), and Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-Nev.) introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act. In the House of Representatives, this act is also led by Representatives Richard Hudson (R-N.C.-09) and Troy Carter (D-La.-02). If passed, this bill will modernize the national emergency response system, as well as coordinate interoperability and improve the security of 911 services throughout the country. These initiatives will improve PSAP cybersecurity while enabling 911 centers to process text, video, and data in emergency situations. This bill proposes the funding of grants to bring about these initiatives beginning in fiscal year 2027 through 2031. Should this bill pass, it will serve as a much-welcome injection of dedicated PSAP/NG911 funding on the federal level – which has been nonexistent since 2018 – to bring 911 centers into the 21^st century. While we wait to see how this will play out in Congress, there are other funding options available to PSAPs looking to upgrade and secure their technology to better serve their communities.

By Chris LaPage, Chief Services Officer, & Ashley Schultz, Manager of Community Engagement

For grant professionals, the start of a new federal fiscal year usually brings a familiar sense of déjà vu. We track the process from the President’s initial budget announcement through Congress’s final vote, anxiously anticipating when federal agencies will finally open their competitive and allocation grant cycles.  

However, the 2026 funding landscape will be built upon a vastly different process from previous years. This year’s budgetary cycle was paralyzed by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and further complicated by aggressive executive realignments. Navigating these legislative delays requires grantseekers to cut through the headline noise and pinpoint the actual drivers that will impact their grant funding pipeline. Ultimately, the most successful organizations will be those ready to identify emerging priorities and adapt their programmatic strategies to the realities of the current administration.

This article will outline the major federal budgetary updates from 2026, breaking down how these shifts impact the grantseeking landscape. For more targeted insights, please refer to our sectorspecific breakdowns available throughout this issue.

U.S. Federal Budget Summary: Critical Infrastructure

Federal critical infrastructure grants finance the construction, maintenance, and defense of essential public works across the U.S. While municipal bonds, state highway funds, and ratepayer fees fuel the baseline operations of public utilities and transportation networks, federal discretionary grants provide necessary supplemental capital. These federal dollars tackle a wide array of high-impact projects—from repaving roads and replacing pipes in wastewater networks to modernizing the power grid to handle increased loads and deploying middle- and last-mile broadband to connect unserved areas. Ultimately, this grant funding primarily flows to state, local, and tribal governments, alongside targeted special districts, transit agencies, and port or airport authorities.

Navigating the Grant Landscape Under a New Administration

What Recent Executive Orders and the Review of Federal Financial Assistance Mean for You

**This is a comprehensive blog that covers the key developments, implications, and strategies for grant seekers navigating the landscape of federal financial assistance under the new Administration. Updates to this blog will continue to be made as the situation develops. Blog last updated on March 24, 2026, at 2:47 pm ET**

This blog explores how executive orders and an ongoing review of federal financial assistance under the new Administration are reshaping the grant landscape. It highlights key developments affecting eligibility, compliance, and funding priorities, outlines the potential implications for grant seekers across sectors, and provides strategies to help organizations adapt and remain competitive in securing federal support. With policy changes still unfolding, the blog serves as a living resource that will continue to be updated as new guidance and opportunities emerge.

SUMMARY: The final round of funding from the IIJA’s Airport Terminal Program is now available. Grants are for airport terminal development projects that address aging infrastructure. Funds are meant to fund safe, sustainable and accessible airport terminals, airport-owned airport traffic control towers, and on-airport rail and bus projects that improve multimodal connections.

Federal grants remain in a holding pattern as the current administration aligns grants with priorities. WaterSMART, from the Bureau of Reclamation under the US Department of Interior, is one of the flagship programs that has yet to open a new funding opportunity for any of its funding opportunities. Notice of Funding Opportunities had been posted for several programs, with deadlines sprinkled throughout this year, but had been under review, most likely due to climate change-related executive orders from the previous administration. As the pause continues, it is an appropriate time to review one of the major WaterSMART programs to better understand what type of projects it funds and what states have received funds in recent years.

WaterSMART itself stands for Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow. It administers programs that strive to answer the water challenges facing the western part of the United States. Recycling, restoration, and watershed management are a few priorities under WaterSMART. There is a desire to improve the infrastructure of aging water facilities as well as increase the water supply for those areas most in need.

SUMMARY: The purpose of the Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Grant Program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by assisting states, cities, counties/parishes, Native American Tribes or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing populations. In addition, there is Healthy Homes Supplemental funding available that is intended to enhance the lead-based paint hazard control activities by comprehensively identifying and addressing other housing hazards that affect occupant health in homes with lead-based paint hazards being treated under the grant.

By Joseph Phelan, Grants Development Consultant

The Department of Transportation administers many different grant opportunities across their 11 subagencies. Grants that help secure transit agencies and improve roads. Or purchase buses and enhance railroad safety. There are varying degrees of technology-friendly grant opportunities. One specific program, from DOT’s Federal Highway Administration, focuses on advanced technologies for travel to be safer, more efficient, and increase intermodal connectivity.

