Grants

BWC School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG)

The School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG) has re-opened as of July 1, 2024. To simplify the application process, the School Safety and Security Grant – HVAC (SSSG-HVAC) has been combined with the SSSG. All qualifying expenses from the (SSSG-HVAC) are now eligible through the SSSG program.

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit is available for qualified AFV fueling property installed in qualified locations on or after January 1, 2023, and through December 31, 2032. A single item of 30C property is each charging port or fuel dispenser, as well as each energy storage property for electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, E85, or biodiesel blends of at least 20% (B20+). Components and parts that are essential to the operation of the charging port or fuel dispenser, including labor costs for constructing and installing the property, are also eligible for the 30C credit. Businesses are eligible for a tax credit of:

• 6% of the depreciable costs, up to $100,000 per item; or,
• 30% of the depreciable costs, up to $100,000 per item, if the installation meets U.S. Department of
• Labor prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

Additional requirements may apply. For further details, see the IRS Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 website and IRS Form 8911, which is available on the IRS Forms and Publicationswebsite. Additional location eligibility information is available in the IRS Guidance on Satisfying the Geographical Requirements of the Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. For more information, including frequently asked questions and an eligibility locator map, see the Argonne National Laboratory Refueling Infrastructure Tax Credit website.

(Reference 26 U.S. Code 30C, 30D, 38, and 6417 and Public Law 117-169)

Energy Conservation Project Grants

The Ohio Schools Council is here to support your energy conservation efforts. With several grants and direct tax payment incentives currently available—and more on the way—you have the opportunity to fund a wide range of energy projects.

2025 Patrick Leahy USDA Farm to School Grant

Increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food!

On October 28, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the 2025 Patrick Leahy USDA Farm to School Grants application. The grant program is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Grants can launch new farm to school programs or expand existing efforts. Grants are open to schools and other institutions that operate child nutrition programs, tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, nonprofit entities, and state and local agencies.

Visit the USDA’s Grant Applications Resource page for additional application resources, webinars, and other helpful tools.

Upcoming Webinars:

• Introduction to the Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA) – Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2:00 p.m. ET: The FY 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant program has opened three RFAs for potential grant applicants to consider. This informative webinar will help grant applicants choose the solicitation that is the best fit for them and help attendees understand grant eligibility, funding priorities, and grant objectives. Please register even if you cannot attend; the Farm to School team will send all registrants a link to watch the recording at a later date.
• Submitting a Complete Grant Package – Wednesday, Nov. 6 – 2:00 p.m. ET: This webinar will help potential FY 2025 grant applicants understand the components of a complete application and learn how to submit a responsive application that meets all the requirements to be considered for an award. Please register even if you cannot attend; the Farm to School team will send all registrants a link to watch the recording at a later date.

2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program

Receive up to $350,000 for electric bus and charging infrastructure! Under the 2024 CSB Rebate Program, the EPA anticipates awarding up to $965 million in rebate funding with the potential to modify this figure based on the application pool and other factors.

2025 Patrick Leahy USDA Farm to School Grant

Increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food!

On October 28, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the 2025 Patrick Leahy USDA Farm to School Grants application. The grant program is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Grants can launch new farm to school programs or expand existing efforts. Grants are open to schools and other institutions that operate child nutrition programs, tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, nonprofit entities, and state and local agencies.

Visit the USDA’s Grant Applications Resource page for additional application resources, webinars, and other helpful tools.

Upcoming Webinars:

• Introduction to the Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA) – Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2:00 p.m. ET: The FY 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant program has opened three RFAs for potential grant applicants to consider. This informative webinar will help grant applicants choose the solicitation that is the best fit for them and help attendees understand grant eligibility, funding priorities, and grant objectives. Please register even if you cannot attend; the Farm to School team will send all registrants a link to watch the recording at a later date.
• Submitting a Complete Grant Package – Wednesday, Nov. 6 – 2:00 p.m. ET: This webinar will help potential FY 2025 grant applicants understand the components of a complete application and learn how to submit a responsive application that meets all the requirements to be considered for an award. Please register even if you cannot attend; the Farm to School team will send all registrants a link to watch the recording at a later date.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Equipment Grant

These funds will make a significant investment in meeting the unmet need allowing the purchase of capital equipment needed to serve healthier meals, support scratch cooking, improve food safety and to help support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the School Breakfast Program.

The 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $10 million to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for the purpose of equipment assistance grants. The Ohio Department of Education, Office of Nutrition received $337,995 for distribution to eligible school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program/Seamless Summer Option. This year’s equipment grant is not dependent on free and reduced percentage.

These funds will make a significant investment in meeting the unmet need allowing the purchase of capital equipment needed to serve healthier meals, support scratch cooking, improve food safety and to help support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the School Breakfast Program.

