Check out the new "Federal Grant Funding Outlook for Special Districts in 2026"
resource for NSDA members! These slides are intended to provide an overview of FY 2026 funding, help structure your grant planning strategy, and highlight NSDA Grants resources.
We also invite you to complete the 2026 NSDA Grants Survey to help us better understand your familiarity with federal grants and your interest in pursuing these opportunities. Your responses will enable us to tailor resources and support to better meet your needs. Feedback from this survey will also shape the topics for upcoming NSDA Grants Brownbag sessions scheduled for April 16, July 16, & September 9!
The survey is open until March 31. Completion time: approximately 5-7 minutes
2026 NSDA Grants Survey
Federal Grant Funding Outlook for Special Districts in 2026
New Grant Opportunities
Department of Homeland Security
FY 2024-2025 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program makes federal funds available for hazard mitigation activities with the goal of lowering future disaster costs. It does so with a recognition of the need to upgrade and modernize the nation’s infrastructure against natural weather disasters, and of the need for natural hazard risk mitigation activities and resilience with respect to those hazards. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are states, territories, and tribal governments. Local governments may apply as a sub-applicants through their state-specific process.
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $1 billion
WHEN IS IT DUE? July 23, 2026
Department of Transportation
FY 2026 Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program
WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program funds the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of high-risk, leak-prone natural gas distribution infrastructure, and the acquisition of equipment to reduce incidents, fatalities, and economic losses, improving public safety and supporting American energy. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are entities that operate a natural gas distribution system and are a city, township, or county governments, municipal utilities owned by a local government, community-owned utilities owned by the customers they serve, or a federally recognized Tribal government.
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $98 million
WHEN IS IT DUE? May 22, 2026
Department of Transportation
FY 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support planning, infrastructure, and behavioral and operational initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants include metropolitan planning organizations, political subdivisions, federally recognized tribal governments, and a multijurisdictional group of entities described in the aforementioned three types of entities.
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $993,488,194
WHEN IS IT DUE? May 26, 2026
Department of Transportation
FY 2024-2025 Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP)
WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program is designed to provide financial assistance to small communities to help them enhance their air service. Improved air service will increase connectivity to the national air transportation system for underserved communities. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are public entities, including individual communities and consortia of communities that are served by small hub airports.
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $12 million
WHEN IS IT DUE? May 4, 2026
National Endowment for the Humanities
FY 2026 Media Projects
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, institutions of higher education, state and local governments, and federally recognized Tribal governments.
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $6 million
WHEN IS IT DUE? June 25, 2026
Latest Grant News
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy to Invest Nearly $1 Billion to Upgrade Crucial Safety Infrastructure and Save Lives on American Roads
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FEMA Announces $1 Billion in Federal Funding to Help States Mitigate Impact of Disasters
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NFWF Announces $8.7 Million in Grants from Conservation Partners Program
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