New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC)

NYSEFC extends the application deadline to June 26, 2003 for funding to the owners of certain eligible dry cleaning facilities to defray costs associated with environmental protection requirements. This funding will be made pursuant to the Dry Cleaner Program within the existing Financial Assistance to Business (FAB) program that was created by the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996. The FAB Dry Cleaner Program is intended to help owners of dry cleaning facilities comply with state regulations, which will result in reduced perchloroethylene (PERC) emissions.
ELIGIBILITY: EFC will provide financial assistance for the acquisition of certain new or upgraded eligible dry cleaning equipment that complies with state regulations. This program applies to dry cleaning facilities 1) in existence prior to May 15, 1997; 2) that are located within New York State, but outside of New York City; and 3) that are "small businesses," defined as businesses that are independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employing not more than one hundred people.
FUNDING: From $1,000 to $5,000.
DEADLINE: June 26, 2003.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Environmental Facilities Corporation, Financial Assistance to Business Program, Attention: Laurie A. Allen, Program Manager, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12207-2997; by toll-free phone at (800) 200-2200; or by fax at (518) 486-9248.

 
New York State Teacher Centers Continuation Program Plan

New York State Education Department (SED)

The New York State Education Department announces the availability of grants in 2003-2004 that will provide assistance for established and existing Teacher Centers. The legislative allocation for 2002-2003 of $31 million supported 126 Teacher Centers throughout New York State. Since the State Budget is not yet in place, the 2003-2004 allocation is unknown at this time. Recommendations for continued funding are determined by the quality and extent of the program as reflected in the program plan, past performance, and compliance with program requirements in New York State Education Law Section 316 and State Education Commissioner’s Regulation 81.2. Recommendations for continued funding are reviewed by the Professional Standards and Practice Boards.
ELIGIBILITY: Established and existing Teacher Centers.
FUNDING: The exact allocation is unknown at this time, but the 2002-2003 allocation was $31 million.
DEADLINE: May 31, 2003.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Isabel Pickett of the Education Department at (518) 473-1234; she can also be e-mailed at ipickett@mail.nysed.gov. Additional information for this grant is also available at the New York State Education Department’s web site, www.emsc.nysed.gov/funding/currentapps.htm.

Teacher Professional Continuum

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF is seeking applications to support development of systematic, comprehensive and coherently structured teacher education programs to improve teacher preparation and practice for K-12 science, technology and mathematics instruction. The program funds a variety of activities to promote quality teaching and remedy the disconnect between teacher preparation and teaching practice. Goals include developing innovative curricula, materials, tools, ideas and information resources to support teachers and administrators; advancing the knowledge base on the preparation, enhancement and retention of science, technology and mathematics teachers; improving the quality and coherence of the learning experiences that prepare and enhance science, technology and mathematics teachers; researching, developing and identifying models, organizational structures and systems that support the teacher professional continuum; and using scientifically based studies to research teacher learning throughout the teacher professional continuum and its impact on the teaching practice.
ELIGIBILITY: Colleges and universities; non-profit, non-academic organizations, such as research laboratories and professional societies; for-profit organizations; state and local governments, including state education offices and local school districts.
FUNDING: $28 million for 25 to 35 grants.
DEADLINE: May 19, 2003 for preliminary proposals; September 10, 2003 for full proposals.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (703) 292-8613, or visit www.nsf.gov/pubs/2003/nsf03534/nsf03534.htm.

H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants

United States Department of Labor

The United States Department of Labor seeks applications to provide high-skill technology training in certain labor shortage areas.
ELIGIBILITY: Local Workforce Investment Boards (Local Boards) representing a local or regional public-private partnership that is comprised of at least one Local Board, one business or business-related non-profit organization such as a trade association, and one community-based organization, higher education institution or labor union that will carry out training programs. In certain cases, business partnerships, with or without a Local Board, may be eligible as well.
FUNDING: Total funding of $200 million for awards up to $3 million each for a project period of three years. A 50% local match is required.
DEADLINE: Grants will be funded throughout the fiscal year until September 30, 2003.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Ella Freeman, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Financial Assistance, (202) 693-3301. You must specifically ask for Ella Freeman.

