NSDA Weekly Grant Update: November 21, 2025
This is your weekly grant opportunities update from The National Special Districts Association. Special districts are either eligible to apply directly, or able to partner with a qualifying entity to apply for any of the grants listed.
Upcoming Opportunities
Due to the recent federal government shutdown, the release of several key federal funding opportunities has been delayed. TFG anticipates these programs, including BUILD, WaterSMART, and GRIP will now be released within the upcoming weeks and months.
Recent grant opportunities have had relatively shorter solicitation periods, making early preparation especially important. TFG strongly encourages you to begin your grant preparation now to ensure you are ready when new applications are released. Reach out to your TFG client manager today to get started.
New Grant Opportunities
Department of Agriculture
FY 2026 Advanced Biofuel Payment Program
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program will support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels by providing payments to eligible advanced biofuel producers. This program is intended to increase American energy independence by increasing the private sector supply of renewable energy.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are entities that produce and sell advanced biofuel, including corporations, companies, foundations, associations, labor organizations, firms, partnerships, societies, joint-stock companies, governmental entities, schools and other types of educational facilities, groups of organizations, and nonprofits.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified
- WHEN IS IT DUE? December 15, 2025
Department of Energy
FY 2026 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Mines & Metals Capacity Expansion – Piloting Byproduct Critical Minerals & Materials Recovery at Domestic Industrial Facilities
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to increase domestic production of critical materials, reduce reliance on foreign imports, and strengthen the U.S. supply chain for energy and defense sectors.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are domestic entities, which include institutions of higher education, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, state and local government entities, and Indian Tribes.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $275 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? December 15, 2025
Department of Energy
FY 2026 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Mine of the Future – Proving Ground Initiative
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to establish mining technology proving grounds that accelerate novel technology development for the U.S. mining sector. These competitive awards would invest in the infrastructure and technologies to transform mining practices and speed the development of secure and resilient domestic Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) supply networks of the future.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are domestic entities, which include institutions of higher education, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, state and local government entities, and Indian Tribes.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $80 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? December 15, 2025
Department of Housing and Urban Development
FY 2025 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program promotes a communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by supporting collaborative efforts by nonprofit providers, states, Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities, and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals; families; persons fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and special district governments; Native American tribal governments and organizations; public and Indian housing authorities; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education; and faith-based organizations.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $3.918 billion
- WHEN IS IT DUE? January 14, 2026
Latest Grant News
EPA Announces $7 Billion in Newly Available WIFIA Funding and Five New WIFIA Loan Approvals
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