An opportunity update for the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone
Are you involved with a nonprofit or organization that’s looking for a grant opportunity to benefit folks in the South Carolina Lowcountry Promise Zone? Let us suggest two avenues to pursue:
First, take a look at the federal agencies participating in the Promise Zone program, which awards priority points for groups applying for more than 40 grant programs in 12 agencies. Then, go through the different programs for which organizations are given preferential treatment in the Promise Zone program. Be on the lookout a grant program that might match what you want to do. This is where you go to find specific opportunities available to Promise Zone communities. Tip: Keep an open, flexible mind because you might find opportunities in places you don’t expect.
Second, make sure you watch this periodic update of grant announcements to keep up with things that we find that may be of help and interest from federal agencies as well as grants offered through foundations and other organizations.
- To get notified automatically about these opportunities, SIGN UP TODAY for our email blast.
COMING EVENTS
WEBINAR: Mindset, Motivation, and the Argument for Change
Jan. 21, 2016, 11 a.m. to noon, CST
Jim Ott, a school psychologist and Bridges Out of Poverty Consultant with aha! Process, will discuss A Framework for Understanding Poverty and Bridges Out of Poverty principles and their application through Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World Jim will focus on these issues from a psychologist’s perspective – why the principles work and how we can apply them individually and systemically to facilitate real change in individuals and families.
NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
HUD: 2015 Self-Help Homeownership (SHOP) Program
Deadline: Jan. 4, 2016
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announces the availability of $9,977,500 of FY2015 Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) grant funds. SHOP funding is intended to facilitate and encourage innovative homeownership opportunities on a national and geographically-diverse basis. The program supports self-help housing programs that require a significant amount of sweat equity by the homebuyer toward the construction or rehabilitation of his or her home. Volunteer labor is also required.
- View the NOFA. | More information is available on theHUD website.
HUD: Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program (JRAP)
Deadline: Jan. 4, 2016
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announces the availability of approximately $1.75 million for the Juvenile Re-entry Assistance Program (JRAP) to support successful transition to the community by reducing barriers to public housing, employment, and/or educational opportunities.
- View the Notice of Funding Availability | More information is available on the HUD website.
NEA: Rural design
Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by 11 p.m. EST on Jan. 12, 2016.
The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) has issued a request for proposals to rural communities interested in applying for funding to host a community design workshop in either 2016 or 2017. The communities will receive additional support through webinars, conference calls, and web-based resources on www.rural-design.org.
- The Request for Proposals is posted on theCIRD website.
EPA: FY 2016 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants
Deadline: Jan. 14, 2016
Environmental Protection Agency announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to deliver environmental workforce development and job training programs that recruit, train, and place local, unemployed and under-employed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field, with a focus on solid and hazardous waste remediation, environmental health and safety, integrated pest management, and wastewater-related training. The total funding available under this competitive opportunity is approximately $3,500,000, subject to availability of funds, quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations for FY 2016. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 17-18 environmental workforce development and job training cooperative agreements at amounts up to $200,000 each.
- Applicants are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions. | View the Funding Opportunity Announcement.
HUD: Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Program
Deadline: Feb. 9, 2016
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announces the availability of new funding to help local communities across the country to redevelop severely distressed public and HUD-assisted housing and transform surrounding neighborhoods. HUD anticipates awarding approximately 4 Planning and Action Grants not to exceed $2 million each, and approximately 4 Planning Grants not to exceed $500,000 each. If funds are appropriated by Congress, HUD may, at its discretion, use additional FY2016 Choice Neighborhoods funding to make additional awards under this NOFA.
Bonus Points: In support of certain inter-agency initiatives, HUD awards bonus points to projects where the preponderance of work will occur in a designated zone, community or region. These points will be awarded only if the application otherwise meets or exceeds the Program’s minimum fundable score based on the rating factors of this NOFA.HUD will award two (2) points for qualified activities within a designated zone or area and supporting either or both initiative(s). In no case will HUD award more than two bonus points for these activities. To receive Promise Zones Bonus Points, applicants must submit form HUD 50153, Certification of Consistency with Promise Zone Goals and Implementation, signed by the Promise Zone Official authorized to certify the project meets the criteria to receive bonus points. To view the list of designated Promise Zones, please go to the Promise Zones website. For more information, please refer to pages 48-49 of the application.
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant funds are available for public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and tribal entities. Applicants must submit a completed electronic application through www.grants.gov by February 9, 2016.
LABOR: ETA’s $100 Million TechHire Grants Competition
Deadline: March 11, 2016
Earlier this year, President Obama announced that as a part of the TechHire initiative, the Administration would commit $100 million to expanding accelerated tech training. On November 17, 2015, the Department of Labor (DOL) released the application for those grants. DOL will award $100 million or more in H-1B funds, including at least $50 million specifically dedicated to supporting young Americans, ages 17 – 29, with barriers to training and employment, to partnerships that can rapidly train and connect workers to well-paying, high-growth jobs across industries such as information technology, health care, and advanced manufacturing.
COMMERCE: FY 2016 Economic Development Assistance Programs.
The Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA fulfills this mission through strategic investments and partnerships that create the regional economic ecosystems required to foster globally competitive regions throughout the United States. EDA supports development in economically distressed areas of the United States by fostering job creation and attracting private investment. Specifically, under the Economic Development Assistance programs (EDAP) Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement, EDA will make construction, non-construction, and revolving loan fund investments under the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Programs. Grants made under these programs will leverage regional assets to support the implementation of regional economic development strategies designed to create jobs, leverage private capital, encourage economic development, and strengthen America’s ability to compete in the global marketplace. Through the EDAP FFO, EDA solicits applications from rural and urban communities to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic condition.
Special Need Criteria: For the purposes of determining eligibility based on a “Special Need”, an applicant must provide current and appropriate economic and demographic statistics for the applicable Region to support the identified Special Need. EDA will base its Special Need eligibility determination on whether the proposed project meets the specific requirements outlined below, or in cases where specific thresholds are not identified, on whether the data and information provided by the applicant presents a compelling case that the Region meets the Special Need criteria, as defined by EDA.
A project may be eligible pursuant to a Special Need if the project is located in a Region that meets the criteria described below (among others):
- Designation of the project region as a “Promise Zone.” In order to receive consideration for this Special Need, applicants must submit a letter from the lead organization of a designated Promise Zone attesting to the contribution that the proposed activities would make, and supporting the application. A list of designated Promise Zones and lead organizations can be found on the Promise Zones website. For more information, please refer to page 11 of the application.
New process; no deadlines: EDA is employing a new two-phase review process for proposals/applications submitted under this FFO. There are no submission deadlines. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new EDAP FFO. Proposals will be reviewed by EDA within 30 days of receipt; and following the proposal review, full applications will be reviewed within 60 days of receipt. Please see Section IV of this FFO for complete information on EDA’s two-phase review process.
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