Information on Available State and Federal Grants March 1999 Vol. 13, #3

---

NYS Education Department

Funds are available to continue grants to consortia of local education agencies and postsecondary education institutions for Tech-Prep Education Programs. These four- to six-year programs are designed to lead to a two-year associate or four-year bachelors degree or a two-year certificate. Tech-Prep programs must develop and maintain comprehensive linkages between secondary schools and postsecondary educational institutions. These programs must provide technical preparation in at least one of the following fields: engineering technology, applied science, mechanical, industrial, practical art or trade, agriculture, health or business.

Funds are also available to fund two Tech-Prep Technical Assistance Centers. One must be located in upstate and the other in downstate New York. Priority will be given to applicants with experience administering statewide Tech-Prep technical assistance and who have effectively used educational technology and distance learning in the delivery of technical assistance.

ELIGIBILITY: School districts, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), Postsecondary Institutions, and Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) are eligible.

FUNDING: $4,873,906 is available for continuing grants and $236,210 is available to fund two Tech-Prep Technical Assistance Centers.

DEADLINE: April 30, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Howard Berkun, Workforce Development Team, NYS Education Department, Office of Workforce Preparation and Continuing Education and Bureau of Higher Education Opportunity Programs, Room 319 EB, Albany, NY 12234; telephone (518) 474-4809.

NYS Education Department

The purpose of the Even Start Family Literacy Program is to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities of low-income families by integrating parent education, early childhood education and adult literacy/adult education into a unified family literacy program through a collaborative effort building on existing community resources.
Programs should help parents become full partners in the education of their children, should assist children in reaching their full potential as learners, and should provide literacy training for their parents.

ELIGIBILITY: An eligible applicant is a partnership composed of both 1) a local educational agency and 2) a nonprofit community-based organization, a public agency other than a local educational agency, an institution of higher education, or a public or private nonprofit organization other than a local educational agency.

FUNDING: Approximately $10 million is available.

DEADLINE: April 9, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Susan Henry, Adult, Family and Alternative Education, Office of Workforce Development and Continuing Education, NYS Education Department, Room 303 EB, Albany, NY 12234; telephone (518) 474-8700.

NYS Education Department

The New York State Education Department, through the Bureau of College, School and Community Collaboration will award Liberty Partnerships Program grants on a competitive basis for programs that: 1) develop collaborative partnerships with schools, parents, community groups, local government agencies and the business community; 2) implement comprehensive dropout prevention programs for at-risk youth enrolled in grades 5-12; 3)generate additional resources necessary to support the continuity and advancement of program efforts; and 4) employ effective management practices.

The purpose of the grant program is to identify students who are at risk for dropping out of school and provide those students with services that target their “risk issues” and improve their abilities to graduate from high school and enter into postsecondary education and the workforce.

ELIGIBILITY: New York state degree-granting postsecondary education institutions, consortia of such institutions and community-based organizations are eligible.

FUNDING: $11 million.

DEADLINE: April 30, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Stanley S. Hansen, Jr., NYS Education Department, Bureau of College, School and Community Collaboration, EBA Room 965, Albany, NY 12234; telephone (518) 486-5202; e-mail www.shansen@mail.nysed.gov.

NY Council for the Humanities

The goals of the State Humanities Month (October) are: 1) to celebrate the humanities, as both a part of everyday life and as a set of special skills for understanding the world and its people, past and present; 2) to build a sense of shared community among New Yorkers by deepening their appreciation of their common cultural heritage; 3) to increase public awareness of the humanities in New York state; and 4) to foster links among cultural agencies around the state.

The New York Council for the Humanities intends to co-sponsor humanities events in every corner of the state. These events can take many forms to reflect the great diversity of humanities institutions and subjects: public lectures, panels and conferences; museum exhibitions; special gallery talks; film series; walking tours; book readings or reading groups; living history; folklore demonstrations; and more.

ELIGIBILITY: New York nonprofit organizations, including colleges and universities, historical societies, museums, professional associations, community and service organizations, are eligible. Grants are not offered to individuals.

FUNDING: Grants are $1,000 or less.

DEADLINE: May 1, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the NY Council for the Humanities, 150 Broadway, Suite 1700, New York, NY 10038; telephone (212) 233-1131; fax (212) 233-4607; e-mail hum@echonyc.com; or see their website at www.culturefront.org.

Community Facilities and Fire/Rescue Ambulance Loans

Rural Development, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture can make community facility loans to nonprofit corporations and public bodies to upgrade or replace existing facilities, equipment and vehicles that provide service to rural areas of 20,000 population or less.
The agency can finance ambulances and some rescue vehicles at a 4.5% rate of interest. Other fire fighting vehicles, buildings and equipment can be financed at a slightly higher rate of interest, depending on the median household of the service area.

