Federal funding

Sen. Kennedy is proud to represent Louisiana on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for funding projects and programs across the nation, including infrastructure and coastal restoration.
Below are resources regarding eligibility and the application process for federal grants, loan programs, contracts, and other private funding sources.
If you are requesting support for your federal grant application, please fill out the form below and e-mail the requested information tokennedy_projects@kennedy.senate.gov.
Please submit this form and the additional requested information to Sen. Kennedy's office no later than seven days prior to the federal grant application deadline.

Official descriptions of more than 2,200 federal assistance programs (including grants, loans, and other financial and nonfinancial assistance) can be found onsam.gov. The website, produced by the General Services Administration (GSA), is currently in beta, and it houses federal assistance listings previously found on the now-retired Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).

Each federal assistance program has a corresponding CFDA program number; these CFDA numbers are still used as numerical program identifiers. Programs are searchable at the "Assistance Listings" domain atsam.gov.

Descriptions are updated by departments and agencies, and they cover authorizing legislation, objectives, and eligibility and compliance requirements. For current notices of funding availability, seegrants.govorfedconnect.net.

This federal website allowseligible grant seekersto find and apply for current competitive grant opportunities from all federal agencies. Grant seekers can check on notices of funding availability (NOFAs) posted in the last seven days, access an RSS feed of grant opportunities, and apply for federal grants through a unified process by downloading the application and submitting online.

The website guides grant seekers in obtaining aDun and Bradstreet(DUNS) number, registering withSystem for Award Management(SAM), and registering with grants.gov to apply and to track applications. For full federal program descriptions, see CFDA below. See also websiteFedConnectfor additional grants and contracts opportunities.

Although the Catalog is available full-text on the internet, some may prefer a print edition. However, only the online Catalog is continuously updated—the published volume is annual with no supplements. The Catalog is available in all states infederal depository libraries(select “public”).

To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency's home page to learn more about its programs and objectives. The siteUSA.govalso links toGovernment benefits, grants, and financial aid.

Includes contracting with the federal government, international trade and exporting, and small business. Also see financial assistance links at theSmall Business Administrationwebsite.

Financial assistance for education beyond high school is generally "needs-based" and often includes loans and work-study opportunities, in addition to some grants. College and university applications, websites, and brochures usually include financial aid information for prospective and incoming students.

Government grants are not direct assistance to individuals but fund state and local programs providing help to those in need. This online screening site helps identify state and local government benefits and how individuals may apply for those benefits. It covers direct payments, loans, insurance, training, or other services.

The FTC warns consumers to beware of paying "processing fees" for information that is available free to the public. Advertisements that claim federal grants are available for home repairs, home business, unpaid bills, or other personal expenses are often fraudulent.