FUNDING SOURCES ORGANIZED BY LOCAL; STATE; AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

If you would like to search this list of funding sources by a key word, try using the "find" feature in your Browser (In Microsoft Explorer, click on "edit", then "find", then enter the keyword).

LOCAL PROGRAMS:

Local Revolving Loan Funds

The purpose of most revolving loan funds is to make loans to businesses wishing to expand or locate within the boundaries of a specific municipality or region. Most programs provide below market interest at a fixed rate for the life of the loan. The amount of participation typically depends on factors such as the following:

• The viability of the project
• The number an nature of the jobs created
• The project’s economic impact upon the community
• The collateral position available

The terms of the loan are typically:

• Working capital - 5 to 7 years
• Equipment - 5 to 10 years
• Real estate -12 year term amortized over 20 years

For a list of local revolving loan funds organized by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, click here.  To contact the Wisconsin Department of Commerce Area Development Manger, click here.

Regional Planning Commissions

Another good source of information for available community and economic development funding programs in your area is your regional planning commission.  For a map of the state showing the geographic areas served by the regional planning commissions, click here.

For information regarding each of the regional planning commissions, look below:

Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission - http://www.sewrpc.org/
Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission - http://www.swwrpc.org/
Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission - www.mrrpc.com/
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission - http://www.wcwrpc.org/
Northwest Regional Planning Commission - http://www.nwrpc.com/
North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission - http://www.ncwrpc.org/
Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission - http://www.baylakerpc.org/
East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission - http://www.eastcentralrpc.org/

STATE PROGRAMS (Wisconsin):

University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Sea Grant - This is a program for Wisconsin faculty members and students from the University of Wisconsin system or another Wisconsin college or university. Funds are available for initial development of promising research, education and outreach projects.  

Wisconsin Entrepeneurs Network (WEN) - WEN's mission is to create seamless access to entrepreneurial resources and expertise from across Wisconsin to both spawn new ventures and help grow existing businesses. WEN profides three grant opportunities to current and prospective small business owners:

• Entrepreneurial Training Program Grant
  The Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP) is a course offered through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) providing prospective and existing business owners with expert guidance through business plan development. To apply for an ETP grant, click here.

• Technology Assistance Grant
  The Technology Assistance Grant (TAG) program aids small Wisconsin high-technology businesses in their efforts to obtain seed, early-stage or research and development funding. To apply for a TAG grant, click here.

• Early Planning Grant
  The Early Planning Grant (EPG) program is designed to help individual entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Wisconsin obtain the professional services necessary to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed start up or expansion. To apply for an EPG grant, click here.

Wisconsin Humanities Council -  This council is operated through the University of Wisconsin Extension. Further information is listed below under "Wisconsin Humanities Council".

Wisconsin Arts Board

Established in 1973, the Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage.

To accomplish its mission, the Arts Board awards grants to assist arts and arts education activities, events and opportunities throughout the state. Current grant programs are listed at: www.arts.state.wi.us/static/programs.htm

Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Land

State Trust Fund Loan Program - This loan program provides funding for a wide variety of public projects, including buildings, roads, sewer and water lines, equipment, recreation facilities and industrial development.  Interest rates range from 4 to 5 percent depending on the term of the loan.

Wisconsin Department of Administration

Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Planning Grants Program - To help communities prepare for the new planning requirements under the Comprehensive Planning and Smart Growth laws, the state provides grant funding for the preparation of plans or plan updates. A wide variety of activities are eligible under this program, including: contracting for planning consultant services, public planning sessions, educational activities, purchase of planning data/hardware/software, printing costs, outreach activities, surveys, internet activities, newsletters and other activities necessary in the development of the comprehensive plan.

Wisconsin Coastal Management Program - This program provides grants to enhance, preserve, protect and restore resources within the state’s coastal zones, which includes all counties adjacent to Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.  Grants are available for coastal land acquisition, coastal wetland protection, habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resource planning, community planning, Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation.

Focus on Energy Grants - Focus on Energy is a public-private partnership which includes the Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Energy. Grant Programs administered by Focus on Energy include:

• Business & Marketing Projects - Business & Marketing Grants provide financial support for developing business skills and marketing materials for organizations and businesses that provide renewable energy services.

• Demonstration Projects - Demonstration Grants provide financial support for activities that inform the public about how renewable energy systems work. Demonstration Grants provide support for highly visible applications of renewable energy that are open to the public.

• Demonstration and Equipment Projects -
  Equipment Grants for Nonprofit Organizations provide financial support for purchasing renewable energy equipment. Equipment Grants must be used to support the purchase of renewable energy systems that will be displayed to the public.

• Feasibility Study Projects - Feasibility Study Grants provide financial support for assessing the feasibility of using complex, customer-sited renewable energy systems.

• Research and Development Grant Pre-Proposal - The intent of the Research and Development Pre-Proposal is to provide cost-sharing assistance on a competitive basis for renewable energy applied technology research and development that will improve market conditions for renewable energy systems and services.