SUMMARY: The Legal Services for Veterans (LSV) program aims to increase access to legal services to eligible Veterans through the award of grant funds and by promoting Medical Legal Partnerships and VA-affiliated legal clinics throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

By Amanda Day, Grants Development Consultant- State and Local Government

Transportation is a critical component of modern life, connecting individuals to jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services. Efficient roadways and public transportation services affect access to jobs, education, and reliable healthcare. However, for many tribal communities, poor transportation infrastructure presents a barrier to social and economic opportunities.

By Joseph Phelan, Grants Development Consultant (Broadband, Transportation, & Utilities)

By the end of 2024, every entity had its State Digital Equity Capacity Grant approved by the NTIA, paving the way for funds to funnel to reach populations throughout the United States.

As a refresher, included within the IIJA was the Digital Equity Act, which provided $2.75 billion across three grant programs for various digital equity and inclusion activities. Two of the programs went directly to the 56 entities that make up the US. The first provided allocations (totaling $60.6 million) to entities to create their digital equity plans. States and territories then submitted intentions for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant by the end of May 2024. NTIA then approved on a rolling basis—beginning last summer with Nevada, and ending with Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Maryland, North Dakota, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on December 19, 2024. This first round of capacity grants provided roughly $768 million in funding to states and territories. In addition to the planning and capacity grants, the NTIA offered competitive grants for any eligible entity through the Digital Equity Competitive Grant. 

Congressionally directed spending (also known as community project funding or earmarks) are line items in the United States federal budget specifically requested by individual legislators. There was a 10-year moratorium on these appropriations, but that ran out in 2021. Proponents of congressionally directed spending argue that it creates a more transparent appropriation process and enables local jurisdictions to more directly request and receive funds for their specific needs. Others believe that congressionally directed spending is wasteful or corrupt. Regardless of how you feel about this type of funding, they are a part of the current federal funding landscape and should be considered carefully when looking for support for your project.

In this article, we will explore the fiscal year 2024 congressionally directed spending landscape. We will evaluate where the funds are going and what types of projects they are predominantly funding. We will also reflect on where we are in the fiscal year 2025 funding congressionally directed spending process.

Last month marked the start of the U.S. federal Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) new set of rules directing the majority of federal grantmaking to nonprofits; education institutions; state, local, or tribal government agencies; and others. These rules, colloquially known as the Uniform Guidance, were first established in December 2013. Originally a consolidation of several federal rulemaking circulars, the Uniform Guidance’s policies have been periodically adjusted over the last 20 years. The most recent of these updates took effect on October 1, 2024.

When browsing through Grants.gov, you find a grant perfectly aligned with what your organization is trying to accomplish. Say you work in a university's criminal justice program and want to research police practices. You find a seemingly perfect grant, but as you read the eligibility…" Only applicants that received an official invitation letter from NIJ are able and eligible to apply." This "invitation-only" status is a common frustration for grant seekers. So, how do you crack that elusive list and get your foot in the door?

The U.S. Department of Energy launched the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) in August 2022 to maintain and invest in critical generation facilities, grid resilience, and improving and expanding transmission and distribution systems to provide reliable and affordable electricity. GDO directly stems from the Biden Administration’s focus on reducing emissions by at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, reaching 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, and creating a zero-emissions economy by 2050. Under this office, there are three specific entities responsible for funding mechanisms designed to help the United States reach its goals. Generation facilities can take advantage of various credit programs to help strengthen electricity markets at the wholesale and distribution level; the Transmission Division coordinates necessary plans, financing, and facilitation to drive essential transmission investment; and lastly, there is the Grid Modernization Division.

Mexico is currently undergoing a significant transformation, with federal programs leading the way for modernized infrastructure and the implementation of new technologies across multiple sectors. With significant investments in roads, railways, ports, telecommunications, and urban development, Mexican society stands to benefit greatly while unlocking significant economic potential.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act include many opportunities for energy-related grant initiatives. In fact, it is overwhelming to consider the sheer volume of programs made available over the past couple of years and will continue to be created as more information is known. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is the federal grantmaker tasked with administering a number of these research and development, demonstration, and deployment programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is another popular grantmaker for energy-specific programs. These funds are available to nonprofits, all forms of government agencies, private businesses, and even individuals.

As for the near future, there are three specific programs worth diving a little deeper into, as they either have firm deadlines or are expected to open in the coming weeks. The first comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and more specifically through the USDA.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act introduced many new grant programs when passed in late 2021. These initiatives ranged from broadband and electric charging to major clean energy and water infrastructure. A handful of these funding projects are classified as smart city adjacent, but one specific program, Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation, or SMART, is the definition of a smart city grant.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible lead applicants are Nonprofit Organizations, Labor Unions, Labor-Management Organizations, and Worker Organizations, Education/Training Provider(s), Workforce Development Entities, Economic Development Agencies, and Native American Tribal Governments.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are: (A) A State; (B) a political subdivision of a State; (C) a Tribal government; (D) a public transit agency or authority; (E) a public toll authority; (F) a metropolitan planning organization; and (G) a group of 2 or more eligible entities described.