New Opportunities Inc.

New Opportunities Inc., Research, Development & Planning Division is a Waterbury, Connecticut-based tax-exempt nonprofit community action agency that serves as both a prime recipient and sub-recipient on federal grants focused on poverty reduction, homelessness support, senior services, and community economic development. The organization operates 53 percent of recent awards as prime grants and 47 percent as sub-grants, with work distributed across multiple federal agencies and grant programs over the past two decades (first award 2005).

New Opportunities Inc. draws funding from seven distinct federal agencies. The top four account for 97 percent of recent awards: the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families leads with 40 awards, followed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (37 awards), the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (17 awards), and the Corporation for National and Community Service Office of Grants Management (16 awards). Combined dollars obligated across all prime and sub awards total $123.6 million.

As a prime recipient, the organization holds active grants anchored in AmeriCorps Seniors programming and HUD Continuum of Care homelessness initiatives. Recent prime grants include a $648,759 AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program award (CFDA 94.011) effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 that deploys senior volunteers aged 55 and older to provide mentoring and tutoring to children with special needs across Connecticut; a $430,289 Senior Companion Program award (CFDA 94.016) under the same period supporting economically disadvantaged volunteers delivering companionship and respite care to vulnerable adults; a $525,396 HUD Continuum of Care Program award (CFDA 14.267) effective November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026 funding permanent housing, transitional housing, supportive services, and homeless management information systems; and a $150,000 Community Services Block Grant Discretionary Award (CFDA 93.570) from HHS Administration for Children and Families dated September 30, 2023 supporting economic development planning in underserved Connecticut communities. All AmeriCorps awards carry 10 percent statutory and budgetary match requirements; AmeriCorps programs require National Service Criminal History Checks for compensated participants and GAO audit compliance. HUD Continuum of Care awards fund eligible activities including permanent supportive housing for disabled populations, rapid rehousing, case management, operating costs, and fiscal control functions.

As a sub-recipient, New Opportunities Inc. receives pass-through funding from the Connecticut Department of Social Services and Connecticut Department of Education for child nutrition programs (Child Nutrition Program Block Consolidated, Cash-In-Lieu/Commodities-CCFP), Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) administration and weatherization support, community services block grant work in the Waterbury area, intensive case management and employment services, and limited English proficiency (LEP) services. Representative sub-awards include multiple CEAP contracts dating from 2021 onward that require the organization to accept and determine eligibility for energy assistance applications, process emergency heating requests prioritized by need, provide translation and interpretation services, and administer fuel and rental assistance benefits to qualified households. The organization also administers child nutrition and congregate meal programs under a Department of Education pass-through and operates case management and employment-focused services for clients with limited English proficiency under Department of Social Services sub-awards that consolidate three years of LEP funding and require development of effective language-assistance plans.

Activity has grown unevenly over the past five years—12 awards in 2022, 11 in 2023, 19 in 2024 (peak), 15 in 2025, and 13 in 2026 to date. Five awards are completing within the next twenty-four months and face recompete exposure. The organization's federal footprint centers on domestic social services, senior engagement, and homelessness mitigation work performed within Connecticut communities, with no federal contracting vehicle positions, federal contracts, or subcontract awards in the source data.