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 sends letter to congressional appropriations committees urging federal investments in county government activities
On July 9, NACo sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to adequately fund key federal programs of importance to counties in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 discretionary appropriations bills.
U.S. Congress passes reconciliation bill: What it means for counties
On July 3, the U.S. Congress passed sweeping budget reconciliation legislation.
County officials voice concern for SNAP, Medicaid amid reconciliation vote
Ahead of the Senate and House's budget reconcilliation votes, county officials from five states traveled to Capitol Hill June 24, to advocate against its provisions related to the social safety net programs.
U.S. Senate passes amended reconciliation bill text: What it means for counties
On July 1, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed their version of sweeping budget reconciliation legislation.
County Countdown – June 30, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features the Senate reconciliation debate, transparency on sanctuary designations and more.
Supreme Court’s Trump v. Casa, Inc. ruling limits use of nationwide injunctions: what this means for counties
On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Trump v. Casa, Inc. limiting federal district court judges' ability to issue universal injunctions to prevent federal policies from going into effect nationwide.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, August 21
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week six of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
Leading Your County's Digital Transformation
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
The digital era is upon us, and it has many leaders challenged by the digital transformation in front of them. NACo CIO Rita Reynolds and Dr. Tim Rahschulte, the chief architects of NACo’s AI Leadership Academy training program, are hosting this webinar to share insights and ideas on how some leaders are harnessing the power of digital products, services and processes to do more with less.
Rita and Tim will demystify the digital era by looking to the past and providing insights into the future – that is, in many ways, predictable. Join this webinar to explore the key elements of digital transformation and learn practical strategies to prepare for the digital future. To be sure, this digital future is not all about technology. The digital era is also about meeting customer expectations, employee accommodations and leveraging models to operate the business of government. We will explore together the importance of building a digital-ready organization and the need for skilling employees to meet new demands of new work.
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.
Understanding the Homelessness Executive Order: Federal Shifts, County Impacts and Next Steps
Join NACo on Tuesday, August 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET for a timely webinar outlining major changes to federal funding, grant conditions, and policy priorities that directly affect county homelessness programs, behavioral health systems and enforcement strategies.
The Big Shift and Cash Management - 5 Takeaways
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
The financial landscape for counties is evolving quickly, with rising costs, shifting federal support and growing expectations becoming part of everyday reality. This is what many are calling “the Big Shift,” a period that is reshaping how counties plan, prioritize and manage resources. In this webinar, Mike Ablowich, a seasoned public finance leader and Vice President at three+one, will share what the Big Shift means for counties today and five actionable strategies to help leaders remain proactive, confident and effective during this time of change. From strengthening liquidity management to using data to guide impactful actions, you will gain practical tools and insights you can put to work right away to protect your county’s financial health and unlock new opportunities, no matter how the environment continues to evolve.
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.
2025 Federal-State Policy Exchange
The National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) will host the Federal-State Policy Exchange (formerly, the Knowledge Management Forum), August 27-29 in Cook County (Chicago), Ill.
Transforming County Payouts with Real-Time Innovation
Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time
Discover the technological evolution of county disbursements and how digital finance transformation can mitigate risks and enhance operational efficiency. As counties strive to modernize their legacy systems and reduce costs, staying ahead of technology trends is crucial. This session will explore how counties can leverage the latest advancements in real-time disbursements to revolutionize their payout processes. Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends and practical use cases that showcase the journey from outdated payout processes to advanced technology disbursements.