...On the Federal Level

Market Access Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation announces that applications are being accepted for participation in the fiscal year 2000 Market Access Program (MAP). The program is designed to create, expand, and maintain foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities and products through cost-share assistance.

Under the MAP, the Commodity Credit Corporation enters into agreements with eligible participants to share the costs of certain overseas marketing and promotion activities. The program generally operates on a reimbursement basis.

ELIGIBILITY: Non-profit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, non-profit state regional trade groups (i.e., an association of State Departments of Agriculture), a U.S. agricultural cooperative, a state agency, and small-sized U.S. commercial entities (other than cooperatives or producer associations) are eligible.

FUNDING: It is anticipated that $90 will be available for cost-share assistance.

DEADLINE: March 13, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250; telephone (202) 720-4327.

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Technology Opportunities Program

U.S. Department of Commerce

The United States Department of Technology, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is accepting applications for the Technical Opportunities Program (TOP), formerly known as the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program.
TOP promotes the widespread use and availability of advanced telecommunications and information technologies in the public and non-profit sectors. By providing matching grants for information infrastructure projects, this program will help develop a nationwide, interactive, broadband information infrastructure that is accessible to all Americans, especially the underserved.

In fiscal year 2000, TOP will support projects in four application areas: Community Networking and Services, Lifelong Learning and the Arts, Health and Public Safety. TOP is especially interested in projects that cut across application areas to better serve the needs of individuals and communities. Because multiple organizations often share the same end users, TOP encourages applications in which the use of network technology enables partners in different disciplines (e.g., health, education, and public safety) to share information. For example, local government and community-based organizations that work to serve the same families could benefit by increasing coordination and information sharing through the use of network technology.

ELIGIBILITY: Non-profit entities; state, local, and tribal governments; and colleges and universities are eligible. Although individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply, they are encouraged to participate as project partners.

FUNDING: An applicant may apply for up to $600,000 in total federal support. TOP anticipates that the average size of an award will be approximately $375,000.

DEADLINE: March 16, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Stephan J. Downs, Director of the Technology Opportunities Program, (202) 482-2048; fax (202) 501-5136; e-mail top@ntia.doc.gov

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Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology

U.S. Department of Education

The Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology Program provides grants to consortia that are helping future teachers become proficient in the use of modern learning technologies. This program addresses looming teacher shortages by developing well-qualified, technology-proficient teachers, who are prepared to teach in 21st century schools, particularly schools in low-income communities or rural areas. This program provides support for both implementation and catalyst grants.

ELIGIBILITY: Only consortia may receive grants under this program. A consortium must include at least two members. Consortium members may include institutions of higher education (IHEs), schools of education, state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), private schools, professional associations, foundations, museums, libraries, for-profit agencies and organizations, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and others.

FUNDING: It is estimated that $75 million will be available for awards ranging from $200,000-$400,000 for implementation grants, and $500,000-$700,000 for catalyst grants.

DEADLINE: March 7, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For applications call (202) 502-7788, or fax requests to (202) 502-7775. The application package will also be available on the program web site www.ed.gov/teachteach

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21st Century Community Learning Centers

U.S. Department of Education

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program was established to award grants to rural and inner-city schools, or consortia of such schools, to enable them to plan, implement, or expand projects that benefit the educational, health, social services, cultural and recreational needs of the community. School-based community learning centers can provide a safe, drug-free, supervised and cost-effective after-school, weekend or summer haven for children, youth and their families.

Grantees under this program are required to carry out at least four of the following activities: literacy education programs; senior citizen programs; children’s day care services; integrated education, health, social service, recreational, or cultural programs; summer and weekend school programs in conjunction with recreation programs; nutrition and health programs; expanded library service hours to serve community needs; telecommunications and technology education programs for individuals of all ages; parenting skills education programs; support and training for child day care providers; services for individuals who leave school before graduating from secondary school, regardless of the age of that person; and services for individuals with disabilities.

ELIGIBILITY: Only rural or inner-city public elementary or secondary schools, consortia of schools, or LEAs applying on their behalf, are eligible to receive a grant.

FUNDING: The estimated range of awards is $35,000-$2,000,000.

DEADLINE: March 20, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Amanda Clyburn, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Room 5W240, Washington, DC 20202; telephone (202) 260-3804; e-mail 21stCCLC@ed.gov

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HIV Prevention Projects for Community-Based Organizations

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of fiscal year 2000 funds to support community-based organizations (CBOs) to develop, implement, and evaluate state-of-the-art, model community-based HIV prevention programs for populations at risk for HIV infection, especially racial/ethnic minority populations at risk.

