Recent Grants

Earmarks, or Congressionally Directed Spending, are appropriations defined in the relevant fiscal year appropriation bill specifically for a particular organization for a high-priority project within the district(s) of one or more Members of Congress.

Department of Labor

Employment and Training Administration -Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act demonstration program is the only Labor Department program that supports community project funding. Community project funding is designated under Training and Employment Services. These projects must meet all statutorily mandated requirements, except that they are exempt from the requirement to compete. In addition, all projects must:

1. Include direct services to individuals to enhance employment opportunities
2. Demonstrate evidence of a linkage with the State or local workforce investment system; and
3. include an evaluation component. 

Community project funding cannot be used for the construction or renovation of facilities. 

Department of Health and Human Service

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - Program Management

Grants to help with the cost of construction, renovation, or capital equipment for facilities for provision of health, mental health, or substance abuse services, training of health professionals, or medical research. Examples of eligible facilities include hospitals; health centers and clinics; skilled nursing facilities; mental health centers; facilities for schools of medicine, nursing or other health professions; and medical research laboratories. In addition to construction and renovation, grants can be used to acquire capital equipment, such as lab equipment, x-ray machines, and telehealth and information technology equipment. Equipment-only grants—that is, grants not involving construction—are permissible (and commonly done).

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - Health Surveillance and Program Support

Community project funding through SAMHSA provides resources for substance use and/or mental health services — including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, or recovery support services

Generally, SAMHSA projects cover • Evidence-based substance use disorder and/or mental health treatment services. • Evidence-based harm reduction activities. • Crisis services, including 24-hour mobile crisis teams. • Suicide prevention activities include awareness training, screening, referral to treatment, as well as postvention activities. and many other program types. See url for more information https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements-2022

SAMHSA project funds cannot be used for • Inpatient treatment or hospital-based detoxification services. • Direct payments to individuals to enter treatment or continue to participate in prevention or treatment services. • Meals and food. • Research projects (e.g., scientific, academic, clinical trials, studies, development of research technology). • Construction (other than a limited amount of renovation necessary to carry out a funded project).

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Community project funding within ACF should be submitted through the Children and Families Services Programs account and must fall under one of the following categories:

Administration for Community Living (ACL) 

Community project funding within ACL should be submitted through the Aging and Disability Services Programs account. Community project funding may be used for projects to improve or create new opportunities for older adults, individuals of all ages with disabilities, and their eligible family caregivers, to live independently and participate fully in their communities. Generally, community project funding should focus on improving access to, or the quality of, education, health services, training, support services, and independent living services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and eligible family caregivers.

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education - Innovation and Improvement, Fund for the Improvement of Education

Community project funding for elementary and secondary education should be submitted through the Innovation and Improvement account. Elementary and secondary education community project funding includes instructional services, afterschool centers, curricula development, teacher training, acquisition of books and computers, arts education, social and emotional learning activities, full-service community schools, and early childhood education. In general, the focus of elementary and secondary education community project funding should be providing early childhood or K-12 educational services.

Postsecondary Education - Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)

Community project funding can be designated under this heading for a wide variety of higher education projects. Generally, community project funding should focus on improving access to, or the quality of, postsecondary education. Community project funding cannot be used for construction or renovation of academic buildings, except in the case of minor remodeling required as part of technology upgrades. Examples of the types of projects that can be funded under FIPSE include projects to hire and train faculty, establish and improve degree programs, improve teacher preparation programs, develop and improve curricula, upgrade technology and telecommunications, acquire science laboratory equipment, provide student support, implement university partnerships with school districts, and establish research and training centers.