Educational Resources Program

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) seeks the services of eligible organizations to address the educational needs of the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) eligible population and enable them to become literate, productive and successful in the workplace, home and community. Eligible organizations will provide education and/or training activities such as adult basic literacy, English as a second language instruction, job skills training, workplace literacy, family literacy, and job readiness training to assist the TANF eligible population to become employed, qualify for a better job or meet the entry requirements for advanced job skills training. Program requirements and application instructions are outlined in the Educational Resources Program Request For Proposal, which can be found on the OTDA Web site at www.otda.state.ny.us.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include not-for-profit community based organizations.

FUNDING:  Up to $8,000,000 in federal funds is available to support selected Educational Resources projects for a two-year period beginning October 1, 2008. Awards of up to $300,000 will be made, and at least 26 projects are expected to be funded.

DEADLINE:  September 10, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Kathleen Dougherty, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Center for Employment and Economic Supports, 40 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12243; or e-mail: Kathleen.dougherty@otda.state.ny.us.

Tobacco Control Program

Department of Health

The New York State Tobacco Control Program (NY TCP) is seeking applications to implement the Community Partnership component of the NY TCP. Community partnerships will engage local stakeholders, educate community leaders and the public, and mobilize community members and organizations to strengthen tobacco-related policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use and limit opportunities for exposure to secondhand smoke. Community partnerships will work with local businesses, employers, work places, health care institutions and providers, and schools and community groups to implement effective tobacco-free policies, change public opinion about tobacco use, and promote access to cessation services. Community partnerships will implement public communication campaign components in support of statewide campaigns and will host community events to promote or recognize community tobacco control action.

ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit organizations and local government agencies in the state of New York with experience and expertise in organizing community members and organizations to advance public health policy, conduct policy advocacy, and mobilize communities to address tobacco use.

FUNDING:  Total funding available for this initiative is approximately $12 million annually for five years. It is expected that up to 33 contracts will be awarded.

DEADLINE:  October 1, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact New York State Tobacco Control Program, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, Room 710, Albany, NY 12237.

Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies

National Institutes of Health

Awardees of this grant will develop and participate in coordinated multi-site studies concerning the implementation of evidence-based practices involved in the assessment and treatment of drug abuse in criminal justice settings, including jails, prisons, reentry drug courts, and community-based treatment settings. Research Centers must participate in the following three research tracks: developing an HIV continuum of care, implementation of screening and assessment tools used in the identification of drug abuse, and implementation of an intervention. Awardees should also implement screening and counseling for HIV and other infectious diseases, HIV risk reduction interventions, and continuity of HIV antiretroviral treatment from prison or jail into the community.

ELIGIBILITY:  Public/state controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; nonprofit and for-profit organizations; small businesses; state and local governments; public housing authorities; faith-based or community-based organizations; and Native American Tribal Government, both federally and other than federally recognized.

FUNDING:  Approximately $3.5 million is available to fund 4 to 6 new and/or competing continuation grants for project periods of up to 5 years.

DEADLINE:  August 28, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the Director of Office of Extramural Affairs National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, DHHS, 6101 Executive Boulevard, Suite 220, MSC 8401, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8401; or call (301) 443-2755; or e-mail: tlevitin@mail.nih.gov.

Main Street Rejuvenation Projects

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The purpose of the HOPE VI Main Street Program is to provide grants to small communities to assist in the rejuvenation of an historic or traditional central business district or “Main Street” area by replacing unused commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. These grants will redevelop main street areas, preserve historic or traditional architecture or design features in main street areas, enhance economic development efforts in main street areas and provide affordable housing. Grantees must provide a 5 percent match to grant funds. Allowable activities that may be funded by a Main Street grant include: development of new housing units; rehabilitation of non-habitable existing housing units; acquisition activities; homeownership activities; necessary management improvement costs; relocation costs for affected residents; and community and supportive services. Main Street grant funds must not be used to develop or replace public housing.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include, and are limited to, local governments, as defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

FUNDING:  A total of $4 million is available, of which four $1 million grants will be awarded.

DEADLINE:  August 15, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing Investments, Office of Urban Revitalization, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; or call: (202) 401-8812.

. . . Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Oriskany, November 3-7, 2008, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. Another Grantsmanship Training Program will be offered in: Newark, NJ, September 15-19, hosted by the Salvation Army.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $875, which includes one-year enrollment in the TGCI Membership Program. A limited number of half-tuition scholarships are available to agencies with annual budgets of less than $300,000.

To register, or to apply for a scholarship, contact TGCI at (800) 421-9512 or visit www.tgci.com.

Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training opportunities during June 2008:

Grantseeking Basics:
August 6, 13 and 21
Attendees will learn how the Center’s resources can help make them more effective grantseekers. For beginners, this introduction to the library provides instruction in foundation research and identification of potential funders. A tour of the library will follow.

Proposal Writing Basics:
August 7
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their non-profit organizations.

Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online:
August 6 and 14
This session provides a hands-on introduction to the Center’s comprehensive Web subscription database.

How to Approach a Foundation:
August 14
Attendees will learn how to initiate contact with potential funders; plan calls and meetings; and build partnerships with donors. This class is intended for fundraisers with some experience, though not necessarily with foundations.

Classes are held at The Foundation Center, New York Library, 79 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor in New York City. Space is limited and you can register on-line at www.fdncenter.org, in person, or by calling (212) 620-4230. You may also visit the Web site for information on other training opportunities available through the Center.