Working on Wellness Environments
Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension multidisciplinary community development program

USDA Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge

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The USDA Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge provides funding for planning support, technical assistance, or training to foster placemaking in rural communities. The USDA defines rural placemaking as a collaborative engagement process that helps leaders from rural communities create quality places where people will want to live, work, play and learn.

There is more information about who should apply, funding details, an application checklist, and more on USDA’s website. Click here to learn more and apply.

To read about previous recipients’ work, click here.

There will be a virtual General Office Hours event on August 3, 2022 with more information and a time to ask questions. Click here to register.

Apply for the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and Maintenance Action Institute

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AgriLife Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and Maintenance Action Institute photo collage.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multidisciplinary approach to create spaces that aim to prevent crime, invite positive use, and make users feel safer.

Up to 65 local practitioners and advocates from Hudspeth, Maverick, Starr, Webb, and Zapata counties will be accepted to participate in the WOW-E CPTED and Maintenance Action Institute. Applicants can apply for travel assistance to the Action Institute through the WOW-E partnership with the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS).Up to 65 local practitioners and advocates from Hudspeth, Maverick, Starr, Webb, and Zapata counties will be accepted to participate in the WOW-E CPTED and Maintenance Action Institute. Applicants can apply for travel assistance to the Action Institute through the WOW-E partnership with the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS).  

Who Should Apply:

Park practitioners, public works practitioners, planners, local park and trail groups and advocates, law enforcement professionals, community leaders.  

At the Action Institute:

  • Learn CPTED principles to make safer, more usable public spaces in your community
  • Create a mini-plan for a public space in your community
  • Learn about topics such as: maintenance planning, traffic calming, community engagement, lighting, park site plan reviews, public art & safety and more!

Join us in McAllen, TX at the LaQuinta McAllen Convention Center:

  • Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 10 am – 6 pm
  • Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 9 am – 5 pm
  • Thursday, August 26, 2022, 9 am – 4 pm

*Note: Attendees must attend all three days of the Action Institute, all day.

Click here to apply.

DOT Reconnecting Communities Grant Program – Open Now! / Oportunidad de financiamiento – Reconectar Comunidades

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DOT is now accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) discretionary grant program. DOT will host an “Interested in Applying?” webinar for prospective applicants on Thursday, July 14 from 12:00 to 1:30 PM EDT (register here).  

The $1 billion RCP Program was established under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in keeping with the Biden-Harris Administration’s belief that the promise of our nation is that every American has an equal chance to get ahead. It is the first-ever program to help reconnect communities previously cut off from opportunities by transportation infrastructure, such as highways and rail lines, through solutions like high-quality public transportation, infrastructure removal, and main street revitalization. 

In Fiscal Year 2022 (that’s now!), the RCP Program provides up to $195 million for public engagement, planning activities, capital construction projects, and technical assistance to reconnect communities where transportation infrastructure has created barriers. 

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 

Visit the RCP Program website to access the NOFO and learn about eligibility, funding, application and submission processes, and evaluation criteria. The application submission deadline is Thursday, October 13, 2022. The RCP Program welcomes applications from diverse eligible applicants regardless of size, location, and experience administering Federal funding awards. 

Technical Assistance 

Webinars, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and other resources are available on the RCP Program website. A new DOT Navigator consolidates a wide range of existing DOT technical assistance resources to support prospective applicants. 

Contact Us 

Please email program staff at ReconnectingCommunities@dot.gov with questions on the available information. Staff will update FAQs on a regular basis to reflect the most up-to-date information on the RCP Program. 

Aviso de Oportunidad de financiamiento disponible para el Programa piloto Reconectando Comunidades   

DOT se complace en anunciar que se están aceptando solicitudes para el programa piloto de subvenciones discrecionales Reconectando Comunidades (RCP). DOT estará llevando a cabo un resumen del Programa RCP a través de un seminario web para posibles solicitantes el jueves, 14 de julio de las 12:00 a la 1:30 p. m., hora del este (EDT). La inscripción para el seminario web está disponible aquí.   

Este programa de mil millones de dólares fue establecido bajo la Ley de Infraestructura Bipartidista del presidente Biden, de acuerdo con la ideología de la administración Biden Harris de que la promesa de nuestra nación es que cada estadounidense tiene la misma oportunidad de salir adelante. Es el primer programa que ayuda a reconectar a las comunidades que antes no tenían oportunidades debido a la infraestructura de transporte como carreteras y vías férreas, a través de soluciones como transporte público de alta calidad, eliminación de infraestructura y revitalización de calles principales. 

