Funding Wizard

All applications will be evaluated and judged on a competitive basis. Applications will be initially screened to determine eligibility, completeness, and responsiveness to this NOFO (see Sections 4.02 and 8.01). Applications passing the initial screening will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria (see Sections 4.03 and 4.06). Each application will be judged on its own merit.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) invites small businesses to submit Phase I research applications under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Science and technology-based firms with strong research capabilities in any of the areas listed in Section 9.0 of this NOFO are encouraged to participate. Applications must sufficiently identify and clearly address a specific NIST technical program area that falls within one of the research areas described in Section 9.0 (see Section 3.02.02(1)) or a NIST- patented technology available for licensing.

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) Summary Up to approximately $1 billion will be made available for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities projects through this funding opportunity, which will build markets and invest in America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers, and forest owners to strengthen U.S. rural and agricultural communities. Through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, USDA will support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities through a set of pilot projects that provide voluntary incentives through partners to producers and land owners, including early adopters, to: a. implement climate-smart production practices, activities, and systems on working lands, b. measure/quantify, monitor and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits associated with those practices, and c. develop markets and promote the resulting climate-smart commodities. Grant agreements under this funding opportunity will be with a single entity, i.e., “partner”; however, USDA encourages multiple partners to coordinate on projects. A range of public and private entities are eligible to apply, as described in Section C of the Full Announcement which can be found in the Related Documents tab of this opportunity. Proposals must provide a plan to pilot implementation of climate-smart agriculture and/or forestry practices on a large-scale, including meaningful involvement of small or historically underserved producers, consistent with spirit of the Justice40 initiative; a quantification, monitoring, reporting, and verification plan; and a plan to develop markets and promote climate-smart commodities generated as a result of project activities. Funding will be provided through two funding pools. Proposals in the first funding pool (requests for amounts from $5 million to $100 million per proposal) will be large-scale pilot projects that emphasize the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production and include direct, meaningful benefits to a representative cross-section of production agriculture, including small and/or historically underserved producers. Proposals in the second funding pool (requests for amounts from $250,000 to $4,999,999 per proposal) are limited to particularly innovative pilot projects with an emphasis on · enrollment of small and/or underserved producers and/or · monitoring, reporting, and verification activities developed at minority-serving institutions. All projects must be tied to the development of markets and promotion of climate-smart commodities. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a “climate-smart commodity” is an agricultural commodity that is produced using agricultural (farming, ranching, or forestry) practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon. Markets for climate-smart commodities may include companies or processors sourcing climate-smart commodities to meet internal targets or other supply chain goals, biofuel and renewable energy markets, companies seeking to sell branded consumer products, or other opportunities that could provide a premium or additional revenue for participating producers and land owners. Sufficient incentives to encourage producer participation, as well as, generation of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions and carbon sequestration are critical to project success and will be considered in the evaluation criteria. For new users of Grants.gov, see the Full Announcement located in the Related Documents tab of this opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on: · April 8, 2022 for the first funding pool (proposals from $5 million to $100 million) · May 27, 2022 for the second funding pool (proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999). For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (found in section G of the Full Announcement located in the Related Documents tab of this opportunity.). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. Information on available webinars and other supporting information for this funding opportunity will be posted at: https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities The agency anticipates making selections by Summer 2022 and expects to execute awards by September 30, 2022. These dates are estimates and are subject to change. Federal Financial Assistance Training The funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public via https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/. It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: 1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance on administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. USDA ‘s Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements).

The Small Business Financing (SBF) program offers affordable options to help California businesses shrink their energy bills and carbon footprints.

Administered by the State of California with support from the state’s investor-owned utilities, the SBF program is a flexible way to upgrade your business and save.

Program benefits

•  Finance 100% of project costs
•  Broad list of qualifying measures
•  Financing may be used for non-energy upgrades
•  Finance a simple replacement or a comprehensive building upgrade
•  Quick approval
•  Attractive terms

A Green Business Program is a community building program. A Green Business recognition program is a positive bridge between government agencies and businesses. It can be a powerful incentive for businesses to take advantage of government assistance to conserve resources and save money. It also engages the public to patronize businesses that operate more sustainably. The Green Business Program can also help government agencies meet City/County sustainability goals through GHG reductions, resource conservation mandates. These goals might those mandated in a Climate Action Plan or outlined in solid waste diversion or water conservation targets. A Green Business Program can also improve environmental compliance by encouraging businesses to adopt numerous “beyond compliance” related to waste reduction, pollution prevention, and water conservation.

Here’s some of what you get from CAGBN if your region is selected for funding:

• $30,000 first year funding;
• Training, mentorship and support;
• Waive your first year member fees to the network;
• Recruitment resources;
• Marketing: adwords, key business outlets, social media;
• Window Clings, certificates to give to certified businesses;
• Web based tracking system (green business program in-a-box);
• Sector specific checklists;
• Collaboration with peers and;
• Likely ongoing funding that exceeds member dues.

Created by the U.S. Federal Government in 2000 as part of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act, the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program encourages investment in low-income communities. Through the NMTC Program, real estate projects or businesses in a low-income community are able to generate capital by providing investors- typically a bank or financial institution- a tax credit as an additional incentive for capital investment.

Loans enrolled in the On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program can be used to finance heavy-duty trucks and buses (over 14,000 GVWR) equipped with engines certified to specified engine emission standards for 2007 and newer model year engines, and diesel exhaust retrofits. The California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) together with the California Air Resources Board may provide up to 100% coverage on certain loan defaults.