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National Funding Opportunities

EPA has developed this guide of national funding resources to assist local and state governments, communities, and non-governmental organizations who are addressing the varied aspects of smart growth. Click here for state-specific resources. [link to new state funding page]

Please note that this list is not an exhaustive compilation of all possible funding resources in the smart growth arena. It lists federal resources and directories of funding sources maintained by outside organizations.

For all available federal grants, see www.grants.gov, and for all federal funding programs, see the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

Affordable Housing and Community Development

PolicyLink: Affordable Housing Development 101 Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
An overview of how funding for affordable housing is distributed among state and federal government agencies and discussion of local government initiatives and financial institution programs that support affordable housing.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Hope VI Main Street Grants
Provides assistance to smaller communities in the development of affordable housing in connection with a Main Street revitalization effort.

U.S. Department of the Treasury: Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Provides small infusions of capital to institutions that serve distressed communities and low-income individuals.

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Brownfields

SMARTe: Sources of Money Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Lists a variety of financing strategies used in site revitalization, including public grants, subsidized low-interest loans, revolving loan funds, bonds, taxes and special assessments, and private financing.

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development: Brownfields Economic Development Initiative
Competitive grant program to assist cities with the redevelopment of abandoned, idled, and underused industrial and commercial facilities where expansion and redevelopment is burdened by real or potential environmental contamination.

U.S. EPA Brownfields Program: Grants and Funding
EPA's Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, and environmental job training and provides technical information on brownfields financing matters.

U.S. EPA: Available Brownfields Funding Mechanisms
Provides suggestions for locating and leveraging cleanup and redevelopment capital.

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Energy

U.S. Department of Energy: State Energy Program
Provides funding to states to design and carry out energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

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Foundations

Environmental Grantmakers Association Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Coalition of more than 225 foundations that give environmental grants.

Foundation Center Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Helps grant-seekers find foundations to match their needs.

Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Offers a searchable database of foundations that support various elements of smart growth.

Smart Growth Gateway: Smart Growth Grantmakers Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Lists some foundations that give grants for smart growth-related efforts.

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General Smart Growth or Environmental

Council of Development Finance Agencies Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
CDFA lists resources on tools including tax credits, bonds, and tax-increment financing.

Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network: Grant/Loan Resources Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
List of grant and loan programs focused on sustainability.

Red Lodge Clearinghouse: Funding Search Database Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Searchable database of funding sources.

Smart Growth Gateway: Federal Government Funding Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Lists federal agency programs that support smart growth efforts.

U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration: Funding Opportunities
Funding available from EDA for economic development.

U.S. EPA: Environmental Justice Grant Programs
Financial assistance to eligible organizations to build collaborative partnerships, identify local environmental and/or public health issues, and envision solutions and empower the community through education, training, and outreach.

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Green Building

U.S. EPA Green Building Guide to Funding Opportunities
Lists a variety of funding sources including grants, tax credits, and loans.

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Historic Preservation

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Sources of Financial Assistance for Historic Preservation Projects
Online guide that outlines the range of historic preservation funding options.

National Park Service: Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Preservation Tax Incentives encourage private investment in rehabilitating historic properties to generate jobs and low- and moderate-income housing.

National Park Service: Historic Preservation Fund Grants
The HPF provides matching grants to encourage private and non-federal investment in historic preservation efforts nationwide.

National Trust for Historic Preservation: Find Funding Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Links to funding resources for a wide variety of historic preservation projects.

National Trust for Historic Preservation: Rehabilitation Tax Credits Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Online resource on federal and state rehabilitation tax credits.

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Land Preservation and Conservation

Land Trust Alliance: Grants Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Lists sources for funding land trust activities.

National Park Service: Land and Water Conservation Fund

LWCF grant funds may be used for state planning and for acquisition and development of state and local recreational facilities.

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Rural and Agricultural

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service: Conservation Innovation Grants
Intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service: Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
Provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses.

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Rural Development Funding
Funding opportunities for rural development.

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Transportation (includes trails, bike, pedestrian)

Active Living Resource Center: Safe Routes to School Funding Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Lists places to obtain funds for safe routes to school programs.

American Trails: Federal Funding Programs Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Federal funding programs relevant to trails and greenways.

Federal Highway Administration: Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding
Lists federal funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Federal Highway Administration: Transportation Enhancements
The transportation enhancements program funds projects that expand transportation choices. Funding is distributed through states.

Federal Transit Administration: Grant Programs
Lists the major grant programs that FTA sponsors.

National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse: Funding Sources Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Links to funding for transportation enhancements programs.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
Funding sources and strategies that can support and institutionalize bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

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Water Quality, Wetlands, and Coasts

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coastal Services Center: Funding Opportunities
Fellowship and funding opportunities from NOAA's Coastal Services Center.

U. S. EPA: Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection
Searchable database of financial assistance sources (grants, loans, cost-sharing) to fund watershed protection projects.

U.S. EPA: Watershed Funding
Tools, databases, and information about sources of funding to protect watersheds.

U.S. EPA: Wetlands Financial Assistance
Financial assistance opportunities to help states and tribes protect and manage wetlands.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
Provides matching grants to states to acquire, restore, manage, or enhance coastal wetlands.

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