  

En el Año Fiscal 2022 (que es ahora mismo), el programa provee hasta 195 millones de dólares en fondos disponibles para actividades de participación pública, actividades elegibles de planificación, proyectos de construcción de bienes capitales y asistencia técnica para reconectar comunidades que han sido separadas por la infraestructura del transporte. 

Aviso de oportunidad de financiamiento (NOFO) 

Por favor consulte el Sitio web de Reconectando Comunidades para acceder al Aviso de oportunidad de financiamiento (NOFO) y para obtener más información sobre los requisitos de elegibilidad para la subvención, fondos, disponibilidad, información sobre la solicitud y cómo presentarla, así como sobre los criterios de evaluación. La fecha límite para presentar la solicitud es el 13 de octubre de 2022. El Programa RCP acepta solicitudes de una gran diversidad de solicitantes elegibles independientemente de su tamaño, ubicación y experiencia en la administración de fondos federales adjudicados.  

  

Asistencia técnica 

En el sitio web se encuentran disponibles una serie de seminarios web, preguntas frecuentes (FAQ), y otros recursos sobre el programa, así como Avisos de oportunidad de financiamiento (NOFO). Un nuevo navegador DOT consolidará una amplia gama de recursos existentes del DOT.  

  

Contacte con nosotros 

Puede enviar un correo electrónico al personal del programa a ReconnectingCommunities@dot.gov con preguntas sobre la información disponible. El personal revisará las FAQ periódicamente para reflejar la información más actualizada sobre el programa RCP.  

Grant Opportunity: Texas Local Food Purchase Assistance

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TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – COMMISSIONER SID MILLER

Application Now Available – Texas Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Due: Thursday, August 11, 2022 by 11:59 PM Central Time.  The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is administering the Texas Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (TxLFPA).

The purpose of the program is to maintain and improve Texas’ food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. The goal of this program is to foster in-state, long-term relationships and build sustainable market opportunities for State of Texas producers, with an emphasis on supporting local or regional and socially disadvantaged producers to increase the amount of products distributed to underserved communities in the State of Texas. In addition, TDA aims to tailor food distribution for unique local challenges to serve the State’s population and feeding programs, including food banks and other organizations that target underserved communities. The 2022 Application must be completed online. Original/Paper applications will not be accepted. Please DO NOT e-mail, mail or deliver applications in person to the TDA Headquarters in Austin. Please contact us via email at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov with questions. Additional details, instructions and the application materials can be found here. 

Sincerely, 
Grants Office Trade & Business Development  

If the link above does not work, please copy and paste this link in your internet browser: https://texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/GrantsandServices/TexasLocalFoodPurchaseAssistance.aspx

Texas Parks & Wildlife CO-OP Grant Writing Workshops

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The Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) will begin accepting applications for programming that engages under-represented audiences in TPWD mission-oriented outdoor recreation, conservation, and environmental education activities on August 1st, 2022.  Target audience demographics include low income, female, racial minority, and individuals with disabilities.  Grant funding can support personnel, training, travel, food, fees, and supplies.  This grant does not support construction and no sponsor contribution or match is required.  

CO-OP staff will host a series of Grant Writing Workshops to cover all the elements needed for a competitive project application. Offered both online and at sites around the state, the workshop will provide application support and assist potential applicants with grant program requirements and priorities, an overview of the application process, review the new scoring criteria, help with budget planning and eligible grant expenses, and answer questions from applicants.   

To attend at workshop, complete the online registration at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA5AD2DA1F5C16-community 

June 289:00am to 12:00pm Amarillo Parks and Recreation/ City Hall, Amarillo, TX 
July 281:00pm to 4:00pm ONLINE/ LIVE WORKSHOP 
August 2 9:00am to 12:30pm Franklin Mountains State Park, El Paso, TX 
August 249:30am to 12:30pm The Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX 
August 319:00am to 12:30pm Tyler State Park, Tyler, TX 
September 139:00am to 12:30pm Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, Mission, TX 
October 41:00pm to 4:00pm ONLINE/ LIVE WORKSHOP 

For additional information, contact grant staff or visit the CO-OP website.