Outreach Projects for Children with Disabilities

United States Department of Education

The United States Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services is seeking applications for grants authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Outreach Projects for Children with Disabilities (CFDA #84.324R) will assist educational and other agencies in replicating proven models that improve services for children with disabilities.
ELIGIBILITY: Higher education institutions; state and local education agencies (SEA/LEA) and other public agencies; private and non-profit organizations; outlying areas and freely associated states; and Indian Tribes or tribal organizations.
DEADLINE: March 28, 2003.
FUNDING: Fourteen awards of up to $175,000 each for up to three years.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Grants and Contracts Services Team, US Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550; phone (202) 205-8207; online at www.ed.gov/GrantApps.

Rural Housing Preservation Funds

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The USDA’s Rural Housing Services (RHS) has funds available to repair or rehabilitate low-income housing as part of the Housing Preservation Grant Program. The competitive grants will be given to organizations sponsoring low- or very-low income rural housing programs that assist homeowners, landlords or members of a cooperative.
ELIGIBILITY: State and local governments, Indian tribes and consortia and non-profit organizations are eligible.
FUNDING: A fiscal year 2003 appropriation has not yet been made, but $8 million is expected to be available for this program.
DEADLINE: March 27, 2003.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Mary Fox at (202) 720-1624 or toll free at (800) 877-8339.

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Focus on European-US Cooperation

United States Department of Education

The United States Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education seeks applications to form consortia of higher education or vocational education institutions in the United States and the European Union in order to coordinate curricula, exchange students and increase educational opportunities.
ELIGIBILITY: Institutions of higher education and vocation education and training; or combinations of these institutions and other public and private non-profit educational groups.
DEADLINE: March 28, 2003.
FUNDING: $2.3 million over three years for approximately 13 awards of $25,000 each for one-year preparatory projects; $35,000 each for one-year complementary activities projects; $75,000 each for two-year complementary activities projects; and $50,000 each for year one of a three-year consortia implementation project with a $200,000 3-year total.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education at 1990 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006-8544; phone (202) 502-7500. Additional information is available at www.ed.gov/GrantApps; applications can also be requested by calling (877) 433-7827; this is a toll free call. The CFDA # for this program is 84.116J.

Beaumont Foundation of America (BFA) Computer Grants

BFA, established from unclaimed settlement funds from a class action lawsuit against the Toshiba computer company, provides technology grants of Toshiba hardware to support digital inclusion for low-income citizens and historically underserved schools and communities. Three grant programs will be making awards: community grants will offer technology equipment to community-based organizations, education grants will support schools with grants of technology equipment, and individual grants of technology equipment will be made directly to individuals. Equipment will be a selection of Toshiba-branded hardware. Grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, current technology efforts. Collaborations are encouraged. Awards are made for a single site only. Institutions may submit proposals for each of a network of sites, but each will be awarded and evaluated separately.
ELIGIBILITY: BFA makes awards to approximately half of the United States each year. The foundation will award grants in 21 states and the District of Columbia in 2003 and in the remaining 29 states in 2004. Additional grants will be available in subsequent years. For the 2003 grant cycle, grants will be available for New York. Eligible schools must be K-12 public, private, parochial or charter schools in which 50 percent of students are eligible for the National School Lunch Program. Eligible community-based organizations must have 501(c)(3) status or be government entities that primarily serve impoverished citizens.
DEADLINE: March 31, 2003.
FUNDING: $20 million for 100 to 350 awards of $60,000 to $200,000 each in grants to schools; and $20 million for 200 to 2,000 awards of $20,000 to $100,000 each in grants to community-based organizations. Grant amounts for each state were determined according to their relative poverty rates. A list of expected 2003 payouts by state can be found in the guideline information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Beaumont Foundation of America, P.O. Box 20900, Austin, Texas 78720; phone, (866) 505-2667; or visit their Web site.

 
...Grant Writing

Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence, Inc. (COPE)

COPE, a for-profit corporation dedicated to helping non-profit and for-profit corporations find and/or generate funding, has scheduled three Guerilla Grantsmanship seminars for March 2003. The schedule is as follows:

March 20, 2003 – Watertown, New York
March 24, 2003 – Rochester, New York
March 27, 2003 – Kingston, New York

COPE now offers 3 different registration packages: Silver - $165, Gold - $225 and Platinum - $285. You may contact COPE at (845) 756-2673 or visit their Web site to get information about these three new registration packages. Payment for the seminars may be made by check or credit card.