This monthly newsletter is intended to provide a guide to funding opportunities to ensure our community has the information needed to apply for grants and connect with federal programs to address key priorities in Texas' Seventh Congressional District. Please note that President Trump’s executive orders have directed federal agencies to pause all grants funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as to review, modify, or cancel additional grant programs administered by federal agencies. These actions have created significant uncertainty around the timing and availability of funding for community health, safety, development, and critical infrastructure projects, potentially disrupting planning and implementation timelines.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) JustGrants system has two upcoming live training sessions on February 11, 2026, and February 25, 2026, on how to prepare and submit applications in the JustGrants portal, which you can register for here.
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The following grants are active and available as of the publication of this newsletter. For a comprehensive list of active federal grant programs, please visit grants.gov.
Under the current administration, significant delays in grant award announcements and disbursements have been common. Please include these factors in your planning. |
Foundations for Operating the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource: The Operations Center (NAIRR-OC) - Description: This program seeks to establish an Operations Center (NAIRR-OC) to lead and implement the foundational day-to-day operations for the NAIRR, a public-private partnership to accelerate AI innovation and national competitiveness. The goals are to establish a strong operational framework for NAIRR, build its capabilities and community through resource integration and outreach, and coordinate with pilot operations to ensure smooth transition and future execution.
- Who can apply?
- Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs); Nonprofit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities; Small businesses; For-profit organizations; Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).
- Deadline: February 4, 2026
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Grants for the Arts Projects - Description: This program from the National Endowment for the Arts funds activities that enable Americans throughout the country to experience the arts, foster and celebrate America’s artistic heritage and cultural legacy, and benefit from arts education at all stages of life. It also supports arts and health programs, including creative arts therapies, that advance the well-being of people and communities.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Independent school districts; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Native American Tribal organizations and governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: February 12, 2026
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NEW The Kevin and Avonte Program - Description: This program seeks to support public safety efforts to reduce deaths and injuries of people living with forms of dementia or developmental disabilities who wander from safe places. The grant program will fund the purchase of tracking technology, wandering prevention, intervention, and rescue programs with the goal of reducing deaths and injuries, impose limits only when essential for a person’s safety and well-being, and provide a direct link to individuals and families.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Public and state institutions of higher education; Private institutions of higher education; Nonprofits that do and do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Health care agencies; and Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: February 20, 2026
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Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) - Description:
- The purpose is to fund projects that will have a significant local or regional impact and improve transportation infrastructure. These grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, per statute, for planning or constructing surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety; environmental sustainability; quality of life; mobility and community connectivity; economic competitiveness and opportunity including tourism; state of good repair; partnership and collaboration; and innovation.
- Who can apply?
- States, county, city, and township governments; Transit and public agencies; multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities that are separately eligible; Special purpose districts or authority with a transportation function; Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: February 24, 2026
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NEW Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants - Description: This program seeks to rehouse youth, families, and expectant mothers experiencing homelessness, trauma or a lack of safety related to domestic violence, as well as youth experiencing homelessness. Its goal is to support the development and implementation of a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Public and Indian housing authorities; Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: February 25, 2026
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NEW Port Infrastructure Development Program - Description: This program supports efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve port and related freight infrastructure to meet the nation’s freight transportation needs. The goal of this program is to ensure port infrastructure can meet anticipated growth in freight volumes.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: February 28, 2026
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Disaster Supplemental Grant Program - Description: This funding opportunity encourages broad-based local engagement and emphasizes projects that involve private industry in disaster recovery and economic renewal to ensure the maximum impact for taxpayer funding to support these communities. Applicants can choose from three funding pathways based on their recovery stage, capacity, and long-term development vision.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Institutions of higher education; Economic Development Districts and organizations; Public and private nonprofits working with local government; Public-private partnerships for public infrastructure.
- Deadline:
- Readiness and Implementation Grants: Rolling Applications
- Industry Transformation Grants: March 3, 2026
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NEW Environmental Education Grant Program - Description: This program supports environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and community members. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques that increase public awareness and knowledge about local environmental issues.
- Who can apply?
- Colleges and Universities; Local Education Agencies; Nonprofits that do and do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; State Education or Environmental Agency; Local or County Environmental Agencies; Noncommercial educational broadcasting entity as defined and licensed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Native American organizations that qualify as a nonprofit organization; Native American Education Agencies.
- Deadline: March 3, 2026
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NEW Specialized Human Trafficking Assistance: Supporting Survivor Engagement in Anti-Trafficking Programming - Description: This program supports anti-trafficking programming and building anti-trafficking grantees’ capacity to identify and partner with survivors in their local community, state, or region. The awardees will deliver training and technical assistance on effective victim service programming for trafficking survivors ensuring meaningful engagement with survivors.
- Who can apply?
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; Private institutions of higher education; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education; Organizations other than small businesses; Small businesses.
- Deadline: March 3, 2026
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NEW Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) - Description: This program’s goal is to help veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness achieve meaningful, long-term employment by proposing strategies that promote economic prosperity to help veterans find employment and overcome barriers to a successful transition into the workforce.