The goals of this program are to: 1) reduce the disproportionate impact of the HIV epidemic on racial/ethnic minority populations and other at-risk populations; 2) improve and expand community-based HIV prevention services; 3) enhance CBOs’ incorporation of scientific theory and data, and validated program experience into the design, implementation, and evaluation of HIV prevention services; and 4) support collaboration and coordination of HIV prevention efforts among CBOs, community planning groups, other local organizations, local and state health departments, and managed care organizations serving populations at risk for HIV infection.

ELIGIBILITY: Tax-exempt, community-based organizations that serve predominately racial/ethnic minority populations at high risk for HIV infection or other CBOs serving high-risk populations without regard to their racial ethnic identity.

FUNDING: The maximum award under this announcement will be $225,000. Requests for greater amounts will not be considered.

DEADLINE: March 6, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: To receive an application kit, call (800) 243-7012, fax request to (888) 282-7681, e-mail request to application-cbo@cdcnpin.org or visit their web site at www.cdcnpin.org/program . For technical assistance, contact Maggie Warren, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office Program Announcement 00023, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 Brandywine Road, Mailstop E-15, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146; telephone (770) 488-2736; e-mail mcs9@cdc.gov

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Teacher Next Door Initiative

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces the creation of the Teacher Next Door Initiative (TND Initiative). This initiative will help more teachers become homeowners and help revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods by enabling eligible teachers to purchase HUD-acquired homes in HUD-designated revitalization areas at a 50% discount from list prices.

The goal of the program is to encourage teachers to live and work in urban school districts, where they are needed most, and to enhance the community’s quality of life by promoting the integration of dedicated role models and mentors into the community.

ELIGIBILITY: Full-time, state certified teachers and administrators who agree to live in the home as their sole residence for at least three years are eligible. Local governments, school districts and non-profit organizations may purchase homes if they intend to resell them directly to qualified teachers.

FUNDING: Eligible buyers receive a 50% discount on qualified homes.

DEADLINE: The TND Initiative is a temporary program that will operate from November 1999 to November 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (800) 483-7342 or visit HUD’s web site at www.hud.gov

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Women’s Business Center Program to Provide Financial Counseling and Management and Technical Assistance to Women

U.S. Small Business Administration

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering funding for Women’s Business Center projects that will provide long-term training and other technical assistance to women who want to start or expand businesses.

Service and assistance areas must include financial, management, marketing, loan packaging, eCommerce and government procurement/certification assistance. Applicants must plan to include women who are socially and economically disadvantaged in the target group. SBA will require award recipients to provide content and support to the SBA-funded Online Women’s Business Center, (www.onlinewbc.org) and provide training on the business uses of the Internet.

ELIGIBILITY: Private non-profit organizations are eligible.

FUNDING: Award recipients must match one non-Federal for every two Federal dollars in the first two years of the project.

DEADLINE: March 1, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For questions about the application process and budget information, contact Mina Wales at mina.wales@sba.gov or (202) 205-7080. For questions about the women’s business center and proposal requirements, contact Sally Murrell at sally.murrell@sba.gov or (202) 205-6673.

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Grant Writing

Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence (COPE)
New Rochelle and Poughkeepsie

The Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence (COPE) is offering two full-day grant-writing classes in February. COPE will hold classes in New Rochelle, New York at the Ramada Plaza Inn on February 17th and in Poughkeepsie, New York at the Best Western Inn on February 23rd. The cost for each class is $145 and includes a grant writing manual. If two or more people from the same organization attend, the cost is $118 per person.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact COPE at (914) 756-COPE (2673) or e-mail them at jnb@copeinc.com

Syracuse University
Syracuse

Syracuse University is offering an “Introduction to Grant Writing” class on March 17 and May 12. The one-day class runs from 9 am to 4 pm and costs $149 per person.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Peg at (315) 443-3271 or e-mail enrich@syr.edu to request a brochure.

  Grantsmanship Training Program
NYC, Buffalo and Saratoga Springs

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York:

The class is kept to a maximum of 26 participants and costs $675. A limited number of half-tuitions are available to agencies with annual budgets of less than $250,000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For the NYC program, contact Pamela DePompo-Klein at (212) 385-3030, ext. 110. For the Buffalo program, contact Neil Melbrod at (716) 878-2371. For the Saratoga Springs program, contact Betty Hamilton at (518) 587-2995. Or contact the Grantsmanship Center at (800) 421-9512. The Center also has a new library of federal grant proposals on CD-ROM – which lets you download the text of top ranked proposals for dozens of major programs. More information is available on the web site: www.tgci.com

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