Information on Available State and Federal Grants
November 2000
Vol. 14, #11

New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
...On the State Level

Local Assistance Program for Non-toxic Pest Management Training and Structural Improvements

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting applications for the Local Assistance Program for Non-toxic Pest Management Training and Structural Improvements. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to municipalities to train municipal employees in non-toxic pest management methods and to make minor repairs to municipal structures that will prohibit pest infestations (e.g. repairing screens and damaged woods). The emphasis of this program is the municipal training element.

ELIGIBILITY: Municipalities, including counties; towns; villages; school districts and improvement districts within a city, county, town, or village; local public benefit corporations; local public authorities; Indian tribes residing within New York state; and any combination of these, are eligible to apply.

FUNDING: Local assistance grants are available up to $50,000. No municipal funding match is required.

DEADLINE: November 30, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Mary A. Roy, Environmental Program Specialist 2, NYSDEC, 50 Wolf Road, Room 498, Albany, NY 12233-7254; telephone (518) 457-0917.


Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund (LGRMIF)

NYS Education Department

The New York State Education Department, State Archives is offering grants through the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund (LGRMIF) to improve records management and archival administration in New York state’s local governments. Grants are available for inventory and planning, records creation and system design, inactive records, active records, microfilm, archival programs, and educational uses of local government records projects.

ELIGIBILITY: Local governments, including but not limited to Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), cities, counties, fire districts, school districts, towns and villages are eligible.

FUNDING: Local governments may request up to $75,000 each. Two or more local governments working together may request up to $100,000.

DEADLINE: February 1, 2001.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact NYS Archives, Training and Grants Support Services Unit, Room 9A81 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230; telephone (518) 474-6926.


Standard Performance Contract Program

NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is accepting applications under its Standard Performance Contract Program. This program offers financial incentives paid on a performance basis to contractors implementing cost-effective electrical efficiency improvements for eligible customers.

The incentive is calculated based on one full year of energy savings. Incentive rates per kilowatt hour of savings are 10.5 cents for lighting efficiency projects; 12.8 cents for motors, variable-speed drives, building energy management systems, and refrigeration; and 28.8 cents for electric chillers. This incentive is also available for gas and steam chillers to avoid conversions to electric. Incentives for custom measures are determined on a case-by-case basis.

The Standard Performance Contract is between the contractor and NYSERDA. The contract between the customer and the contractor can be an energy performance contract or a traditional construction contract. The amount of the incentive passed through to the customer is negotiable between the contractor and the customer.

ELIGIBILITY: Electrical efficiency improvements for customers of Central Hudson, Con Ed, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk and Orange & Rockland.

FUNDING: Up to $15 million in financial incentives are available. For most projects, the incentives are equal to the annual energy cost savings.

DEADLINE: The current deadline is June 30, 2001, or until the funds are fully committed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit NYSERDA’s website: www.nyserda.org (Opportunities page, PON 566-00) or contact John Ahearn at (518) 862-1090, ext. 3310; e-mail mja@nyserda.org


Energy-Efficient New Construction Program

NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is offering financial assistance to design/install energy efficiency into new/renovated buildings. The program offers technical assistance to evaluate and design energy-efficient options; cash back for installation of cost-effective electric efficiency measures in new or renovated buildings; and cash back for energy-efficient replacement equipment in existing buildings.

NYSERDA project managers will work with project design teams to analyze efficiency opportunities in new or substantially renovated buildings. Project energy modeling, which gives estimates of cost premiums and savings from electric efficiency measures, is available. Financial incentives are provided for approved installations. Early design intervention will yield greater incentives and efficiency benefits. A one-step application is available for equipment replacements.

ELIGIBILITY: Businesses, state and local governments, non-profit and private institutions, public and private schools, colleges and universities, multi-family buildings, and health care facilities are eligible. Applicants must be building owners served by electric utilities participating in New York Energy $mart programs.

FUNDING: $10.6 million.

DEADLINE: Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis through December 31, 2000, or until funds are fully committed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For applications, fax Jane Powers at (518) 862-1091; e-mail: jap@nyserda.org; or visit www.nyserda.org (Opportunities page) to request PON 459-99 and application materials. For questions, contact Chris Reohr at (518) 862-1090, ext. 3363; e-mail: cjr@nyserda.org


...On the Federal Level

Career Ladder Program

U.S. Department of Education

The United States Department of Education is accepting applications for the Career Ladder Program. The program provides grants to upgrade the qualifications and skills of non-certified educational personnel, especially educational paraprofessionals, to meet high professional standards, including certification and licensure as bilingual teachers and other personnel who serve limited English proficient students, and help recruit and train secondary students as bilingual education teachers and other educational personnel to serve limited English proficient students.

Funds under this program may be used to: develop bilingual education Career Ladder Program curricula appropriate to the needs of consortia participants; provide assistance for stipends and costs related to tuition fees and books for coursework required to complete degree and certification requirements for bilingual education teachers; and for programs to introduce secondary school students to careers in bilingual education teaching that are coordinated with other activities assisted under this program.

ELIGIBILITY: One or more institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have entered into consortia arrangements with local educational agencies (LEAs) or state educational agencies (SEAs) to achieve the purposes of this program are eligible. Consortia may include community-based organizations or professional education organizations.

