When people usually think about federal funding opportunities for community colleges, the Department of Education is usually the first (and sometimes only) place they look. But several agencies across the federal government–such as Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Commerce, and more–regularly put out funding opportunities that community colleges are well-positioned to apply and compete for. We at ACCT have pulled together a list of grants for which community colleges are eligible and likely competitive. A few grants are closing soon to keep on your radar. 

Three grants are closing within the next month: 

1. Delta States Rural Development Network Program 

• Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration 
• Due: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET 
• Expected Award Size: $905,664 to $1,188,684, for $12 million total 
• Number of Awards: Up to 12 awards 
• Eligibility: Community colleges (public and private), independent school districts, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), tribal organizations and governments, state and local governments, public and Indian housing authorities, and for-profit businesses of any size. Note: This grant is geographically limited, as applicants must have demonstrated experience serving - or the capacity to serve - rural populations in one of eight Mississippi Delta Region states (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee). 
• Purpose: Integrated rural health care networks, including nursing, allied health, or rural health programs looking to expand access and coordination of care. 
• Cost sharing: No 

2.  Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

• Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service 
• Due: Monday, August 24, 2026,4:59 p.m. ET 
• Expected Award Size:$250,000 to $10 million, for $310 million total 
• Number of Awards: Up to 31 awards 
• Eligibility: Community colleges (public and private, can apply as lead partners), other institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), tribal organizations and governments, state and local governments, and for-profit businesses of any size. Applicants must contact their State Conservationist and complete a questionnaire before submitting proposals; without that risk a lower ranking score. 
• Purpose: Conservation projects with agriculture, natural resources, or environmental focus; strong fit for colleges with ties to local producers and conservation districts. Please note that applicants must contact their State Conservationist and complete aquestionnaire beforesubmitting; proposals without that step risk a lower ranking score 
• Cost sharing: Yes 

3. Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

• Agency: Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration 
• Due: Monday, August 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET 
• Expected Award Size: $50,000 to $250,000, for $250,000 total 
• Number of Awards: Up to 5 awards 
• Eligibility: Public community colleges only (private institutions are not eligible), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), tribal organizations and governments, and state and local governments. Colleges can apply on their own or in partnership with other eligible organizations, with one lead organization identified for partnerships. Special interest is given to programs targeting new, newly opened, or smaller mines. 
• Purpose: Emergency response and recovery training for mine conditions, plus training on new Mine Safety and Health Administration standards andidentifiedhazards. There is a special interest in programs that target new, newly opened, or smaller mines. Good for colleges with mine safety, emergency response, or workforce training programs already in place. 
• Cost sharing: No 

For the full list of open federal grants relevant to community colleges, see our full tracking spreadsheet here: Community College Grants Summer - Fall 2026

Dhilena Wickramasinghe is the Summer 2026 ACCT Public Policy Intern