The Wisconsin Department of Commerce
has assigned Area Development Managers for each  region of the state. These individuals can often be most helpful in identifying the appropriate financial program for your business development project. The following represents a list of financial programs copied directly from the Department of Commerce Web Site (Note: Information on these programs is also available in a fax form, 24 hours a day - to access these faxes, call 608-264-6154, and request a fax copy of the catalog (Most of these programs are listed under "Financial Resources Available to Business":

Blight Elimination and Brownfield Redevelopment Program (CDBG-BEBR)
CDBG-BEBR program is designed to assist communities with assessing or remediating the environmental contamination of an abandoned, idle or underused industrial or commercial facility or site in a blighted area, or that qualifies as blighted. Critical to obtaining a grant...

The Business Employees' Skills Training (BEST) Program was established by the Wisconsin Legislature to help small businesses in industries that are facing severe labor shortages upgrade the skills of their workforce.  Under the BEST program, Commerce can provide applicants with a tuition reimbursement grant to help cover a portion of the costs associated with training employees. For further information call 1-800-HELP-BUS (1-800-435-7287). (Download the application kit here - PDF:363KB)

Community Based Economic Development (CBED)
CBED makes grants funds available to local governments for economic development planning, and to development organizations for development projects, business assistance grants and business incubator/technology based incubator grants...

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-ED) Economic Development Program, provides grants to communities to loan to businesses for start-up, retention, and expansion projects based on the number of jobs created or retained. Communities can create community revolving loan funds from the loan repayments.

The Community Development Zone Program promotes a business relocating or expanding to Wisconsin on a particular site in any area of the state that suffers from high unemployment, declining income and property values, and other indicators of economic distress. The program offers tax credits for creating new, full-time jobs, hiring disadvantaged workers and undertaking environmental remediation. Tax credits can be taken only on income generated by business activity in the zone. The maximum amount of tax credits per zone is $3 million.

The Customized Labor Training (CLT) Fund provides training grants to businesses that are implementing new technology or production processes. The program can provide up to 50 percent of the cost of customized training.

The Dairy 2020 Early Planning Grant Program encourages and stimulates the startup, modernization, and expansion of Wisconsin dairy farms

The Early Planning Grant (EPG) Program helps individual entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Wisconsin obtain the professional services necessary to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed start up or expansion. 

The Economic Diversification Loan (EDL) Program has a goal of diversifying a local community's economy such that it is less dependent upon revenue from Gaming.  The EDL program is designed to help businesses establish and expand operations.

The  goal of the Economic Impact Loan (EIL) Program  is to help Wisconsin businesses that have been negatively impacted by Gaming.  Recognizing that qualified businesses may have difficulty accessing capital, the EIL program is designed to cover a portion of the cost associated with modernizing and/or improving the businesses operations.

The Employee Ownership Assistance Loan (EOP) Program can help a group of employees purchase a business by providing individual awards up to $15,000 for feasibility studies or professional assistance. The business under consideration must have expressed its intent to downsize or close.

Under the Entrepreneurial Training Grant (ETG) program, Commerce can provide applicants with a grant to help cover a portion of the cost of attending Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) new Entrepreneurial Training Course. Contact your nearest SBDC to apply.

Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) are municipal bonds whose proceeds are loaned to private persons or to businesses to finance capital investment projects.  All Wisconsin municipalities, cities, villages, and towns are authorized to issue IRB's.

The Major Economic Development (MED) Program is designed to assist businesses that will invest private funds and create jobs as they expand in or relocate to Wisconsin.

The Milk Volume Production (MVP) program is designed to assist dairy producers that are undertaking capital improvement projects that will result in a significant increase in Wisconsin’s milk production.  Only those projects that have a comprehensive business plan and can demonstrate that they will have a long term sustainable impact upon Wisconsin's milk production will be successful.

The Minority Business Development Fund offers low-interest loans for start-up, expansion or acquisition projects. To qualify for the fund, a business must be 51-percent controlled, owned, and actively managed by minority-group members, and the project must retain or increase employment. 

Health Professions Loan Assistance Program (HPLAP) The Health Professions Loan Assistance Program is designed to provide incentives for physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered dental hygienists and certified nurse midwives to practice in Wisconsin rural and urban medical shortage areas

Public Facilities (CDBG-PF)
The Wisconsin CDBG-PF program provides grant funds to the States small cities. Eligible communities include all cities, villages, and townships with population of less than 50,000 and all counties except Milwaukee and Waukesha...

• Public Facilities for Economic Development (CDBG-PFED)
  Through this program, communities can access funds to help pay the costs of infrastructure improvements needed to provide for business expansions or start-ups that will result in job creation and substantial private investment in the area...

• Relocation Plan Review
  The Relocation Unit can help governments and agencies develop equitable acquisition & relocation plans, payments and services, and also can assist in the resolution of disagreements...

• The Rural Economic Development (RED) Program is designed to provide working capital or fixed asset financing for businesses with fewer that 50 employees.

• Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG Emergency Grants)
  This program can assist communities of less than 50,000 population that are faced with emergency repairs and expenditures related to restoring use of its infrastructure that has suffered damages as a result of natural or other catastrophic events...

• Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) helps cities in Wisconsin attract industrial and commercial growth in underdeveloped and blighted areas. A city or village can designate a specific area within its boundaries as a TIF district and develop a plan to improve its property values. Taxes generated by the increased property values pay for land acquisition or needed public works.

• The Technology Development Fund (TDF) program helps Wisconsin businesses research and develop technological innovations that have the potential to provide significant economic benefit to the state.

• The Technology Development Loan (TDL) program helps Wisconsin businesses develop technological innovations that have the potential to provide significant economic benefit to the state. This program is designed to help businesses commercialize new technology.

• The Wisconsin CAPCO Program is intended to increase investment of venture capital funds into small business enterprises which have traditionally had difficulty in attracting institutional venture capital.

• The Wisconsin Trade Project Program can help small export-ready firms participate in international trade shows. The business covers its own travel and lodging expenses. Commerce can then provide up to $5,000 in reimbursements to a business for costs associated with attending a trade show, such as booth rental, shipping displays or product brochure translation.

Wisconsin Bureau of Housing (Department of Commerce)
Home Programs

Community Housing Development Organization  (CHDO)
A CHDO is an official designation of selected private nonprofit housing development corporations that meet requirements set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Scroll down the site and click on CHDO for a PDF document explaining this program.

Homebuyer Rehabilitation Program   (HHR)
Provides essential home purchase assistance and necessary home rehabilitation, and other vital improvements for dwelling units occupied by low- and moderate-income households.

Home Single-Family Housing Program  (HSF)
The HOME Single-Family Housing (HSF) program is designed to provide funding to assist low & moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners to secure and maintain safe, decent, affordable housing...

Rental Rehabilitation Program  (RRP)
The HOME Rental Rehabilitation Program (RRP) assists existing residential rental property owners in obtaining low interest loans to help defray rehabilitation expenses...

Rental Housing Development Program  (RHD)
The Rental Housing Development (RHD) Program assists eligible housing organizations, particularly Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), with funds to develop affordable rental housing...

Community Development Block Grant

Community Development Block Grant Program  (CDBG)
CDBG funds are used for various housing and neighborhood revitalization activities including housing rehabilitation, acquisition, relocation, demolition of dilapidated structures, and handicap accessibility improvements...

Emergency Assistance Program  (EAP)
A local unit of government that has recently experienced a natural or manmade disaster may apply to BOH within 60 days of the date of the disaster for assistance in addressing housing problems caused by the disaster...

Special Needs (Homeless)

Critical Assistance Program (CA) - Funds are designed to provide direct financial assistance to reduce the housing costs of low- and moderate-income households

Emergency Shelter/Transitional Housing Grant Program  (ESG/THP)
Under funding authorized by HUD under the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, ESG funds may be used for homeless prevention activities and essential services, renovation and rehabilitation of shelter facilities and shelter operating costs...

Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS  (HOPWA)
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program is designed to provide resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs...

Project for Assist in the Transition from Homelessness (PATH) - PATH funds services to individuals with serious mental illness, as well as individuals with co-occurring substance abuse disorders, who are homeles

Wisconsin ServicePoint  (WISP/HMIS)
An HMIS is a Homeless Management Information System, a computerized data collection tool specifically designed to capture client level systemwide information over time on the characteristics and service needs...

State Programs

Interest Bearing Real Estate Trust Accounts Program  (IBRETA)
Since 1993, Wisconsin Statutes require real estate brokers to establish interest-bearing real estate trust accounts for the deposit of all down payments, earnest money and other trust....

State Shelter Subsidy Grant Program  (SSSG)
The State Shelter Subsidy Program (SSSG) provides grants to support homeless and emergency shelter program's operations...

Wisconsin Fresh Start Program  (WFS)
The Wisconsin Fresh Start Program (WFS) awards funds to agencies to establish and sustain programs based on the Operation Fresh Start, Inc., service model...

Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority

Ag Products programs:

• Agribusiness Guarantee - The Agribusiness Guarantee helps new or existing businesses obtain financing on favorable terms to develop or expand production of products using Wisconsin's raw agricultural commodities.

• Beginning Farmer Bond - Beginning Farmer Bonds offer low interest rates to beginning farmers.

• CROP -  The Credit Relief Outreach Program is a financing resource for farmers that provides guarantees on agricultural production loans.

• FARM - provides guarantees for agricultural expansion and modernization loans.

Home Ownership:

• Fixed-Interest Only Loan - offers fixed rate financing with reduced payments during the first 7 years for eligible first-time homebuyers.

• Home Improvement Loans - The Home Improvement Loan provides fixed interest rate financing with no equity requirement.