FUNDING: $5 million is available, with an estimated range of awards of $150,000 to $250,000.

DEADLINE: November 30, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to the Department of Education’s website at: www.ed.gov/news.html or contact Mahal May or Elizabeth Judd, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 5090, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-6510; telephone Mahal May (202) 205-8727 or Elizabeth Judd (202) 205-9157; e-mail Mahal_May@ed.gov or Elizabeth_Judd@ed.gov


Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs/Distance Education
Demonstration Program

U.S. Department of Education

The United States Department of Education is accepting applications to participate in the Distance Education Demonstration Program. Under this program, certain institutions providing distance education programs may receive waivers of specific statutory and regulatory provisions governing the student financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA.

Under the Distance Demonstration Program, participants may offer Title IV, HEA program funds to students enrolled in educational programs utilizing distance education delivery methods for all or a portion of their classes without being subject to certain statutory and regulatory provisions, which the Secretary of Education may waive upon their request.The purpose of these waivers is to test new ways of administering the Federal student assistance programs and to consider how the law and regulations might be altered to allow for expansion of aid to distance students and still ensure program integrity.

ELIGIBILITY: Institutions of higher education (institutions), systems of institutions, and consortia of institutions are eligible.

FUNDING: Up to 35 institutions may be chosen to participate.

DEADLINE: February 16, 2001.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Marianne R. Phelps at (202) 502-7713 or at DistanceDemo@ed.gov by e-mail. Information concerning the program can also be found on the Distance Education Demonstration Program website: www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/DistEd/


Fulbright American Studies Institutes for
Foreign University Faculty

U.S. Department of State

The Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces an open competition for four assistance awards. Eligible institutions may apply to develop and implement one of the following four post-graduate level American Studies programs designed for multinational groups of 18 to 30 experienced foreign university faculty and educators: 1) The Civilization of the United States: An Introduction; 2) U.S. Foreign Policy: Foundations and Formulation; 3) The U.S. Constitution: Origins, Evolution, and Contemporary Issues; and 4) American Studies for Foreign Secondary School Educators.

These programs are intended to provide participants with a deeper understanding of American life and institutions, past and present, in order to strengthen curricula and to improve the quality of teaching about the United States at universities abroad.

ELIGIBILITY: The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals from colleges, universities, consortia of colleges and universities, and other non-profit academic organizations that have an established reputation in one or more of the following fields: political science, international relations, law, history, sociology, literature, American studies, and/or other disciplines related to the program theme.

FUNDING: Based on groups of 18 participants, the total Bureau-funded budget (program and administrative) for programs one, two and three should be approximately $176,000, and Bureau-funded administrative costs should not exceed $53,000. Based on a group of 30 participants, the total Bureau-funded budget (program and administrative) for program four should be approximately $245,000, and Bureau-funded administrative costs should not exceed $56,000.

DEADLINE: January 10, 2001.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Bureau’s website at: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfps/. To request a solicitation package, contact the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Study of the U.S. Branch, State Annex 44, ECA/A/E/USS–Room 252, 301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202) 619-4557; fax (202) 619-6790; e-mail rtaylor@pd.state.gov. Please specify Senior Program Officer Richard Taylor on all correspondence.


Relatives as Parents Programs

The Brookdale Foundation Group

The Brookdale Foundation Group is accepting applications for its Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) Local Seed Grant initiative for the year 2001. RAPP is designed to encourage and promote the creation or expansion of services for grandparents and other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting, when the biological parents are unwilling or unable to do so.

The program is intended to:

  • award seed grants to local agencies to provide support groups and at least two other supportive services to relative caregivers and their families;
  • encourage cooperation and collaboration among various service systems (such as child welfare, health care, aging, family services, mental health);
  • ensure the development, expansion and future continuity of local services; and
  • create replicable models of service.

Priority will be given to those agencies that have access to relative caregivers, provide supportive services, and demonstrate broad community involvement and support.

ELIGIBILITY: Sponsoring agencies must be a 510 (c) (3) entity or have equivalent tax-exempt status.

FUNDING: Up to 15 agencies will be chosen to receive $10,000 grants each ($6,000 in the first year and $4,000 in the second if all grant requirements are met), as well as training and technical assistance. Matching support in cash or in-kind will be required.

DEADLINE: January 31, 2001.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Copies of the guidelines and application form may be downloaded from the Foundation’s website at: www.ewol.com/Brookdale. Requests for information, written on agency letterhead, may also be submitted to: The Relatives as Parents Program, The Brookdale Foundation Group, 126 East 56th Street, New York, NY 10022-3668.


Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Training Program

New York City, November 13-17, 2000
Albany, December 4-8, 2000

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: November 13-17, hosted by the NYS Department of Education & The Center for Advanced Studies of Education at CUNY Graduate Center; and December 4-8, hosted by the NYS Department of Education. The five-day class is kept at a maximum of 26 participants. The cost of the program is $675 ($625 for each additional registrant from the same agency). A limited number of half-tuition scholarships are available to agencies with annual budgets of less than $250,000.

For more information on each program, contact: Fran Hollon at (518) 486-5202.

Or, contact The Grantsmanship Center at (800) 421-9512. You might also want to check out The Center’s 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 at the website: http://www.tgci.com


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