Funds may be used for new equipment purchases (i.e., purchases that occur after the school is awarded funds), renovation of equipment or replacement of equipment. The funds may not be used to retroactively pay for or reimburse the school for prior equipment purchases. Priority will be given to schools who are showing a negative food service fund balance and who have not received any previous year’s equipment grant awards. NOTE: You may disregard any general fund offsets when reporting the food service fund balance amount.

Important Equipment Grant Dates:

December 9, 2024: Application opens
January 12, 2025; Application closes at 11:59pm EST
February 8, 2025: (tentative): Applicants notified of awards

Equipment Grant Resources:
2024-2025 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant Application: Open to all approved National School Lunch Program/ Seamless Summer Option sponsors

For more information, please contact Edward Doklovic, Management Analyst, at (614) 752-9198 or edward.doklovic@education.ohio.gov or the Office of Nutrition at (800) 808-6325

Conagra Brands Foundation Special Event Support Request

The purpose of this program is to provide support to nonprofit organizations for special events, such as galas or other one-time events. Support will be provided to organizations proposing projects that align with the funding agency’s core focus areas that include a broad array of initiatives that address food insecurity.

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit is available for qualified AFV fueling property installed in qualified locations on or after January 1, 2023, and through December 31, 2032. A single item of 30C property is each charging port or fuel dispenser, as well as each energy storage property for electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, E85, or biodiesel blends of at least 20% (B20+). Components and parts that are essential to the operation of the charging port or fuel dispenser, including labor costs for constructing and installing the property, are also eligible for the 30C credit. Businesses are eligible for a tax credit of:

• 6% of the depreciable costs, up to $100,000 per item; or,
• 30% of the depreciable costs, up to $100,000 per item, if the installation meets U.S. Department of
• Labor prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

Additional requirements may apply. For further details, see the IRS Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 website and IRS Form 8911, which is available on the IRS Forms and Publicationswebsite. Additional location eligibility information is available in the IRS Guidance on Satisfying the Geographical Requirements of the Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. For more information, including frequently asked questions and an eligibility locator map, see the Argonne National Laboratory Refueling Infrastructure Tax Credit website.

(Reference 26 U.S. Code 30C, 30D, 38, and 6417 and Public Law 117-169)

Energy Conservation Project Grants

The Ohio Schools Council is here to support your energy conservation efforts. With several grants and direct tax payment incentives currently available—and more on the way—you have the opportunity to fund a wide range of energy projects.

SchoolSafety.gov’s Grants Finder Tool

SchoolSafety.gov’s Grants Finder Tool helps you find applicable funding opportunities to help keep your school community safe. The tool features a variety of Federally available school safety-specific grants that you can navigate based on school safety topic, award amount, application level of effort, and more.

BWC Safety Intervention Grant (SIG)

The SIG Program is available to any Ohio private or public employer covered by the State Insurance Fund to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with a particular task or operation.

BWC School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG)

The School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG) has re-opened as of July 1, 2024. To simplify the application process, the School Safety and Security Grant – HVAC (SSSG-HVAC) has been combined with the SSSG. All qualifying expenses from the (SSSG-HVAC) are now eligible through the SSSG program.

Transportation Grant – The Ohio Department of Taxation

The Ohio Department of Taxation offers a Motor Fuel Tax Refund Claim Form, providing an avenue to recoup a portion of the taxes paid on qualifying fuel purchases.

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit is available for qualified AFV fueling property installed in qualified locations on or after January 1, 2023, and through December 31, 2032. A single item of 30C property is each charging port or fuel dispenser, as well as each energy storage property for electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, E85, or biodiesel blends of at least 20% (B20+). Components and parts that are essential to the operation of the charging port or fuel dispenser, including labor costs for constructing and installing the property, are also eligible for the 30C credit. Businesses are eligible for a tax credit of:

• 6% of the depreciable costs, up to $100,000 per item; or,
• 30% of the depreciable costs, up to $100,000 per item, if the installation meets U.S. Department of
• Labor prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

Additional requirements may apply. For further details, see the IRS Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 website and IRS Form 8911, which is available on the IRS Forms and Publicationswebsite. Additional location eligibility information is available in the IRS Guidance on Satisfying the Geographical Requirements of the Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. For more information, including frequently asked questions and an eligibility locator map, see the Argonne National Laboratory Refueling Infrastructure Tax Credit website.

(Reference 26 U.S. Code 30C, 30D, 38, and 6417 and Public Law 117-169)

2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program

Receive up to $350,000 for electric bus and charging infrastructure! Under the 2024 CSB Rebate Program, the EPA anticipates awarding up to $965 million in rebate funding with the potential to modify this figure based on the application pool and other factors.

Energy Conservation Project Grants

The Ohio Schools Council is here to support your energy conservation efforts. With several grants and direct tax payment incentives currently available—and more on the way—you have the opportunity to fund a wide range of energy projects.