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 CCAO Policy Team.
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 |
||||
Grant Program |
Brief Summary |
Eligibility Criteria |
Amount Available |
Application Due Date |
| Brownfield Remediation Program | To assist in the remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum at industrial, commercial, or institutional properties. | General availability |
$120 million available No match required |
September 11, 2026 |
| Rural EMS and Dispatch Modernization Grant Program | To improve emergency medical services (EMS), public safety communications, and emergency dispatch capabilities in rural communities. The project is intended to strengthen emergency response systems through investments in technology, workforce development, communications infrastructure, and innovative models of care | PSAPs, emergency dispatch centers, EMS, and Fire serving rural areas |
$12 million available |
October 6, 2026 |
| Precinct Election Official Recruitment and Training Grant | To provide assistance in the recruitment and training of precinct election officials for the 2026 November general election. | County boards of elections |
Set allocation per county, contact the Secretary of State for further information |
Unspecified, but terms must be completed by November 2, 2026 |
| H2Ohio Conservation Ditch Grant Program | To provide reimbursement for the construction of two-stage and self-forming conservation ditches. | Soil and water conservation districts and county engineers |
Unspecified Reimbursement model |
June 1, 2027 (Rolling until) |
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.
Federal grants often have broad eligibility criteria due to the diversity of local governments across the nation. If there are certain requirements that a government must meet, it is is noted; otherwise, "General Availability" denotes a program that most counties will be able to apply for.
Federal Grant Programs |
||||
Grant Program |
Brief Summary |
Eligibility Criteria |
Amount Available |
Application Due Date |
| Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program | To support a comprehensive approach to addressing abuse in later life, including domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, neglect, abandonment, economic abuse, or willful harm committed against victims who are 50 years of age or older. | General availability |
$8 million available No local match required |
September 14, 2026 |
| Low or No Emission Bus Grant Program | To support the purchase or lease of low-emission and zero-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. | Local governments that operate fixed-route bus service. |
$589 million available Local match of 20% required (some exceptions apply) |
September 21, 2026 |
| Buses and Bus Facilities Program | To support the purchase, rehabilitate, or lease of buses and related equipment, and to support the construction, purchase, rehabilitation, or lease of bus-related facilities. | Local governments that operate fixed-route bus service. |
$21 million available Local match of 20% required (some exceptions apply) |
September 21, 2026 |
| North American Wetlands Conservation Act Standard | To support projects that involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. | General availability |
$46 million available 1-to-1 local match required |
September 25, 2026 |
| Crisis Response Training Program | To improving law enforcement responses to individuals in crisis who have behavioral health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or traumatic brain injuries. |
Two pots: One for law enforcement agencies One for correctional facilities |
Max award: $650,000 No match required |
October 5, 2026 |
| Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities Grant Program | To support public safety efforts to reduce deaths and injuries of individuals with forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or developmental disabilities, such as autism, who, due to their condition, wander from safe environments. | Law agencies and health care agencies |
Max Award: $150,000 No match required |
October 5, 2026 |
| Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Planning Grants | To assist entities in developing a Resilience Improvement Plan. | General availability |
$79 million available |
October 9, 2026 |
| PROTECT Resilience Improvement Grants | To improve the ability of existing surface transportation assets to withstand one or more elements of a weather event or natural disaster, or to increase the resilience of surface transportation infrastructure from the impacts of changing conditions, such as sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. | General availability |
$551 million available |
October 9, 2026 |
| PROTECT Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants | To strengthen and protect evacuation routes essential for supporting emergency evacuations during emergency event. | General availability |
$79 million available |
October 9, 2026 |
| PROTECT At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants | To enhance the resilience of highway and non-rail infrastructure, including bridges, roads, pedestrian walkways, and bicycle lanes, and associated infrastructure, such as culverts and tide gates to protect highways, that are subject to risks associated with their coastal location. | General availability to entities on coastlines, including Great Lakes |
$79 million available |
October 9, 2026 |
| Title X Family Planning Services Grants | To promote the general family planning programs and goals under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. | General availability |
Maximum award: $22 million Local match of between 1% and 10% |
January 9, 2027 |
None at this time.
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