FUNDING:Grants up to $200,000 are available.
DEADLINE:July 26, 2002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:Contact Dr. James M. Gaughan, New York City School and Community Services, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, New York 12234; e-mail jgaughan@mail.nysed.gov

Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program. The program supports research in the area of market-based mechanisms and other incentives (MM&I) for environmental quality management.
The terms "market mechanisms" and "incentives" refer to approaches that rely on economic incentives, market forces, or financial mechanisms to encourage regulated entities to reduce emissions, discharges, and waste generation, or generally improve environmental performance.
STAR seeks applicants that will accomplish one or more of the following objectives: 1) identify and evaluate the most effective applications of MM&I for media-specific or cross-media environmental quality issues that federal, state, and local agencies must address; 2) identify the instrumental, technical, legal, and regulatory obstacles to successful implementation of MM&I approaches; 3) provide empirical estimates of MM&I cost-savings relative to existing or proposed regulatory programs; 4) demonstrate the relative effectiveness of MM&I programs in achieving environmental results, in a variety of situations, compared to traditional regulatory or other; 5) show how selected MM&I approaches can be transferred or generalized to other environmental problems or geographic/political scales.
ELIGIBILITY:Academic institutions, non-profit institutions, and state or local governments are eligible.
FUNDING:Approximately $1 million to $2 million is available for projects ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.
DEADLINE: August 15, 2002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:Contact Dr. Matthew Clark, EPA National Center for Environmental Research; e-mail clark.matthew@epa.gov; telephone (202) 564-6842; or fax (202) 565-2447. (note: e-mail inquiries are preferred)

 
Collaborative Research Grants

National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities announces funding for its Collaborative Research Grants. These grants support original research undertaken by a team of two or more scholars or research coordinated by an individual scholar that because of its scope or complexity requires additional staff or resources beyond the individual’s salary.
Eligible projects include: 1) research that significantly adds to knowledge and understanding in the humanities; 2) archaeology projects that interpret and communicate the results of archaeological fieldwork (i.e., survey, excavation, materials analysis, laboratory work, and field reports); 3) translations into English of works that provide insight into the history, literature, philosophy, and artistic achievements of other cultures; 4) research that uses the knowledge, methods, and perspectives of the humanities that enhance understanding of science, technology, and medicine; and 5) conferences on a topic of major importance in the humanities that will benefit ongoing research.
ELIGIBILITY:Non-profit organizations, state and local governmental agencies, U.S. citizens, or foreign nationals who have lived in the U.S. or its jurisdictions for at least three years prior to the time of application are eligible.
FUNDING:Awards normally range from $25,000 to $100,000.
DEADLINE:September 1, 2002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Applications can be obtained by calling (202) 606-8446, sending an e-mail to info@neh.gov, or writing NEH, Office of Public Affairs, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C., 20506

 
Preservation and Access Grants

National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities seeks applicants for its Preservation and Access Grants. These grants support projects that preserve and make available the full range of humanities collections that are important for research, education, and lifelong learning. Grants are also given for the creation of research tools and reference works, for national and regional preservation training programs, and for research and demonstration projects that may explore the use of digital technology.
Through Preservation Assistance Grants, the division seeks to reach small and mid-size institutions with support for basic preservation assessments, education, and collection storage improvements.
ELIGIBILITY: Non-profit organizations, institutions, or consortiums, and state and local government agencies are eligible. Individuals are eligible for grants to create research tools and reference works.
FUNDING: Grants range from $25,000 to $700,000, based on type of project.
DEADLINE:July 1, 2002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:Applications can be obtained by calling (202) 606-8446, sending an e-mail to info@neh.gov, or writing NEH, Office of Public Affairs, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C., 20506

 
Community Food and Nutrition Program

Office of Community Services (OCS)

The Office of Community Services (OCS) announces funding for its Community Food and Nutrition Program. The program seeks to aid underserved and low-income families by improving their health and nutrition.
The goals of the Community Food and Nutrition Program are: 1) to coordinate private and public food assistance resources to better serve the food and nutrition needs of low-income populations; 2) to assist low-income communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and to initiate such programs in underserved or unserved areas; and 3) to develop innovative approaches at the state and local level to meet the nutrition needs of low-income individuals, including displaced workers, elderly people, children, and the working poor and other low-income individuals.
ELIGIBILITY:State and local governments, Indian tribes, non-profit organizations, and faith-based groups are eligible.
FUNDING: Approximately $2.4 million is available.
DEADLINE:July 8, 2002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Applications are available at www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/kits1.htm or contact Catherine Rivers, (202) 401-9354; the OCS Operations Center, 1-800-281-9519

 
Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks applicants for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI). The purpose of this initiative is to provide a program of technical assistance to recipients to develop or increase their capacity to undertake projects in the areas of housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas.
The RCDI grant, which has a matching funds requirement, is made to an intermediary. The intermediary provides a program of technical assistance to recipients to build their capacity and ability to undertake projects in rural areas. The intermediary can be a private or public organization, including tribal, that has been organized a minimum of three years and has experience working with the recipients eligible for this program.
ELIGIBILITY: Non-profit organizations, low-income communities, and federally recognized tribes, based on the definitions in the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) are eligible. Recipients must be located in eligible rural areas, as defined in the NOFA.
FUNDING: $6 million is available. Grants range from $50,000 to $1 million.
DEADLINE: July 2, 2002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.rurdev.usda.gov or contact the Rural Housing Service National Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5037, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250; telephone (202) 720-4323

 
Mentoring Programs

Department of Education

The Department of Education announces available funding to establish or implement mentoring programs. These programs will serve children with the greatest need living in rural or high-crime areas, troubled home environments, or who attend schools with violence problems.
The programs must: 1) assist children in receiving support and guidance from a mentor; 2) improve academic performance; 3) improve interpersonal relationships between children and their peers, teachers, other adults, and family members; 4) reduce the dropout rate; and 5) reduce juvenile delinquency and involvement in gangs.
ELIGIBILITY: Local educational agencies (LEAs), non-profit, community-based organizations (CBOs), including faith-based organizations, and partnerships between LEAs and CBOs are eligible.
FUNDING: $17.5 million is available.
DEADLINE:July 2, 2002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact EDPubs at 1-877- 4EDPubs or visit www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS. For all other questions, contact Bryan Williams, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Room 3E259, Washington, DC 20202-6123; telephone: (202) 260-2391; e-mail bryan.williams@ed.gov

The Grantsmanship Center

Syracuse & Buffalo

The Grantsmanship Center is offering grant writing classes in Syracuse: June 24-28, hosted by P.E.A.C.E.; and in Buffalo: July 15-19, hosted by the Junior League of Buffalo and Every Person Influences Children (EPIC). The five-day program is kept to a maximum of 27 participants and costs $775 per person.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For Syracuse, call Len Colella at (315) 470-3300. For Buffalo, call Patti Montaldi (716) 884-8865. Or contact The Grantsmanship Center at (800) 421-9512

Grants Action News by e-mail

If you are interested in receiving the Grants Action News by e-mail every month, write to signup@assembly.state.ny.us. Please include your name, e-mail address, and mailing address, including your agency or organization.
If you are also interested in receiving timely legislative updates from the Assembly Internet Information Service, indicate your area of interest (such as education, economic development, local government) in your note. Response time will depend on the volume of interest.