Philip A. Palmesano headshot

Assemblymember

Philip A. Palmesano

Assembly District 132

Palmesano January ‘Grant Action News’ Update

January 6, 2026

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is sending his “January Grant Action News Update” to residents, organizations and local governments regarding a series of grants available from the state, federal government and private entities. Each month, the Assembly provides an updated list of grants for a variety of categories.

“During a time of economic recovery, grants can play an integral part in helping our local communities complete needed infrastructure repairs or support underfunded projects,” said Palmesano. “Many people don’t realize the scope of available opportunities because they aren’t sure where to look. The ‘Grants Action News’ bulletin makes finding these grants much easier by consolidating the information and making it available to everyone. I hope residents, organizations and local governments throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions will be able to use this resource to find much-needed support to strengthen communities in our rural area.”

All not-for-profit applicants must now pre-qualify on the New York State Grants Management website at grantsreform.ny.gov/grantees in order to apply for certain New York state grant solicitations. Potential not-for-profit applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process of registering and prequalifying immediately, as this is a lengthy process.

The Grant Action News bulletin is updated at the beginning of each month with newly available grants and information on how to apply.

The update can be accessed here: https://nyassembly.gov/gan/?sec=story&story=116024

State Grants:

NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grants
These funds must be used to increase farmers’ market resiliency. Examples of projects supported by this program include the development and enhancement of farmers’ market infrastructure, online infrastructure, marketing and outreach efforts and/or delivery capabilities across the state.NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Home Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Funding
The HBCI teams will serve youth ages 5 years to 20 years, 11 months who are returning home from inpatient settings or residential services and are at risk for a rapid readmission or are at imminent risk of entering such settings. HBCI ensures the child and their family have the level of support services and access to clinical professionals they require to sustain any gains made in crisis response or from high-end services. HBCI teams deliver intensive crisis intervention to children and families to help maintain the child/youth in the home, school and community.NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) for Children Funding
The goal of this award is to expand access to services for children with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and their families at a critical time in their lives, when they need to thrive and remain engaged in the community.NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Aging in Place Pilot Program Funding
This funding is available to develop five statewide pilot programs for adults who are aging and are currently, or could be, with enhanced support, residing at the community residence/single room occupancy (CR-SRO) level of care. Each of the five pilot programs will be developed within an existing CR-SRO program already operated by the applicant. The expectation is for an agency to set aside 20-25 existing units within the CR-SRO programs to support long-term care services for older adults and medically complex individuals. Agencies with multiple CR-SROs within 30 minutes travel time of each other may propose utilizing these enhanced services across multiple programs.NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Open Space Conservation Funding
This funding will help to acquire land for the purpose of open space conservation and preservation. Projects funded through the Bond Act will increase climate resiliency and adaptation; buffer communities and diverse ecosystems to protect against impacts from large storm events; protect forests for the benefit of heat mitigation; offer large-scale habitat connectivity; and protect water quality through waterbody and waterway conservation. Additional priorities include projects that provide New Yorkers with enhanced access to recreational opportunities and preserve and improve ecosystems and biological diversity. Projects will also align with Open Space Plan priorities and the state’s 30x30 goals, achieve critical environmental and community resource protection needs and demonstrate geographic distribution across New York State.NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), NYS Clubhouse Funding
Funding is available for NYS clubhouses, a member-driven model that provides a structured and supportive environment for adults 18+ experiencing serious mental illness (SMI) to make connections and build skills that support active community participation. The clubhouse model is evidence-based and provides a holistic approach to mental health care, addressing the social, educational and vocational needs of members by fostering community integration.NYS Agriculture & Markets, Farm to School Funding
This funding is dedicated to increasing schools’ purchase of New York farm products by building relationships between schools and New York farm product suppliers. Secondary goals of the program include increasing agricultural education opportunities for students, improving nutrition and exposing students to new local culinary experiences.NYS Department of Transportation (DOT), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Funding
This funding supports bicycle, pedestrian, multi-use path and active transportation-related projects and programs that support the agency’s mission and the New York State Transportation Master Plan 2050. Projects selected under this solicitation will support the department’s commitment to community-centered transportation by providing safe, reliable, equitable and resilient transportation systems. Selected projects will also connect communities, enhance the quality of life, protect the environment and support the economic well-being of New York State.

Federal Grants:

U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM)
The S-STEM program seeks to increase the number of academically promising low-income students who graduate with an S-STEM eligible degree and contribute to the American innovation economy with their STEM knowledge. Recognizing that financial aid alone cannot increase retention and graduation in STEM, the program provides awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) not only to fund scholarships, but also to adapt, implement and study evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities that have been shown to be effective in supporting recruitment, retention, transfer (if appropriate), student success, academic/career pathways and graduation in STEM.U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants
These grants support 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.U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), HIV Vaccine Research & Design Funding
This funding supports multi-component, multi-disciplinary projects that address scientific questions relevant to AIDS prophylactic vaccine discovery research. Extensive evaluation of vaccine concepts in non-human primate models may be included.

