FY2026 Area Development Grant Program

Contact: Fileve Palmer, Regional Development Specialist
716-945-53401 Ext. 2205 / [email protected]

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Eligible projects must be consistent with one of ARC's Investment Goals:

• GOAL 1: Economic Opportunities
  Entrepreneurial and business development strategies
  
  
• GOAL 2: Ready Workforce
  Education, knowledge, skills and health or residents to work and succeed in Appalachia
  
  
• GOAL 3: Critical Infrastructure
  Broadband, water and wastewater systems
  
  
• GOAL 4: Building Regional Culture and Tourism
  Leveraging the Region's natural and cultural heritage assets
  ​
• GOAL 5: Leadership & Community Capacity
  ​Build the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development

Eligible entities include incorporated non-for-profits, municipalities (towns, villages counties) and other public entities such as IDAs and educational institutions in the member counties.  Eligible maximum amount funded: $250,000.  Funds must be matched at least dollar per dollar with cash and/or in-kind goods or services depending upon the type of proposal.  Funds must be used for new activities/programs, or for an expansion of activities/programs.  Funding of existing programs is not an eligible expense.​

2026 GRANT TIMELINE	APPLICANT ACTIVITY TIMELINE
March 5, 2025	Call-out for Letters of Intent (LOI)/Calendar Released
Fri. March 14, 2025 ​10:00 AM - 11:00 AM	ARC Community Information Session - Chautauqua County IDA Jamestown Office 201 West Third Street Suite 115 Jamestown, New York `14701 RSVP to Dr. Fileve T. Palmer  [email protected]
Wed. March 19, 2025 ​10:00 AM - 11:00 AM	ARC Community Information Session - Cattaraugus County Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board 4039 Route 219, Suite 200 ​Salamanca, New York 14779 RSVP to Dr. Fileve T. Palmer  [email protected]
Fri. March 21, 2025 ​10:00 AM - 11:00 AM	ARC Community Information Session  - Allegany County Crossroads Commerce & Conference Center 6087 NYS Route 19 N, Suite 100 ​Belmont, New York 14813 RSVP to Dr. Fileve T. Palmer  [email protected]
Fri. April 11	Deadline: Letter of Intent by 4:00 PM email to [email protected]
Mon. April 21	Notifications: LOI Status Communicated to Organizationa and Municipalities
Mon. June 2	Deadline: Pre-Application by 4:00 PM email to [email protected]
Thurs. July 17 (Tentatively)	Presentation of Proposals at STW Board Meeting: time for individual presentations
Fri. August 29	Deadline: Draft of full, final aplication's; all document by 4:00 PM email to [email protected]
Fri. September 19	Deadline: Full final aplication's; all document by 4:00 PM email to [email protected]

Guidance/Application Materials

• Application Instructions
• Printable FY2026 ARC Calendar
• ARC Grant Nuts & Bolts FY2026
• Guidance & NYS Strategies​
• ​​​Letter Of Intent Fillable Form
• ​​NYS ARC Region Counties and Distressed Census Tract Locations
• NYS Implementation Strategies

Preapplication Materials

• Budget Form (excel format)
• Pre-app Budget
• NYS Table 3-2b ARC Project Workplan & Timeline
• Project Narrative (word format)

Final Applications Forms & Tables

• Checklist for ARC Non-Construction Applications
• One Page Summary
• Checklist for ARC Construction Applications
• Certification Form
• ARC Application Table of Contents
• OMB SF-424 New Version
• SF 424A Budget Non-Construction
•  SF 424C Construction
• SF 424B-VI.1. Non-Construction
• SF 424D Construction ARC
• Memorandum of Understanding
• NYS Self-Sufficiency​
• NYS Sustainability Phased Effort
•  Budget Format A Construction​
• Budget Format B Non-Construction​​
• Table 4.1 Funding Sources, Commitment Status, and Uses