Thriving Communities Network’s National Scope
The Thriving Communities Network (TCN) is a Federal interagency effort to coordinate place-based technical assistance (TA) and capacity-building resources in urban, rural, and Tribal communities experiencing a history of economic distress and systemic disinvestment. The various partner agencies that form the TCN offer a series of TA programs that provide support across the country.
Explore the map below to see where technical assistance is being provided near you.
Thriving Communities Network’s Programs
Technical assistance programs from the TCN’s Federal partner agencies represent a sizable investment in place-based technical assistance and capacity-building nationwide. TCN-related investments total millions of dollars, across all 50 states and in the territories. For an overview of the technical assistance offerings available under the TCN, see the link below:
- Thriving Communities Network TA Resources List
Other Useful Technical Assistance Tools
In addition to the TCN TA Resource List above, the TCN's partner agencies offer a series of useful TA search tools. See below for some examples.
Access to Capital Clearinghouse (BIA)
This Clearinghouse was created by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Biden-Harris Administration to help those working in Indian Country access funding opportunities. The Clearinghouse is a one-stop0shop for tribes to reference when researching federal funding opportunities to meet their needs in the pursuit of self-governance.
Access the Access to Capital Clearinghouse here.
Build for the Future Funding Navigator (HUD)
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created the Build for the Future Funding Navigator to support efforts to enhance climate resiliency, energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, healthy housing, workforce development and environmental justice in HUD supported communities, programs and properties. The Navigator allows for future applicants to search for funding opportunities by project and funding type, project and funding stage, targeted audience, and other categories.
Access the Build for the Future Funding Navigator here.
DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard
This searchable database is updated weekly so that communities can easily see all the discretionary grant programs offered by the DOT and other federal agencies that provide funds to deliver transportation infrastructure projects. Communities can easily filter the database by eligible activities and eligible applicants.
Access the DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard here.
DOT Navigator
This website compiles resources that help communities understand how to apply for grants, and how to plan for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services. Resources available include information on technical assistance programs, funding, and data and mapping tools that are offered by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Access the DOT Navigator here.
DOT Volpe Center Project Delivery Center of Excellence's Project Delivery Toolbox
This toolbox provides a collection of resources and best practices across DOT to help communities implement construction projects on time, on task, and on budget. Resources are provided by the different stages of project delivery from public engagement to construction.
Access the Project Delivery Toolbox here.
Energy Communities Technical Assistance Finder
The Interagency Working Group on Coal & Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization (IWG) offers various resource search tools, including one to find technical assistance funding resources from across the IWG's partner agencies.
Access the Energy Communities TA Finder here.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is the federal government’s main portal for applying to grants. This website allows future applications to search for grant opportunities and provides resources to help create stronger grant applications such as grant writing workshops and other how-to guides.
Rural.gov
This website is the dashboard for all programs and opportunities offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other federal agencies that helps to support rural community and economic development activities including funding opportunities and technical assistance programs. The dashboard allows for communities to easily filter by categories, assistance types, and eligible applicants.
Capacity Builder Learning Series Sessions
Each month, the Thriving Communities Network hosts a Capacity Builder Learning Series Session. Each session is designed to focus on a specific issue that is relevant to technical assistance providers and capacity builders working in the field. Sessions feature presentations from capacity builders, community based organizations, and communities, and each session is designed to foster significant discussion and peer-learning. The audience for theses sessions is federal staff, technical assistance providers, and capacity builders.
February 27, 2024: Levelling the Playing Field: Ensuring that Historically Underserved Communities and Community Based Organizations Are Able To Access IRA and BIL Funds for Priority Projects
Hosted by the EPA, this first session was intended for federal staff, TA providers, and capacity builders, and focused on how federal agencies are ensuring that historically underserved places are able to access support for locally driven, community-centered climate and infrastructure projects, and the role of TA providers. The aim of the series is to ensure TA providers and federal field staff from all agencies know about TA and funding opportunities, and to build a community of practice across place-based capacity building efforts. This call featured EPA’s Community Change Grants and Technical Assistance program, with approximately $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds, which will support disadvantaged communities in advancing projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges.
Click here for the slides that were shared during this session.
March 20, 2024: Models for Community Capacity Building: How Can TA Providers Effectively Support Historically Underserved Communities' Long-Term Capacity?
Hosted by the EDA, this second session of the Thriving Communities Network Learning Series supported federal staff, TA providers, and capacity builders in discussing models and best practices for building capacity in historically underserved places. This call featured the Economic Development Administration (EDA)’s Economic Recovery Corps, a new program that creates a connected network to address the resource gap between planning and implementation, and boost the capacity of communities to implement locally-driven economic development strategies. The $30 million program will place more than 65 trained fellows across the nation. EDA was joined by Accelerators for America, a DOT and HUD funded TA provider that has worked extensively in building capacity in historically underserved communities.
Click here for the slides that were shared during this session.
April 30, 2024: Capacity Building in Rural Communities: Place-Based Technical Assistance
Hosted by USDA, this third Thriving Communities Network Learning Series focused on capacity building efforts in rural communities, with a specific emphasis on rural community engagement and civic capacity. Presentations and breakout discussions explored Federal programs from different agencies that have been especially useful to rural communities, as well as models for public involvement in a rural context.
Click here for the slides that were shared during this session.
May 29, 2024: Technical Assistance Over a Full Project Lifecycle
Hosted by DOT, this fourth Thriving Communities Network Learning Series focused on capacity building efforts across the full project lifecycle, from project visioning through to project construction. Presentations and discussions explored Federal technical assistance programs from the Department of Transportation, including the Thriving Communities Program and the Reconnecting Communities Institute. This session emphasized that technical assistance for disadvantaged and historically underserved communities often does not end with receipt of a grant.
Click here for the slides that were shared during this session.
June 25, 2024: How State and Local Governments and Tax-Exempt Entities Can Use Elective Pay to Transition Toward a Clean Energy Economy
Hosted by the Department of the Treasury, this Learning Series Sessions focused on renewable energy and green tax credits. Specifically, the event focused on “elective pay,” also known as “direct pay,” a novel provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that enables local governments and tax-exempt entities to benefit from renewable energy tax incentives. Presentations and discussions explored what direct pay is, how it works, and ways that capacity builders and technical assistance providers can support communities in taking advantage of direct pay and green tax credits.
Click here for the slides that were shared during this session.
