Innovate RI Fund

This Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) is designed to encourage and facilitate the entry of investigators to the area of brain imaging research. This NOFO will support both newly independent investigators and established investigators who are seeking to develop and adopt neuroimaging tools and methodologies in their research programs and conduct small "proof-of-concept" studies relevant to substance use disorders and addiction. This NOFO is intended to support Small Research Grant (R03) projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources.

The Philadelphia Business Lending Network Equity Incentive Grant provides Philadelphia small business owners with grants of up to $50,000 to offset the cost of a business loan issued through the Philadelphia Business Lending Network (PBLN). Administered by the City of Philadelphia's Department of Commerce, the grant covers up to 50 percent of the total PBLN funding request for eligible small businesses that are approved for a loan through the network, effectively converting half of the loan into non-repayable capital for the qualifying business. The PBLN itself is a free service that helps business owners express interest in loan financing through a single, no-cost interest form that is shared with a group of more than 28 participating nonprofit and for-profit lenders. Participating lenders include The Merchants Fund, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), Reinvestment Fund, TD Bank, M&T Bank, Fulton Bank, Citadel Bank, Women's Opportunity Resource Center (WORC), and many others. The interest form is not itself a loan or grant application, and there is no guarantee that any lender will offer a loan. Lenders that see a fit with the applicant's project and financial needs contact the business owner directly (typically within five business days) to discuss potential loan options. To be considered for the Equity Incentive Grant portion of the program, applicants must be Philadelphia residents whose business is located in Philadelphia, earn a maximum annual revenue of $350,000, operate as a micro-enterprise with five or fewer employees (including the business owner), be up-to-date on City taxes (or have an approved tax payment agreement in place), and be registered and licensed with the City of Philadelphia. To be considered for a PBLN loan, applicants must have a small business in Philadelphia or plans to move or expand to the city.

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to advance the development of novel informatics and data science approaches that can help individuals understand and improve their health through actionable insights. NLM seeks applications that further the science of personal health informatics by providing meaningful and actionable insights to individuals through innovative personal health data collection, integration, analysis, and personalized risk assessments and interpretation. Applications seeking to advance the understanding of how informatics tools, systems, and platforms can best present the results, interpretation, and limitations of personalized assessments for the benefit of individuals are encouraged. Applications should include end user engaged approaches and real-world evaluation to inform the design of generalizable, reusable, and scalable personal health informatics tools, systems, and platforms for the benefit of individuals in understanding and improving their health.

The Business Energy Retrofit (BER) Grant provides small business owners, Tribal governments, and nonprofits with reimbursement grants of $2,500 to $25,000 to fund energy-efficiency improvements at their commercial properties. Funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), Minnesota's economic development agency for the Iron Range region, and administered through a partnership with the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), the program is available to businesses with 100 or fewer employees located within IRRR's northeastern Minnesota service area. Grant awards may cover up to $25,000 in eligible energy retrofit expenses (or one-third of total project cost, capped at $75,000, whichever is lower). Eligible projects include lighting and fixtures, building envelope air sealing, appliances, motors, and equipment, insulation and ventilation, heating and cooling systems, windows and door replacements, large generators for business use, new construction for remodeling in the event of fire or natural disaster, and renewable energy installations. Electric vehicle installations are also eligible, contingent upon proof that all other funding sources (state, federal, and power company programs) have been exhausted. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed twice per year. A $500 AEOA application fee is required at the initial inspection and processed at project closing. Work cannot begin prior to approval and site inspection, and grant payments are made directly to the awarded contractor or vendor upon completion and final inspection. Applicants are limited to one project per year (additional projects considered case-by-case) and must have property taxes paid and up to date, along with verification from the Minnesota Secretary of State that the organization and any contractors are active and in good standing. Prevailing wage must be paid and certified payroll collected.

The Bethlehem Microenterprise Grant Program provides Bethlehem, New York microenterprises with grants ranging from $5,000 to $35,000 to support new and existing small businesses with five or fewer employees. Administered by the Town of Bethlehem's Department of Economic Development and Planning and funded through the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the grant is designed to help businesses purchase capital goods (including machinery, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and software) or provide working capital to support business operations. Eligible applicants must be a private for-profit business (corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship) located or planning to locate within the Town of Bethlehem, with five or fewer employees including the owner. Because the program is funded with federal CDBG dollars, all grants must meet a national objective: businesses must either be owned by a low-to-moderate income (LMI) individual or create at least one new full-time-equivalent job available to LMI persons within a 24-month grant period. Applicants must also contribute a minimum 10% cash equity match, complete an approved Entrepreneurial Training Program before receiving funds, and at least 50% of grant funds in each round are reserved for start-up businesses (those operating less than six months at the time of application). Grant funds cannot be used for real estate purchases, debt repayment, façade or interior construction, or any investment outside the scope of the business. Previous recipients may reapply, with combined first- and second-time awards capped at $45,000.