Grants and Funding Opportunities
Federal and state grant programs are a valuable resource for counties. They offer a funding stream for specific projects that might otherwise have to be funded through the General Fund, if they would even be pursued at all.
This page provides a listing of available grant programs through both the federal government and the state government. It will be updated as application windows open and close and as new programs are announced. If you are aware of a program that is not listed but you believe should be, please email Research Analyst Nick Ciolli.
If you have questions specific to a particular grant, please contact the applicable member of the Policy Team:
- Managing Director of Policy Kyle Petty: Justice and public safety
- Senior Policy Analyst Jon Honeck: General government functions, infrastructure
- Outreach and Member Engagement Manager Rachel Reedy: General government functions, human services, workforce development
- Policy Analyst James Kennedy: Water quality, rural affairs
Two notes regarding the "Eligibility Criteria" column in the tables below: First, only the criteria under which county governments can apply are listed. An entry of "county governments" is not meant to imply that the grant is available to only counties. Second, some of the grant programs listed below may not be available to county governments. These are listed because, while the county itself may be unable to apply, other organizations such as non-profits may be able to, and the purpose of the grant is one of value that counties may recommend organizations apply for. These grants will be noted as such under the "Eligibility Criteria" column by the inclusion of "[non-county grant]".
State Grant Programs
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Grant Program
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Brief Summary
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Eligibility Criteria
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Amount Available
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Application Due Date
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Ohio Reentry Coalition Expansion Grant |
This is a one-time grant opportunity and agencies must be able to sustain creations and/or expansions of coalitions/services beyond the grant. Funds must be used solely for direct services to individuals released from incarceration. |
Not-for-profit community service agencies registered in Ohio, existing coalitions, tax-exempt or government agencies and local jurisdictions experienced in dealing with justice-involved people are eligible to apply for funding. |
$500,000 total available, no match required.
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October 21
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H2Ohio Conservation Ditch Program |
This is a reimbursement grant program that provides up to 100 percent project funding for conservation ditch construction in any county in Ohio. |
County engineers and soil and water conservation districts |
$5 million available
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October 31
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Capacity Building |
To help develop internal organizational projects that engage the services of outside experts to improve practices, build skills, and/or engage in planning. |
Government entities that provide arts programming |
Max award: $5,000
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November 1 (rolling applications)
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Grant Funded Brownfield Technical Assistance |
To help cover costs associated with providing technical assistance by Ohio EPA staff with property assessment and cleanup. |
Local governments, councils of governments, land banks, and others |
Max award: $150,000
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December 29
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Due to the volume of available federal grants, instead of presenting them in a single table as done for state grants, they are grouped into tables based on what month the applications are due.
In addition to this page, another useful resource for information regarding federal grants available to counties is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resource page hosted by NACo. Some may be posted here as well but we recommend you keep tabs on both pages.
Counties may also find the following links regarding how to use SAM.gov, the main federal intergovernmental assistance portal, useful: A presentation slide deck and the accompanying recording, as well as a one-page guide.
July - September Closing Date
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Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program |
To fund financial, technical, and legal assistance to states and rural and tribal communities. The grants are intended to increase organizational capacity in communities that may not have resources available to evaluate and develop projects that qualify for federal funding and financing programs. |
County governments |
$3.4 million available |
September 28 |
Neighborhood Access and Equity Program |
To provide funds for projects that improve walkability, safety, and affordable transportation access through context-sensitive strategies and address existing transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity or negative impacts on the human or natural environment, especially in disadvantaged or underserved communities. |
County governments |
$3.2 billion available |
September 28 |
Youth Homeless Demonstration Program |
To quickly re-house homeless individuals, families, persons fleeing domestic violence, and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless; and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness. |
County governments |
$3.1 billion available |
September 28 |
Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program |
To support planning and capital construction activities that aim to restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation or replacement of highways, roadways, or other infrastructure facilities that create barriers to mobility, access or economic development. |
County governments |
$198 million available
|
September 28 |
Coastal Program, FY 2023 |
To design and implement coastal habitat protection and restoration strategies, particularly by increasing resiliency and adaptability to environmental changes. |
County governments |
$6 million available
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September 30 |
Partners for Fish and Wildlife, FY 2023 |
Provides assistance to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat (the grant generally defines "private" as land not held by a state or the federal government; county-owned land may be eligible). |
County governments (projects must be on private lands, which for the purpose of this grant generally means non-state or federally owned; county-owned land may be eligible) |
$15 million available
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September 30 |
October - December Closing Date
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Recompete Pilot Program Phase 1 |
To alleviate persistent economic distress and support long-term comprehensive economic development and job creation, in places with a high prime-age (25 to 54 years) employment gap. |
County governments |
$12 million available |
October 5 |
HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program |
To provide grants to small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district, or “Main Street” area, by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. |
County governments |
$2 million available |
October 12 |
Publishing Historical Records |
To publish online editions of historical records and to provide access to, and editorial context for, the historical documents and records that tell the American story. |
County governments |
$4 million available |
November 2 |
Public Engagement with Historical Records |
To form collaborations among archivists, educators, historians (including documentary editors) and people working in community- based archives to involve the public in discovering and using historical records. |
County governments |
$600,000 available |
November 2 |
Archival Projects |
To support archival projects that will significantly improve online public discovery and use of historical records collections, particularly projects that engage the public, expand civic education, and promote understanding of the nation’s history, democracy, and culture from the founding era to the present day. The Commission encourages projects focused on collections of America’s early legal records, such as the records of colonial, territorial, county, and early statehood and tribal proceedings that document the evolution of the nation’s legal history. |
County governments |
$1.2 million available |
November 2 |