• HOME Loans - Offers a mortgage loan with a low, fixed interest rate to help low- and moderate-income individuals and families buy a home.

• Home Plus Loans - Provides financing of up to $10,000 for down payment and closing costs and, a line of credit for future home repairs.

• Lindsay Heights - Lindsay Heights is a collaborative effort between WHEDA, the City of Milwaukee, private industry, and local residents to stimulate the rebuilding of central city neighborhoods by building new homes on vacant lots without the use of deep government subsidies.

• Major Rehabilitation Loan - Provides 30-year fixed-rate financing to purchase and rehabilitate an existing home, or, to refinance and rehabilitate your current home.

• Partnership for Homeownership - A relationship between WHEDA and the US Dept of Agriculture-Rural Development that provides affordable home financing for Wisconsin's rural residents.

Multifamily Housing:

• Affordable Assisted Living/Nursing Home Conversation Demo - A joint initiative of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) and WHEDA to help existing nursing homes transition into alternative care options.

• S.O.S. Initiative - Provides financing to preserve existing affordable housing.

• Tax Credit Development Financing - Offers competitive, fixed-rate financing designed specifically for tax credit developments.

• Tax-Exempt Bond Financing - Provides long-term below market interest rate financing for the construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing.

Small Business Programs:

• Contractors Loan Guarantee - Helps contractors complete contracts and build their business.

• Linked Deposit Loan Subsidy - Provides an interest rate subsidy on lender financing to women or minorities who start-up or expand a business.

• Neighborhood Business Revitalization Guarantee -  The NBRG helps to bring or expand business, or develop or rehabilitate commercial real estate in an urban area.

• WHEDA Small Business Guarantee - helps to acquire or expand a small business with favorable financing terms.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Financial Program Descriptions and Forms for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (All Programs). The DNR does an outstanding job of organizing and describing all of its financial assistance programs on this page.

Bureau of Community Financial Assistance Programs:

• All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trails - Provides funds to accommodate all-terrain vehicles through the acquiring, insuring, developing, and maintaining of all-terrain vehicle trails and areas, including routes.

• Clean Sweep Household Hazardous Waste Collection Grant Program - Provides funding and assistance for Clean Sweep programs, which  are central collection programs for household hazardous wastes conducted periodically by municipalities. There is no direct link to the Clean Sweep Program at this time, but check the DNR web-site to see if it has been added since the editing of this resource (9-15-06)

• Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Program - a reimbursement program for dry cleaners for the investigation and cleanup costs of dry cleaning facilities.

• Forest Fire Protection Grant Program - Grants are awarded to municipal fire departments and other fire suppression organizations on a 50-50 cost share basis to purchase tools, equipment, materials and training.

• Gypsy Moth Suppression Program 2002 - Cost sharing is available for the costs associated with spraying and administering spraying on both public and private lands.

• Nelson Knowles Stewardship Program - Provides funding for municipalities and nonprofit conservation organizations for land acquisition, habitat restoration, and development of recreational facilities.

• Off-Road Motorcycle Recreation Area Trails

• Recreational Trails Program - Towns, villages, cities, counties, tribal governing bodies, school districts, state agencies, federal agencies or incorporated organizations are eligible to apply for up to 80% of the total project costs of a recreational trail project.

• Snowmobile Recreation Program - Provides funding for the development and maintenance of public snowmobile trails.

• Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control Grant Program - A public applicant for wildlife abatement assistance is eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 50% of grant-eligible costs, not to exceed a maximum of $5,000.

• Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program - County Fire Associations are eligible for 50-50 cost sharing for the purchase of fire protection equipment and training.

Environmental Loans:

• The Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP) - Provides loans to municipalities for wastewater treatment and urban storm water projects.

• The Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) - Provides loans to public water systems to build, upgrade, or replace water supply infrastructure to protect public health and address federal and state safe drinking water requirements.

• The Land Recycling (Brownfields) Loan Program (LRLP) - Provides low cost loans to cities, villages, counties and towns for the purpose of remediating environmental contamination (brownfields) at landfills, sites or facilities where contamination has affected or threatens to affect groundwater or surface water. Redevelopment and housing authorities are also eligible.

Environmental Financial Assistance Grants (EF):

• Lake Planning Grant - Provides funding for municipalities and lake management organizations for the collection of information needed to manage lakes.

• Lake Protection and Classification Grants  - Provides up to 75% state cost sharing assistance to carry out lake protection, restoration, and improvement projects. 

• Municipal Flood Control Program - An assistance package available to all cities, villages, towns and metropolitan sewerage districts concerned with municipal flood control management. Assistance is provided in two ways: (1) Local Assistance Grants that support municipal flood control administrative activities, and (2) Acquisition and Development Grants to acquire and remove floodplain structures, elevate floodplain structures, restore riparian areas, acquire land and easements for flood storage, construct flood control structures, and fund flood mapping projects.

• Recycling Efficiency Incentive Grants  - Provides financial assistance to local units of government to establish and operate effective recycling programs.

