Durham County Grant Highlights
In Fiscal Year 2024, Durham County received over 100 individual State, Federal, and private grants and other forms of financial assistance, with funding totaling over $70 million dollars, not including funding received under the American Rescue Plan Act or through the North Carolina Opioid Settlement. For more information on these two important categories of resources, please visit the County’s specific pages pertaining to ARPA funding (link) or the Opioid Settlement (link).
Durham County utilizes grants and other forms of external financial assistance to support a broad range of important County projects and initiatives. The County emphasizes strategic pursuit of available grant resources and prioritizes the effective management of all received grant funds to ensure compliance with applicable requirements and accomplishment of program objectives. Current grants received by the County include the following:
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) -- Redwood Solid Waste Convenience Site
General Services Department -- $3,313,200
Durham County received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redesign and renovate the Redwood Solid Waste Convenience Site in East Durham County, a rapidly growing part of the County. The planned renovations will allow for increased residential use and provide space to hold e-waste and hazardous materials, which will reduce illegal dumping and improper disposal in the area. The renovation will address increased resident use of the site, improve sustainability measures, add additional safety measures for residents and staff, and expand the site and its service offerings.
For more information, please visit the County's Redwood Renovation website.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) -- Energy Efficiency and Burden Reduction Program (EBERP)
Engineering and Environmental Services -- $1,500,000
Durham County received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to deliver residential energy and safety upgrades to reduce energy bills, improve health and safety, and develop a stronger local workforce. While Durham County's Sustainability team will be serving as the lead for the grant, the grant includes several partners and services will be provided in Durham, Orange, and Granville Counties. The program will provide energy efficiency and safety renovations for eligible households in participating areas, while also providing job training and work opportunities for local contractors to help them develop skills and expertise in residential energy efficiency and safety improvements. The goal of the grant project is to help participating households lower their energy bills, improve indoor air quality, and protect residents against extreme temperatures and safety hazards.
For more information on the County's EECBG grant and the EBERP program, please visit the County's EBERP website (link).
Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant -- East Durham Railroad Crossing Elimination Planning Study
Transportation Department -- $1,200,000
Durham County received a grant from the U.S. Transportation Department, Federal Railroad Adminitration for the East Durham Railroad Crossing Elimination Planning Study project -- a study to explore potential safety improvement in and around 3 rail crossings in East Durham with a history of crashes, including 31 incidents over the last several decades with the most recent fatality in 2024. The grant funded study will allow Durham to identify potential safety improvements for all three crossings, with potential alternatives to existing crossings identified to reduce traffic delays, improve responsiveness of Emergency Services in East Durham, and improve pedestrian safety around the crossings.
This grant project will also be supported by $850,000 in Community Project Funding awarded through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant program, which was secured by Rep. Valerie Foushee during the FY 2024 Federal appropriation process. Durham County greatly appreciates Rep. Foushee's support for this important project that is aimed at improving pedestrian safety and traffic flow in East Durham.
For more information on the East Durham Railroad Crossing Elimination Planning Study, please contact the County's Transportation Department.