Improving access to federal grants through the Streamlining Federal Grants Act
Key Takeaways
Complicated processes to apply for federal grants often cause underserved communities to miss out on crucial funding opportunities. Senate Bill S. 2286, the Streamlining Federal Grants Act, simplifies federal grant application processes to increase access to federal funding opportunities.
Here’s more about the bill:
- The bipartisan Streamlining Federal Grants Act was introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX).
- The Act directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance to federal agencies on how they can simplify and streamline their grant application process.
- By improving the process to apply for federal grants, the burden on the applying organization would be eased, resulting in more efficient distribution of federal grants to communities with the highest need.
If enacted, the bill would make sweeping changes to the federal grants process, including giving local organizations a more prominent voice in improving grant administration processes.
The bill would:
- Require that non-federal entities, including county governments, have a regular and ongoing part in the consultation process of each agency’s efforts to streamline grant funding processes.
- Establish a Grants Council under the supervision of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
- Require that funding notices use plain language, list availability, contact information, training and assistance related to applying for grants, administration and reporting requirements and provide short general summaries.
Counties support the Streamlining Federal Grants Act and other efforts to increase the accessibility of funding to county governments.
Here’s why:
- Counties often face challenges in applying for complex federal grants due to resource constraints.
- A simplified federal grant administration process enables easier access to federal resources for our nation’s counties.
- This bill would reduce barriers to entry by improving interagency coordination, supporting under-resourced counties in the application and reporting process and reauthorizing federal grant reform legislation.
NACo calls for OMB to extend public comment period for proposed rule overhauling sweeping changes to federal grants and hosts webinar with record attendance
On June 17, NACo joined NLC, USCM, ICMA, NCSL, CSG, GFOA, NADO, AMPO, and NARC in requesting OMB Director Russell Vought for a 45 day extension for public comments to OMB’s proposed revisions to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Part 200, Subtitle A, commonly referred to as Uniform Guidance for federal grants.
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OMB proposes major change to federal grant administration
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NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, July 2
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
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Island-Strong Finances: How Kauai County Built Resilience from the Inside Out
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Hawaii's counties carry a unique weight: the responsibility of serving tight-knit communities while managing the financial pressures that come with island life. For Kauai County, the Garden Island, that responsibility has meant building a financial foundation strong enough to weather uncertainty from the inside out. With a $550 million budget and a community navigating rising housing costs, shifting economic drivers, and the ongoing demands of core public services, every dollar counts.
In this session, Kauai County Treasurer Nancee Robles shares how her office partnered with three+one to generate over $20 million for county programs. Join NACo and three+one's Vice President of Client Servicing, Mike Ablowich, alongside Treasurer Robles for a conversation about what it means to protect taxpayer dollars, serve your community with integrity, and what counties across the country can learn from Kauai's approach.
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
For more information, visit the event page!
Deploying EV Charging Infrastructure Without an RFP – A Procurement-Safe Path for Public Agencies
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quickly—without compromising procurement compliance. We invite you to join a focused,
45-minute webinar hosted by Frank Huerta of LilyPad EV on either of these available dates:
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
11:00 AM (PST)
2:00 PM (EST)
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
11:00 AM (PST)
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Tuesday, November 10, 2026
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NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, August 13
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, August 27
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.