• The Recycling Grants to Responsible Units Program - Provides financial assistance to local units of government to establish and operate effective recycling programs.

• River Protection Grant Program - Provides state financial help to protect rivers under a program that aims to prevent water quality, fisheries habitat, and natural beauty from deteriorating as the number of homes and recreational, industrial, and other uses increases along rivers.

• The Site Assessment Grant Program (SAG) - Helps local governments conduct initial activities and investigations of known or suspected environmentally contaminated property.

• The Waste Reduction and Recycling Demonstration Grant Program - Funds innovative waste reduction and recycling projects on a pilot or demonstration scale.

• The Well Compensation Grant Program - Funding is available for solving water contamination problems associated with private wells.

• Wisconsin's Priority Watershed and Priority Lake Program - Provides financial assistance to local units of government in selected watersheds to address land management activities which contribute to urban and rural runoff.

Wisconsin Humanities Council:

Established in 1972 as an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Wisconsin Humanities Council supports public programs that engage the people of Wisconsin in the exploration of human cultures, ideas, and values. To accomplish its mission, the council awards grants to support programs in libraries, museums, universities, historical societies, schools, and other nonprofit settings throughout the state:

• Planning grants (up to $500) give first-time applicants or other organizations funds to get the help they need in planning and writing a grant proposal. They are awarded six times a year.
   
• Mini-grants range in amount up to $2,000, and are awarded six times per year.
   
• Major grants, for amounts greater than $2,000 and up to $10,000, are awarded three times per year.
• Media grants,

Wisconsin Department of Tourism 

• The Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) program through the Wisconsin Department of Tourism provides partnership funding to help non-profit organizations promote tourism and to maintain a strong tourism industry in the state.  Five different grant options are available through the JEM program:

1. Destination Marketing.  This program is designed to support efforts to increase tourism and convention travel during the shoulder season.  The objective of the grant is to create a brand image that highlights the best features, provides an economic impact to the area and assists in the creation and development of regional partnerships. 
    

2. New Event.  The New Event program funds promotional activities associated with an event not previously held in a community.  It is designed for an event that intends to be repeated regularly.
    

3. Sales Promotion.  This is an effort that assists a program offering a substantial incentive for a limited period of time (usually 6 to 8 weeks), to persuade targeted customers to visit an area.  
    

4. Existing Event.  This category awards funding for advertising in a new geographic market for advertising directed at a new demographic audience or advertising placed in a new medium.  Markets, media and audiences should be chosen based on their potential to increase event attendance.
    

5. One Time, One-of-a-Kind Event.  This program provides funding for an event that is so unique that the likelihood of it being repeated again is minimal.  The project must be able to substantiate the undeniable significance of the project and its ability to generate Midwest or national publicity.

 Wisconsin Department of Transportation

• Transportation Economic Assistance Program (TEA) - The Transportation Economic Assistance program provides 50% state grants to governing bodies, private businesses, and consortiums for road, rail, harbor and airport projects that help attract employers to Wisconsin, or encourage business and industry to remain and expand in the state. The applications are ranked based on cost per job ($5,000 maximum), county unemployment rate, benefits to the regional transportation system, and proximity to previously approved TEA projects. The 50% local match can come from any combination of local, federal, or private funds or in-kind services.
   

• Transportation Enhancement Program (part of the Statewide Multi-modal Improvement Program (SMIP) - The transportation enhancements program provides for the implementation of a variety of non-traditional projects, with examples ranging from landscaping and scenic beautification to the mitigation of water pollution from highway runoff. Most of the requests and projects awarded in Wisconsin have been for bicycle facilities.

Wisconsin Environmental Education Board:

• The Wisconsin Environmental Education Board awards grants for the development, dissemination and implementation of environmental education programs in five program areas:  general environmental education, forestry education, school forest, energy education and mini-grants.  Public and nonpublic educational institutions, all units of government and corporations (nonprofit, non-stock) are eligible for these grants.
  

FEDERAL PROGRAMS:

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance - This web site gives you access to a database of all Federal programs available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals. You can search this database to find assistance programs meeting your requirements and for which you are eligible. You can then contact the office that administers the program and find out how to apply. To find assistance programs, try the "search" feature

A few words of caution about this resource: 
1) Many of the programs that are listed in the Catalog are not actually funded.

2) Many federal programs (e.g. HUD, TEA-21, CDBG) are administered through individual states that have different priorities and processes than those listed in the Catalog. 

3) The catalog is a bit overwhelming, but the "search" key makes for pretty smooth sailing. Keep in mind that the federal government awards about $325 billion in grants each year under more than 600 federal programs!

Given the number and complexity of many of the federal assistance programs we are only going to highlight a few of the 600 programs which can be found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.........

Inter-Agency Electronic Grants Committee (IAEGC) - The IAEGC encourages and assists federal agencies in developing electronic grants systems and standardizing electronic commerce methodologies throughout the federal government.

Health and Human Services

HHS awards roughly half of the $325 billion in federal grants issued each year under more then 600 federal programs.

