HazMat Grant Program

Office of Homeland Security

The NYS Office of Homeland Security (OHS) has authorized this grant program for the State’s Hazardous Materials (HazMat) response teams. The three primary objectives of this grant are to promote the development of regional partnerships among the State HazMat community; to build sustainable WMD/HazMat response and decontamination capabilities; and to enhance the standing of the State’s HazMat teams within FEMA’s ‘‘typing system.’’ This project is focused on regional programs and OHS will not accept applications from individual teams; rather, two or more teams must apply together for a regional project. OHS will not identify pre-set regions for this grant program; instead, applicants will have the ability to determine their regional construct for the purposes of this grant program. Applicants, consisting of two or more HazMat teams, must identify one primary team to be the submitting partner for this grant. The other partners involved in a given application will be deemed non-submitting partners. The submitting partner will be the fiduciary agent for the regional application if the region is a successful applicant under the 2009 HazMat Grant Program, and will be responsible for completing all required grant reporting forms in coordination with and on behalf of their region. The submitting partner must be a publicly-funded HazMat team; however, the regional partnership can include non-submitting partners that are funded by private entities. Non-submitting partners will be responsible for coordinating with the submitting partner on the development of an application for the 2009 HazMat Grant Program and the implementation and evaluation of projects if the regional partnership receives funding under this grant.

ELIGIBILITY:  HazMat teams located in New York State.

FUNDING:  Contact the Office of Homeland Security for more information about funding.

DEADLINE:  December 9, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the Office of Homeland Security, Meghan Dudley, 1220 Washington Ave., State Office Campus, Bldg. 7A, Albany, NY 12242; or by phone: 1-866-837-9133; or by e-mail: grants@security.state.ny.us.

Comprehensive School Health Policies

Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health has authorized this grant program to address the rising financial and personal costs associated with tobacco use and obesity. These costs are increasing, in part, because they lead to higher rates of many chronic diseases. These costs increase when health care expenditures caused by exposure to secondhand smoke, smoking-caused fires, spit tobacco use, or cigar and pipe smoking are also taken into account. Fortunately, tobacco use can be prevented or reduced, and healthful eating and physical activity can be increased. The root causes of the obesity epidemic, poor nutrition and physical inactivity, can be addressed by lifestyle changes facilitated by supportive physical, social and community environments. Effective primary prevention of obesity and tobacco use includes improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, and reducing/eliminating tobacco use. These comprehensive efforts require establishing supportive and accessible environments in school communities that promote and sustain healthful nutrition, increased physical activity and avoiding tobacco use and/or exposure.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include public and private not-for-profit agencies and organizations in New York State.

FUNDING:  Contact the Department of Health for specific information about funding.

DEADLINE:  December 14, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Patricia Bubniak, Tobacco Control Program, New York State Department of Health, ESP Corning Tower, Rm. 710, Albany NY 12237-0675; or by e-mail: TCP@health.state.ny.us.

... On the Federal Level

Substance Use and Abuse among U.S. Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces this initiative which seeks research applications focused on the epidemiology/etiology, screening and identification, prevention and treatment of substance use and abuse, including alcohol, tobacco and illicit and prescription drugs, and associated problems among U.S. military personnel, veterans and their families. These problems include, but are not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and interpersonal violence. In addition, research related to all phases of the deployment cycle, such as pre-deployment, deployment, re-integration, and separation, all branches of the military (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, U.S. Military Reserves, National Guard) and veterans are of interest. National Guard and Reserve service members, individual augmentees and families have been identified as special needs populations that are of particular interest due to limitations in support related to not being attached to a military installation, among other factors.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible organizations include State and local governments, State-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, small businesses, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

FUNDING:  Approximately $7 million will be available for this grant opportunity for 11 to 21 awards of up to $500,000 each.

DEADLINE:  December 22, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Judy S. Fox, Chief, Grants Management Branch, Chief Grants Management Officer, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5635 Fishers Lane, Room 3023, MSC 9304, Bethesda, MD 20892-9304; or by phone: (301) 443-4704; or by e-mail: jfox@mail.nih.gov.

Value-Added Producer Grant Program

Department of Agriculture

The primary objective of this grant program is to help eligible independent producers of agricultural commodities, agricultural producer groups, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures develop strategies to create marketing opportunities and to help develop business plans for viable marketing opportunities. Eligible agricultural producer groups, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and majority controlled producer-based business ventures must limit their proposals to emerging markets. These grants will facilitate greater participation in emerging markets and new markets for value-added products. Grants will only be awarded if projects or ventures are determined to be economically viable and sustainable.

ELIGIBILITY:  Applicants must be an independent producer, agriculture producer group, farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority-controlled producer-based business venture.

FUNDING:  A total of $1,840,000 has been made available through this program, with an expected award ceiling of $300,000.

DEADLINE:  November 30, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the USDA Rural Development State Office, 441 South Salina St, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202; or by phone: (315) 477-6400.

... On the Private Level

Special Projects Fund

New York State Health Foundation

The New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) has a broad mission to improve the health of New York State residents. In order to have a tangible impact, most of the Foundation’s grantmaking is focused on three priority areas: expanding health insurance coverage, improving the management and prevention of diabetes, and encouraging the integration of substance use and mental health services. The Foundation also recognizes that it can be an important resource if it is responsive to opportunities that fit our mission, but are outside our three priority areas. For this purpose, NYSHealth expects to award grants as part of the 2009 Special Projects Fund. Special Projects Fund awards replace what were previously known as special opportunities grants, and should be considered one-time, non-renewable funding opportunities.

ELIGIBILITY:  NYSHealth will consider proposals from existing nonprofit and for-profit organizations with a significant presence in New York State.

FUNDING:  A total of $6 million.

DEADLINE:  Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the New York State Health Foundation, 1412 Broadway, Suite 2304, New York, NY 10018; or by phone: 212-664-7656; or by e-mail: specialprojectsfund@nyshealth.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 November 2009:

Grantseeking Basics:
November 7, 11 and 18
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:
November 4
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their nonprofit organizations.

Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online:
November 7, 11 and 19
This session provides a hands-on introduction to the Center’s comprehensive Web subscription database.

How to Approach a Foundation:
November 19
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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