Rural Development can also make loans to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. The agency also guarantees loans. Under this program, Rural Development guarantees a loan made by a bank, savings and loan, insurance company, Federal Land Bank or other qualified lender against a certain percentage of loss. The agency is able to finance the following types of essential community facilities: Health Care – clinics, ambulatory care centers, hospitals, and nursing homes; Telecommunications – medical and educational links; Public Safety – communication centers, police and fire stations, fire trucks, rescue vehicles, and jails; and Public Services – adult and child care centers, town halls, courthouses, libraries, museums, schools and fairgrounds.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact any Rural Development office listed in the telephone book under U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture or call Eileen McGrath at (315) 477-6434.

Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships

The United States Department of Education is making grants available through its Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships. The goal of these partnerships is to enhance the delivery, quality, and accountability of postsecondary education and career-oriented lifelong learning through technology and related innovations.

Funds awarded to an eligible partnership must be used to conduct one or more of the following activities: 1) develop and assess model distance learning programs or innovative educational software; 2) develop methodologies for the identification and measurement of skill competencies; 3) develop and assess innovative student support systems or 4) support other activities consistent with the purpose of the program.

ELIGIBILITY: Partnerships consisting of two or more independent agencies, organizations, or institutions, including institutions of higher education, community organizations, and other public and private institutions, agencies, and organizations are eligible.

FUNDING: $10 million is available to fund awards ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Federal funds cannot exceed 50% of the cost of the project.

DEADLINE: April 2, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3100, ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-5175; telephone (202) 358-3041 to order applications; or (202) 708-5750 for information. The application can also be found on the Department of Education’s website at www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/FIPSE/.

Foreign Language and Area Studies Research

The United States Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education is offering grants to support research designed to improve and strengthen modern foreign languages, area studies, and international studies throughout the education structure of the United States.
Research activities include studies and surveys and development of specialized instructional materials designed to improve and strengthen foreign language and area and related studies in the American education system.

ELIGIBILITY: Individuals, local educational agencies, state educational agencies and other organizations and agencies may apply.

FUNDING: The Department of Education anticipates 19 awards ranging from $30,241 - $200,000 will be funded.

DEADLINE: March 31, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Jose L. Martinez, U.S. Department of Education, International Education and Graduate Programs Service, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20202-5331; telephone (202) 401-9784; fax (202) 205-9489; e-mail address jose_martinez@ed.gov.

Science to Achieve Results (STAR) 1999 Environmental Research Grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), invites research grant applications in five areas of special interest. EPA’s research programs focus on reduction of risks to human health and ecosystems and on the reduction of uncertainty associated with risk assessment. In all areas, EPA is interested in research that recognizes issues relating to environmental justice, the concept of achieving equal protection from environmental and health hazards for all people without regard to race, economic status, or culture.
Specific deadlines, funding and contacts are listed by research topic.

Airborne Particulate Matter Health Effects – Deadline: June 2, 1999. Funding: $5,000,000. Contact: Deran Pashayan, telephone (202) 564-6913, e-mail pashayan.deran@epamail.epa.gov.

Drinking Water - Deadline: May 19, 1999. Funding: $5,000,000. Contact: William Stelz, telephone (202) 564-6834, e-mail stelz.william@epamail.epa.gov.

Combustion Emissions – Deadline: May 19, 1999. Funding: $1,000,000. Contact: Thomas Veirs, telephone (202) 564-6831, e-mail veirs.thomas@epamail.epa.gov.

Computing Technology for Ecosystem Modeling – Deadline: May 12, 1999. Funding: $3,000,000. Contact: Chris Saint, telephone (202) 564-6909, e-mail saint.chris@epamail.epa.gov.

Exploratory Research – Deadline: June 23, 1999. Funding: $3,000,000. Contact: Bala Krishnan, telephone (202) 564-6832, e-mail krishnan.bala@epamail.epa.gov.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance (8703R), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone (800) 490-9194.

SUNY Brockport Two-Day Course

The State University of New York College at Brockport is offering a one-credit grant writing course for college students, staff of nonprofit organizations and interested community members. The course will be offered on two consecutive Saturdays on April 17th & 24th; and again on Monday/Tuesday, May 17-18. The hours are 8:30 am – 4:00 pm each day.

The course is a basic how-to introduction to grants seeking and covers sources of funding for grants, differences between seeking support from government agencies and foundations, specific suggestions on writing successful proposals, preparing a budget, and concludes with a funding simulation exercise using real proposals. The fee for the two-day course is $137 plus college fees for undergraduates and $213 plus college fees for graduate credit. For more information and to register call Susan Derry at (716) 395-5720.

Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence, Inc. (COPE) will be holding a grant writing seminar at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in New Rochelle, NY on April 27th, 1999 from 9 am to
4 pm. The cost is $145.00. For more information, call (914) 756-2673 or e-mail COPE at jnb@copeinc.com. When calling, leave your fax number. You may also view the COPE website at www.copeinc.com.