• HHS Funding Opportunities - This portal page attempts to incorporate HHS Funding Opportunities from multiple web sites. Some hotlinks will cover more than one type of opportunity.
   
• GrantsNet - GrantsNet is an Internet application tool created by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Grants Management (OGM) for finding and exchanging information about HHS and other Federal grant programs. GrantsNet serves the general public, the grantee community, and grant-makers (i.e. state and local governments, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and commercial businesses). GrantsNet provides a variety of Department-wide grants policies governing the award and administration of grant activities, publishing these in grants policy directives, regulations, and/or manuals.

Economic Development Administration

The EDA was created to generate jobs, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the country.  The funding priorities of the EDA are to:

1. Upgrade core business infrastructure (transportation, communication and training infrastructure).
    

2. Implement regional economic development strategies (benchmarking, collaboration, leadership and organizational strategies).
    

3. Encourage cluster development (research and implementation regarding cluster-focused and innovation focused business development efforts).

Federal Aviation Administration

Airport Improvement Program - Funding assistance to airport owners for airport development projects may come from federal aid, state aid, or the state's Advance Land Acquisition Loan Program. Federal aid is provided under provisions of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). These funds are available by individual grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Primary Commercial Service airports and a Block Grant for general aviation airports. The Department distributes federal block grant funds and state funds for airport improvement projects through individual funding allocations or “Findings” which are approved by the Governor. The airport owner makes their contribution upon request from the Department. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

For a complete list of FEMA grant opportunities – organized by category of use – click here. 

Community Disaster Loan Program -Provides funds to any eligible jurisdiction in a designated disaster area that has suffered a substantial loss of tax and other revenue. 

Fire Management Assistance Grant Program - Assistance for the mitigation, management, and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands, which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. 

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program - Provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. 

Public Assistance Grant Program - Provides assistance to alleviate suffering and hardship resulting from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President. 

Reimbursement for Firefighting on Federal Property -  Provides reimbursement only for direct costs and losses over and above normal operating costs. 

Flood Mitigation Assistance Program - Provides funding to assist States and communities in implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the NFIP. 

National Flood Insurance Program - Enables property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance as a protection against flood losses in exchange for State and community floodplain management regulations that reduce future flood damages. 

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program -Provides funds for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event. 

Repetitive Flood Claims Program - Provides funding to States and communities to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the NFIP that have had one or more claims for flood damages, and that can not meet the requirements of the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program for either cost share or capacity to manage the activities. 

Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program -  Improves preparedness to protect the people of certain communities in the unlikely event of an accident involving this country's stockpiles of obsolete chemical munitions. 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) - Supports programs designed to improve capabilities associated with oil and hazardous materials emergency planning and exercising.  http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/government.shtm - scroll down the site to find a PDF for this program.

Cooperating Technical Partners -  Provides technical assistance, training, and/or data to support flood hazard data development activities. 

Emergency Food and Shelter Program - Supplements the work of local social service organizations within the United States, both private and governmental, to help people in need of emergency assistance. 

Map Modernization Management Support -  Provides funding to supplement, not supplant, ongoing flood hazard mapping management efforts by the local, regional, or State agencies. 

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act - Provides funding for training in emergency planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities associated with hazardous chemicals.

Assistance to Firefighters Grant -  Provides assistance to local fire departments to protect citizens and firefighters against the effects of fire and fire-related incidents. 

Emergency Management Institute - Provides training and education to the fire service, its allied professions, emergency management officials, and the general public.

National Fire Academy Education and Training - Provides training to increase the professional level of the fire service and others responsible for fire prevention and control.

Department of Homeland Security

The Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) - Provides funding to enhance the ability of states, territories, and urban areas to prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks and other major disasters. HSGP funds can be used for preparedness planning, equipment acquisition, training, exercises, management, and administration.

The HSGP includes five distinct programs:

• State Homeland Security Grant Program - Supports the implementation of the State Homeland Security Strategy to address the identified planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs for acts of terrorism. In addition, SHSP supports the implementation of the National Preparedness Goal, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Plan.
• Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program (UASI) - Funds address the unique planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high threat, high density urban areas, and assist them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.
• Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP)  - Focuses upon the prevention of terrorist attacks and provides law enforcement and public safety communities with funds to support the following activities: intelligence gathering and information sharing through enhancing/establishing fusion centers; hardening high-value targets; planning strategically; continuing to build interoperable communications; and collaborating with non-law enforcement partners, other government agencies and the private sector.
• Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) Grant Program  - Supports MMRS jurisdictions to further enhance and sustain an integrated, systematic mass casualty incident preparedness program that enables a first response during the first crucial hours of an incident.
• Citizen Corps – This is the Department of Homeland Security’s grassroots initiative that encourages citizens to play a role in hometown security through personal preparedness and coordinated by over 1,200 local Citizen Corps Council nationwide. CCP funds support Citizen Corps Council efforts to engage citizens in all-hazards prevention, protection, response and recovery.