Private Grants:

Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR), Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research
These fellowships encourage and further the careers of postdoctoral fellows who are conducting research in the basic biology of aging, as well as translating advances in basic research from the laboratory to the clinic. The award is intended to provide significant research and training support to permit these postdoctoral fellows to become established in the field of aging.
  • Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline: January 27, 2026
  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • The applicant must be a postdoctoral fellow (MD and/or PhD degree or equivalent) by the deadline date of the LOI submission, January 27, 2026
    • The proposed research must be conducted at a qualified not-for-profit setting in the United States
    • Individuals who are employees in the NIH intramural program are not eligible
    • Postdoctoral fellows in laboratories that receive support as part of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research are not eligible to apply
    • Applicants who have received more than five years of postdoctoral training at the time of the start of the award must provide a justification for the additional training period
    • Former GFMR postdoctoral fellowship awardees are not eligible to apply, but may be eligible to apply for GFMR postdoctoral fellowship Continuation Awards
    • Fellows may not hold any concurrent funding for the same research project
  • Award Amounts: $80,000
  • Number of Fellowships Awarded: Up to 12
  • Email: info@afar.org
  • Links to Additional Information:
Organization for Autism Research (OAR), Applied Research Grants
These grants will fund studies that expand the body of knowledge related to autism intervention and treatment; produce practical and clearly objective results; have the potential to positively affect public policy and provide outcomes that offer to enhance quality of life for people with autism and their families. While applicants are always free to submit on any relevant area of research or intervention, this year, OAR will prioritize funding for early career investigators and projects that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Generally, OAR places special emphasis on research addressing the following areas:

♦ belonging and interpersonal skills

♦ community-based assessment and intervention

♦ community-engaged research

♦ communication and language

♦ community living and supports

♦ gender, reproductive and sexual health

♦ improving access to and effectiveness of existing systems and services

♦ intersectionality, equity and diversity

♦ mid-life and older adults

♦ physical health and mental health

Milbank Foundation, Empowering People with Disabilities Funding
The foundation’s current priorities are:

♦ consumer-focused, community-based initiatives that empower people with disabilities and foster independence and self-sufficiency

♦ rehabilitation and re-integration of veterans, especially veterans with disabilities

♦ helping seniors to age in the place of their choice through non-institutional, community-based health and social services

♦ market-oriented, patient-centered health care reforms across the country

♦ programs that address mental health issues and aim to prevent substance abuse and suicide, especially among young people

Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), U.S. Military & First Responder Grants
Year-round grants for adaptive sports equipment, prosthetics, coaching and more are provided to U.S. military active-duty service members, veterans and first responders with permanent physical injuries. Grants support sports equipment, training and competition expenses, empowering athletes to pursue the activities that help them heal, grow and thrive.

Scholar Awards:

McDonald’s HACER National Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded to outstanding Hispanic and Latino students across the country. Scholarship recipients are selected for their academic achievements, community impact, personal statement and financial need.
  • Deadline: February 17, 2026
  • Eligible Applicants Must:
    • be a high school senior
    • be a legal U.S. resident, U.S. citizen or DREAMER/DACA recipient
    • be under 21
    • have a minimum GPA of 2.8
    • be eligible to attend a two- or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school with a full-time course of study
    • disclose other scholarship programs that you have applied for
    • enroll and attend an accredited institution in the academic year after your selection (verification needed, as scholarship funds are paid directly to the schools)
    • have at least one parent of Hispanic/Latino heritage
  • Scholarship Value: Up to $100,000
  • Number of Awards: 30
  • Email: RMHC@applyists.com
  • Link to Additional Information:
Vegetarian Resource Group, College Scholarships
These scholarships are for graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted veganism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.
  • Deadline: February 20, 2026
  • Eligible Applicants Must Submit:
    • all relevant information (click on the links below for more details)
    • an essay (click on the links below for more details)
    • a copy of transcripts or report cards for the past two years. (An official copy is not necessary. Photocopies of report cards will suffice)
    • any documentation related to your promotion of vegetarianism and veganism in high school and/or community, including photographs, newspaper stories, etc.
  • Number of Awards: one - $10,000; five - $5,000
  • Email: vrg@vrg.org
  • Links to Additional Information:
DEWALT Two-Year College or Vocational-Technical School Scholarships
These scholarships support individuals attending a two-year college or vocational-technical school who are pursuing a trade degree/certificate in an industry aligned with the DEWALT-supported industries.
  • Deadline: February 28, 2026
  • Eligible Applicants Must:
    • be enrolled or accepted in a post-secondary school or training program and pursuing a high-demand skilled trade
    • live in the U.S. or Canada
    • pursue educational training related to one of the following industries:
    • construction – carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, HVAC, pipefitting, welding
    • industrial – maintenance & repair technicians, manufacturing, plant operations, fabrication, quality control, robotics & automation
    • motor/power – diesel, automotive, small engine repair, power plant operations, generators & turbines
    • mechanics – automotive service, heavy equipment operations, aviation (mechanics, avionics), fleet maintenance, hydraulic & pneumatic systems
    • technology – applied electronics & controls, computer-aided design (CAD), drafting, electrical engineering, mechatronics
  • * Employees and/or spouses or dependents of employees of Stanley Black & Decker or DEWALT are not eligible to apply
  • Award Amount: $5,000
  • Number of Awards: 40
  • Contact Link: https://www.skillpointefoundation.org/contact
  • Links to Additional Information: