Federal Grant Opportunities: 12-16-2025

Federal Grant Opportunities: December 16, 2025

My office is sharing the following information on federal grant opportunities available to you.

If you are applying for a grant that accepts Congressional letters of support, or if you are seeking additional information or guidance in your application process, please contact our office. We stand ready to assist you.

Important Information for Farmers

Farmer Bridge Assistance Program - Ensure 2025 Acreage Reporting is Accurate by December 19 Deadline
- The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program aims to provide broad relief to United States row crop farmers who produce Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower.
- Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5pm ET on December 19, 2025.
- To submit questions, justification for USDA farmer bridge aid, or to request a meeting on farmer bridge aid, producers can reach out to [email protected].

Featured Funding Opportunities

NEA FY 2027 Grants for Arts Projects Guidelines Now Available
- Guidelines and application materials for the National Endowment for the Arts’ principal grants category, Grants for Arts Projects, are now available. These grants support projects taking place in any part of the nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions.
- To simplify the application intake and review process, Our Town and Challenge America applicants will apply within the Grants for Arts Projects program and choose the “Design & Our Town” or “Challenge America” discipline. Other disciplines include Arts Education, Dance, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Museums, Music, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater & Musical Theater, and Visual & Media Arts.
- Application deadlines are February 12, 2026, and July 9, 2026, for projects taking place beginning in 2027.
Fiscal Year 2026 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MARC) Grants
- EPA’s Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. Please visit the Types of Brownfields Grant Funding for an overview of the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants.
- EPA has pre-recorded videos to provide an overview of the FY 2026 grant submission process, Application Information Sheet, and threshold requirements.
- The application submission deadline is January 28, 2026.
New York State Child Care Capital Construction Funding Program
- This week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a new $100 million Child Care Capital Construction Funding Program designed to increase the availability of quality care and expand the capacity of child care, including school age programs, across New York State by funding the construction of new child care facilities or expanding existing ones. The initiative is expected to add between 6,000 and 10,000 new seats at child care programs for New York families.
- The program will provide funding for design, construction, reconstruction, renovation, equipment, and other capital assets for existing or proposed not-for-profit or municipal OCFS-licensed child day care centers, OCFS-registered school-age child care programs, and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene permitted group day care programs. The facility must be intended to be used as a child care program for at least eight years and should be located in an area with a current shortage of regulated child care services.
- Applications will be accepted from January 12, 2026, through February 13, 2026. Awards will be announced no earlier than April 15, 2026.

Small Business Resources

New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC)
- For over forty years, the New York SBDC network has been the backbone for small businesses. With 20 regional centers, over 70 satellite locations, and hundreds of dedicated experts, we understand every industry, every region, and every phase of the lifecycle of a business.
- Advisory and Core Services
  - Get free services. Access no-cost, personalized 1-on-1 advising for every stage of your journey.
- Business Education
  - Get educated. Access their resource library and learning opportunities from across the state.
- Research + Data
  - Get research-driven insights. Access their research network + data to support your project.
The Albany Small Business Development Center serves small businesses in the Capital Region. Since its start in 1984, the expert advisors of the Albany SBDC have worked directly with 28,053 businesses, helping them to invest $543,926,495 in the area's economy, and create or save 15,244 jobs.
- You can make an appointment for counseling by calling 518-442-7232 or filling out their online form.

Federal Funding Announcements

This summary includes new or updated opportunities in the following areas. Please click on the topic below to view all grant announcements:

This summary has been brought to you
by the Office of Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20).
Does one of these grants accept Congressional Letters of Support?
Please contact our office to find out how Rep. Tonko can support your request.

Grant deadlines and guidelines may change.
Please check with the awarding agency before applying.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with others who may be interested.
To join or remove yourself from this mailing list, or if you have specific grant questions, please contact Natalie Lincoln at [email protected] or (518) 465-0700.