Protection and Advocacy for the Help America Vote Act Program

Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities

As the administering agency for the Protection and Advocacy for the Help America Vote Act (PAVA) Program, the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) is announcing the availability of federal funding to establish two five-year grants within New York State’s upstate and downstate regions for the period March 1, 2010 through February 28, 2015. The PAVA Program is responsible for providing education, training, and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities for the purpose of ensuring full participation in the electoral process by individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote, and accessing polling places. Subcontracting will not be allowed without the express written approval of CQCAPD.

ELIGIBILITY:  Not-for-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in providing services to eligible individuals.

FUNDING:  It is anticipated that a total of approximately $212,555 will be available during the first one-year contract period of March 1, 2010 through February 28, 2011. Funding amounts for years two through five of the five-year term will be subject to the availability of federal program funds.

DEADLINE:  November 12, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Thomas A. Gilbert, PAVA Program Director, by phone at (518) 388-2882; or by e-mail at tom.gilbert@cqcapd.state.ny.us. An announcement will also be available on CQCAPD’s Web site at www.cqcapd.state.ny.us.

Community Development Block Grant Program

Housing Trust Fund Corporation

The New York State Community Development Block Grant Program (NYS CDBG) is a federally funded program administered by the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s Office of Community Renewal (OCR). The NYS CDBG Program provides funding to eligible communities for the development of projects providing decent and hazard-free affordable housing, access to safe drinking water, proper disposal of household wastewater, access to community-needed services in local facilities, and fostering economic opportunities through the support of projects that create and/or retain permanent employment opportunities principally benefiting low- and moderate-income persons. The 2009 Annual Competitive Round funds are available for the funding of community development projects in the categories of housing, public facilities and public infrastructure. The primary goal of NYS CDBG economic development funds is to create permanent, sustainable jobs that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include non-entitlement units of general local government. Non-entitlement areas are defined as cities, towns and villages with populations of less than 50,000, except those designated principal cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and counties with populations of less than 200,000.

FUNDING:  Contact the Housing Trust Fund Corporation for more information about funding.

DEADLINE:  The Office of Community Renewal publishes a Notice of Funding Availability in the early part of each year, inviting eligible communities to submit applications for funding in its annual competitive round for community development activities such as housing and public facilities. For a specific deadline, please contact the Office of Community Renewal.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the Office of Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State Street, Albany, NY 12207.

Literacy Zones Collaboration

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council

This grant program is intended to establish models of cross-systems collaboration with NYS Literacy Zone initiatives, for the purpose of demonstrating their effectiveness in maintaining and supporting the community inclusion of individuals and families of people with developmental disabilities. The intent of these model projects is to effectively address the issues of educational, economic, health disparities, and social disadvantages faced by many persons with developmental disabilities. The Literacy Zone approach includes a comprehensive focus on skill development including literacy, English language proficiency, public benefits advocacy, health education and advocacy, and developing parenting skills and parental advocacy. Applicants will be expected to describe how the applicant’s Family Welcome Center will support persons and parents with developmental disabilities, including the type and nature of such supports and demonstrate and evaluate the impact of Literacy Zones on improving people’s lives.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include designated state education department literacy zone programs, or community-based organizations that develop formal effective partnerships with designated literacy zone programs.

FUNDING:  Two grants of $70,000 per year will be funded by the DDPC for each of two years.

DEADLINE:  All interested applicants are requested to submit a one-page letter of intent by November 1, 2009 to Nicholas Rose, Program Planner at the address listed below. Letters of intent are preferred, but not required for applications to be accepted for this RFP. All final grant applications should be sent by December 1, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), 155 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12210.

... On the Federal Level

Assisted Living Conversion Program

Department of Housing and Urban Development

This grant program has provided funds for the physical conversion of eligible multifamily assisted housing projects or portions of projects to assisted living facilities (ALFs) for frail elderly persons. ALFs must provide support services such as personal care, transportation, meals, housekeeping, and laundry. Frail elderly person means an individual 62 years of age or older who is unable to perform at least three activities of daily living (ADLs) as defined by the regulations for Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Section 202 Program (Supportive Housing for the Elderly) at 24 CFR 891.205. Typical funding will cover basic physical conversion of existing project units, as well as related common and services space. There must be sufficient community space to accommodate a central kitchen or dining facility, lounges, recreation, and other multiple-areas available to all residents of the project, and/or office/staff spaces in the ALF.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include private nonprofit owners of eligible multifamily assisted housing developments.

FUNDING:  Estimated total of approximately $20 million.

DEADLINE:  November 5, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the HUD Multifamily Hub in your geographical area. For a list of HUD Multifamily Hub Offices, see HUD’s Web site at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. You also may contact Aretha Williams, Director, Grant Policy and Management Division, at (202) 708-3000, extension 2480; or by e-mail at: Aretha.M.Williams@hud.gov.

... On the Private Level

UnitedHealth HEROES Service Learning Grants

Youth Service America

UnitedHealth Group and Youth Service America are offering children the opportunity to become “Health Heroes” by learning about childhood obesity, designing programs to address it, and implementing the programs in their communities. UnitedHealth Heroes is a service-learning health-literacy initiative designed to encourage young people, working through educators and youth leaders, to create and implement local hands-on programs to address the issue of childhood obesity.

ELIGIBILITY:  Educators, service-learning coordinators, and students in the health professions. Eligible applicants are also expected to take an “eligibility quiz” which can be found at the Youth Service America Web site.

FUNDING:  Grant recipients will receive up to $1,000 each in support of service-learning projects that focus on childhood obesity and engage youth between the ages of 5 and 25 in the planning and implementation process.

DEADLINE:  October 22, 2009

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  For more information contact Youth Service America by phone: (202) 296-2992, or visit their Web site: http://ysa.org/.

... Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: New York, January 25-29, 2010, hosted by the American Indian Community House.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $895, 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.

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training opportunities during October 2009:

Grantseeking Basics:
October 13, 21 and 28
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:
October 5 and 8
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their nonprofit organizations.

Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online:
October 13 and 21
This session provides a hands-on introduction to the Center’s comprehensive Web subscription database.

How to Approach a Foundation:
October 28
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 online 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.

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