The Department of Homeland Security’s web-site also lists numerous related grant programs administered by other federal agencies.  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=18

Justice Department

The Justice Department offers funding opportunities to conduct research, to support law enforcement activities in state and local jurisdictions, to provide training and technical assistance, and to implement programs that improve the criminal justice system.

National Encowment for the Arts  

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

The following is a sample of its grant programs:

Grants for Arts Projects:  The National Endowment for the Arts' primary funding opportunities for organizations. 

Within each field or discipline, organizations may apply through one of the following categories:

• Access to Artistic Excellence: To encourage and support artistic excellence, preserve our cultural heritage, and provide access to the arts for all Americans. An organization may request a grant amount from $5,000 to $150,000.

• Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants: To support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Grants are for $10,000.

• Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth: To advance arts education for children and youth in school-based or community-based settings. An organization may request a grant amount from $5,000 to $150,000.

For a complete listing: http://arts.endow.gov/grants/apply/index.html

National Endowment for the Humanities:

NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The following is a sample of its grant programs, for a complete listing, click here.

• Challenge Grants - help institutions and organizations secure long-term support for, and improvements in, their humanities programs and resources. With the exception of elementary and secondary schools, any U.S. nonprofit institution (public agency or private nonprofit organization) working wholly or in part with the humanities may apply for a challenge grant. 
   

• Fellowship and Faculty Research Awards - Fellowships and Faculty Research Awards support individuals pursuing advanced research in the humanities that contributes to scholarly knowledge or to the general public's understanding of the humanities. Recipients usually produce scholarly articles, monographs on specialized subjects, books on broad topics, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly tools.
   

• Extending the Reach: Institutional Grants for Historically Black, Hispanic-Serving, and Tribal Colleges and Universities - Institutional Grants enrich the humanities at Historically Black, Hispanic-Serving, and Tribal Colleges and Universities by improving their ability to teach, conduct research, and support learning at the undergraduate level and throughout life. 
   

• Preservation Assistance Grants - Preservation Assistance Grants can help libraries, archives, museums and historical organizations enhance their capacity to preserve their humanities collections. To be eligible, your organization must: be a nonprofit, U.S. organization or institution; care for and own humanities collections; have at least one professional staff member or the full time equivalent (whether paid or unpaid); and be open and provide services or programs at least 120 days per year.
   

• Preservation and Access Education and Training Grants - are given to support education and training programs at the national or regional (multistate) level that focus on the care of library, archival, and material culture collections. Grants are also made to create or enhance regional preservation field services which provide surveys, consultations, training courses, and informational materials to the staff of institutions responsible for the care of humanities collections.
   

• Preserving and Creating Access to Humanities Collections - Grants are given to preserve and create intellectual access to archival collections, art, material culture, and special collections. Projects may encompass the cataloging of printed works; arrangement, description, and preservation of archival and manuscript collections; archival surveys; the development of oral history collections; cataloging and preservation of graphics, still and moving images, and recorded sound collections, as well as their transfer to more stable media or digital reformatting; cataloging and documentation of material culture collections; mass deacidification of items not yet embrittled; conservation treatments; creating digital surrogates to enhance intellectual accessibility.
   

• Summer Seminars and Institutes - provide school teachers and college and university teachers with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of humanities scholarship and teaching through intensive study of significant topics, texts, and issues. Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations established in the United States, and units of state and local government are eligible to apply for support. 

Small Business Administration::

The SBA does not offer direct loans or grants to businesses for start-ups or expansions.  However, it does provide loan guarantees to lenders who believe that the business loan application needs additional support.  The loan guarantee assures the lender that in the event the borrower does not repay the loan, the government will reimburse the lender for a portion of the loss.  By providing this guaranty, the SBA is able to help tens of thousands of small businesses every year to obtain financing that they would not otherwise obtain.

The Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation is a not-for-profit lender and technical assistance provider that currently completes more then 95% of Small Business Administration 504 development company loans done in the state.

New this year is the Supplementary Terrorist Activity Relief (STAR) program to reduce the on-going fee charged to lenders on new loans made to small businesses that were adversely affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and their aftermath.  

SBA Women's Business Center - A Women's Business Center is a 5-year community-based project that is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration through a grant that requires matching funds. The project is a planned scope of activities that provide business skills services targeted to women and others.

USDA Rural Development

Rural Development offers a variety of funding opportunities to communities, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes and businesses, organized under three categories: 1) Business and Community; 2)Houseing; and 3)Utilities.  The Wisconsin Rural Development office for USDA has its own web site which can be visited by clicking here.

Business and Community

Business and Community programs offer a variety of assistance to rural business and communities. The programs revolve around financial partnerships with local economic organizations such as banks, lenders, economic development groups, cities, counties, tribes, and utility cooperatives.  For a list of business and community grant and loan programs, click here.

Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans - Loan purposes include purchase and expansion of land, equipment, buildings, working capital, aquaculture, commercial nurseries, tourist and recreation facilities, hotels, motels, community facility projects, housing development sites, apartment buildings and the purchase of stock in a cooperative where commodities are being produced by the members for processing by the cooperative.

Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants - Provides funding for essential community facilities such as municipal buildings, day care centers, and health and safety facilities. Examples include fire halls, fire trucks, clinics, nursing homes, and hospitals. CF loans and grants may also be used for such things as activity centers for the handicapped, schools, libraries, and other community buildings. 

Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans - Funding for essential community facilities  such as day care, hospitals, schools, clinics, roads, fire halls, etc.

Cooperative Development Technical Assistance – Provides technical assistance to help rural residents form new cooperative businesses or to use the cooperative model to address unmet social or economic needs. 

Intermediary Relending Program - Money is lent to private non-profit corporations, any state or local government, an Indian Tribe, or a cooperative which in turn is re-lent by the intermediary to the ultimate recipients. The ultimate recipient must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere at reasonable rates and terms. 

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants - Helps agricultural producers or rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption in order to meet the nation’s critical energy needs. 

Rural Business Opportunity Grants - Provides technical assistance, training, and planning activities that improve economic conditions in rural areas and cities and villages with a population of 10,000 or less. 

Rural Business Enterprise Grants - For financing and developing small and emerging private businesses with less than $1 million in revenues, and which will have fewer than 50 new employees. Funds can be used for technical assistance, revolving loan program, incubator/industrial buildings, and industrial park improvements. 

Rural Cooperative Development Grants - For establishing and operating centers for cooperative development. The grant program will be used to facilitate the creation or retention of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives and operational involvement of existing cooperatives by the centers. Cooperative development activities by the centers include the startup, expansion, or operational improvement of a cooperative. 

Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants - Helps develop projects that will result in a sustainable increase in economic productivity, job creation, and incomes in rural areas. Projects may include business start-ups and expansion, community development, incubator projects, medical and training projects, and feasibility studies.  

Value Added Producer Grants  - Enables eligible agricultural producers to develop businesses that produce and market value-added agricultural products. 

Housing

Housing programs deliver a variety of assistance to support the housing needs of rural people. Most involve direct assistance by the USDA, while others work through local partnerships.  For a list of housing programs, click here

Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants - Provides low cost financing for the development of affordable rental housing for both year-round and migrant "domestic farm laborers" and their households. These programs may be used to build, buy, improve, or repair farm labor housing and provide related facilities, such as on-site child care centers. 

Housing Preservation Grants - Provide qualified public nonprofit organizations and public agencies funding to assist very low and low income homeowners repair and rehabilitate their homes in rural areas. 

Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans - Loans for the development of affordable rental housing in rural communities for seniors, individuals, and families. Low and very-low income households are targeted as tenants, but moderate income households are also eligible. 

Repair Loans and Grants - Low interest home improvement loans and grants designed for very low income individuals. Funding can be used for making repairs, installing essential features, or to remove health and safety hazards. 

Rural Housing Site Loans - Short term loans to finance development costs of subdivisions located in communities with a population of 10,000 or less (selected communities with a population between 10,000 and 20,000 are also eligible). Developed lots are to be sold to families with low to moderate household income.  

Self Help Technical Assistance Grants - Pay the cost of developing and administering a program of technical and supervisory assistance to aid the very low and low income families in building their own homes. The dual purpose of this program is to fund organizations that are willing to locate and work with families that otherwise do not qualify as homeowners and help those families learn the skills of maintaining a home by participating in its construction. 

Single Family Housing Direct Loans - For families seeking financing to purchase (existing or new construction), repair, or improve a home. This subsidized housing program offers loan benefits as down payment assistance to enable purchase with a loan through a private lending source (Rural Development accepts a junior lien behind the primary lender) or as a sole source of assistance for purchase, repair, or improvement. 

Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loans - Provides moderate income families with access to affordable home ownership in eligible rural areas.  

Utilities

Grant and loan program help rural utilities expand and keep their technology up to date, helping establish new and vital services such as distance learning and telemedicine.  For a listing of utility programs, click here.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants - Used to create or improve telecommunications, computer networks, and related technology for rural communities, to improve access to education and/or medicinal services. 

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants - Available to rural communities when disaster strikes. Congress may appropriate funds for the program after a flood, earthquake, or other disaster if the county or area has been designated eligible under a presidential emergency declaration. 

Rural Water Circuit Rider Technical Assistance - Provides on-site assistance to help assure cost-effective operation of rural water systems. The assistance is provided at no charge and compliments supervisory assistance provided by Rural Development personnel. 

Solid Waste Management Grants - Help reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources and to improve planning and management of solid waste sites. 

Technical Assistance and Training Grants - Used to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems in rural areas, to assist in preparation of Rural Development grants, and to improve operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal in rural areas. 

Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants - Provides funding for community water, sewer, storm sewer and solid waste systems.