- Who can apply?
State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Public and state institutions of higher education; Private institutions of higher education; Public and Native American housing authorities; Nonprofits that do and do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; For-profit organizations; Small businesses; and Native American Tribal organizations and governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: March 6, 2026
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NEW Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants - Description: This program supports the implementation of a comprehensive plan that focuses on the revitalization of a severely distressed public housing and/or HUD-assisted housing project, while also improving the surrounding neighborhood and providing supportive services to improve quality of life outcomes for residents of the target housing project.
- Who can apply?
- County, city, and township governments; Public and Native American housing authorities.
- Deadline: March 9, 2026
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NEW Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program - Description: This program supports expanding libraries capacity to serve its patrons buy meaningfully engaging in and educating communities. Projects goals include facilitating family programming, provide new technologies, build partnerships with civic institutions, and connect communities with employers, apprenticeship programs, and skill training.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Independent school districts; Academic institutions; Nonprofits that have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; libraries or their parent organizations.
- Deadline: March 13, 2026
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Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects - Description: This grant supports the development of small surface and groundwater storage projects that enhance water supply reliability, improve water management flexibility, and reduce environmental impacts. It aims to fund projects that provide long-term benefits such as improved water quality, ecosystem restoration, and groundwater management. Priority is given to projects with multiple benefits and broad stakeholder involvement.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Nonprofits that have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Native American Tribal organizations and governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: April 17, 2026
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Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs (PWEAA) - Description: This program aims to strengthen regional economies by funding community-driven projects that enhance infrastructure, support workforce and business development, and improve economic resilience. Investments in construction of critical public facilities, technical assistance, and workforce initiatives help communities advance locally led strategies for growth and competitiveness.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Nonprofits that do and do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Private institutions of higher education; Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: Rolling Applications
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STEM K-12 Program - Description: This program supports innovative, multidisciplinary research that advances STEM teaching and learning, with a strong emphasis on generating new knowledge and informing educational practice. The program seeks to develop new tools, frameworks, and approaches, particularly those leveraging AI and emerging technologies, to enhance STEM education, prepare learners for a digital society, and strengthen the Nation’s global leadership in STEM innovation.
- Who can apply?
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, and research laboratories; For-profit organizations; Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Deadline: Rolling Applications
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The following grants and funding opportunities are upcoming and are not yet accepting applications. As more details become available for each of these programs, our team will be sure to include them in upcoming issues of this newsletter.
Please note that these dates are target announcement dates, and therefore subject to change. Under the current administration, significant delays in grant award announcements and disbursements have been common. Please include these factors in your planning. |
Autism Centers of Excellence - The Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Network R01 and P50 programs support multisite collaborations to advance autism research through a specific research topic, building on over two decades of ACE progress and leveraging cutting-edge technologies and methods. The National Institutes of Health anticipates posting these funding opportunities in Summer 2026.
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Children’s Mental Health Initiative - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) seeks to improve mental health outcomes for children and youth who are at risk for, or experiencing, serious emotional disturbances (SED). The program will strengthen and expand the System of Care (SOC) approach by building sustainable infrastructure and services within the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program. SAMHSA anticipates posting this funding opportunity in Winter 2026.
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Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program for States - This funding opportunity expands the Injury Center's current Comprehensive Suicide Prevention program. Its purpose is to implement and evaluate a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, with a focus on one or more disproportionately affected populations, such as veterans, tribal populations, or the LGBTQ community. The Health Resources and Services Administration anticipates posting this funding opportunity in Winter 2026.
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Disaster Distress Helpline - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) plans to support the management and enhancement of the Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) to ensure continuous access to crisis counseling and support. The program will provide 24/7, toll-free, and confidential assistance to individuals experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. SAMHSA anticipates posting this funding opportunity in Spring 2026.
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Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish and strengthen collaboration to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent youth substance use. The Centers for Disease Control anticipates posting this funding opportunity in Winter 2026.
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Enhancing Global Health Security: Strengthening Public Health Surveillance Systems for Disease Detection and Preparedness Globally - This program aims to strengthen global public health by improving disease surveillance systems, workforce capacity, laboratory integration, and emergency preparedness to better detect, prevent, and respond to infectious diseases and emerging threats. The Centers for Disease Control anticipates posting this funding opportunity in Winter 2026.
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Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) plans to support the development of sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services. The program will encourage collaborative partnerships between education and mental health agencies, and community providers to implement mental health promotion, prevention, intervention, and resilience activities. SAMHSA anticipates posting this funding opportunity in Winter 2026.
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Veterans Legacy Grants Program - This program seeks to provide funding to educational institutions and other eligible entities to conduct cemetery research and produce educational tools for the public to utilize and learn about the histories of Veterans interred in VA national cemeteries and VA grant-funded State and Tribal Veterans’ cemeteries. The Department of Veterans Affairs anticipates posting this funding opportunity in Spring 2026.
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