2/4: Lots of great, new Promise Zone opportunities

SC Promise Zone

New resources, webinars, funding information for the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone

In this new issue of our periodic newsletter about Zone opportunities, you’ll find great new information on federal funding sources for broadband and sustainable community development, affordable housing, environmental justice initiatives and more.

There also are several non-federal sources of grants that you may want to take a look at.  Following funding information are sections on training and new reports that could be helpful.

FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

USDA: Cool and Connected
Federal planning assistance for broadband and sustainable community development
Deadline: Feb. 24, 2016

USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Brandon McBride encouraged communities interested in using broadband service to help revitalize small-town main streets and promote economic development apply for Cool & Connected, a pilot program sponsored by USDA Rural Utilities Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Sustainable Communities. Through Cool & Connected, a team of experts will help community members develop strategies and an action plan for using planned or existing broadband service to promote smart, sustainable community development.

Eligibility  

  • Any community representative is welcome to submit a letter of interest to participate in Cool & Connected.
  • Special consideration will be given to small towns and rural communities that face economic challenges.
  • Special consideration will be given to communities in places where USDA has provided loans or grants in support of broadband or other internet-related services.

Deadline and where to send letters of interest: Submit your letter of interest to Ed Fendley at Fendley.Ed@epa.gov by Wednesday, February 24, 2016. Kindly include “Cool & Connected” and the name of your community in your e-mail subject line.  Include: Your letter of interest can be in the text of an email or an attachment. It should be no longer than two printed pages. If you want, you can provide additional letters of support from partners, but this is not necessary. Community representatives are encouraged to describe community needs and challenges related to downtown revitalization or other place-based development, and how a planning process might help. You should indicate any areas of interest related to internet service and place-based development, such as:

  • Using new or existing broadband service to attract new types of businesses to main streets or existing rural communities
  • Combining internet service with other local amenities to attract new investors, visitors, and residents
  • Developing or marketing downtown Wi-Fi zones
  • Extending broadband service beyond anchor institutions in ways that promote main street development
  • Selecting centrally located anchor institutions or community facilities that will receive broadband service

Community representatives submitting letters of interest are also encouraged to indicate partners that can be expected to participate in a planning process, such as local internet service providers, local officials, business associations, or local schools or colleges.

TREASURY
CDFI Fund opens FY 2016 funding round for Capital Magnet Fund

Deadline: March 30, 2016

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) opened today the fiscal year (FY) 2016 funding round for the Capital Magnet Fund.  Through the Capital Magnet Fund, the CDFI Fund provides competitively awarded grants to CDFIs and qualified non-profit housing organizations.  These awards can be used to finance affordable housing activities, as well as related economic development activities (including community service facilities), with the objective of revitalizing low-income communities and underserved rural areas.  Funding for the Capital Magnet Fund comes from allocations made by the Government-Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The total amount of funds available for the FY 2016 round will be determined in early 2016.  Currently, the CDFI Fund estimates that approximately $80 million will be available for the FY 2016 round.

Capital Magnet Fund awardees are able to utilize funds to create financing tools such as loan loss reserves, revolving loan funds, risk-sharing loans, and loan guarantees.  Recipients are required to leverage private and public funds to finance affordable housing and economic development activities that yield a minimum ratio of 10:1.  In order to provide potential applicants with as much time as possible, the CDFI Fund is posting the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and application materials for the Capital Magnet Fund on the CDFI Fund’s website today in advance of the publication of the NOFA in the Federal Register later this week.

Deadlines

  • The deadline for submission of the Capital Magnet Fund application materials due through Grants.gov is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, March 16, 2016.
  • The deadline for submission of the Capital Magnet Fund application materials due through the CDFI Fund’s Award Management Information System (AMIS) is 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.
  • The CDFI Fund will stop taking questions about the application at 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 28 2016.
  • The CDFI Fund will stop providing technical assistance about submitting the application through AMIS at 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 30, 2016. Please see the NOFA for more information on submitting Capital Magnet Fund applications.

Application Materials

The FY 2016 Capital Magnet Fund NOFA, application, application instructions, and related guidance can be found on the CDFI Fund’s website at www.cdfifund.gov/cmf under How to Apply Step 2: Apply.  Application materials will be available online through Grants.gov and AMIS.  All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and AMIS to apply for funding.  Organizations should confirm that their accounts are up-to-date as soon as possible in order to avoid potential application submission problems.  New potential applicants are encouraged to begin the registration process now.  Registration guidance for Grants.gov and SAM.gov can be found on the websites for those systems.  Guidance on using AMIS (including registration) can be found at https://amis.cdfifund.gov/.

The CDFI Fund will send out an additional notification when the electronic application is available in AMIS for application submission. The CDFI Fund strongly recommends that the instructions and application timelines are reviewed closely by both first-time and repeat applicants and that applicants give themselves adequate time to submit their applications using AMIS.

Learn About Applying to the Capital Magnet Fund

The CDFI Fund will be holding several live webinar sessions to learn more about the FY 2016 Capital Magnet Fund round.

  • Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. ET: General Application Webinar
  • Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. ET: Webinar for Certified CDFIs
  • Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. ET: Webinar for Nonprofit Housing Organizations
  • Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. ET: General Application Webinar
  • Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. ET: AMIS Technical Webinar
  • Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. ET: AMIS Technical Webinar

Access information for all webinars is available on the CDFI Fund’s website here.

No prior registration is necessary.  Requests for reasonable accommodations under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act should be directed to Michael Jones at 202-653-0300 no later than 48 hours before the conference calls begin. Presentation materials will be added to the CDFI Fund’s website after the webinars are held.

Questions: For more information on the Capital Magnet Fund, please contact the CDFI Fund’s Help Desk by e-mailing cmf@cdfi.treas.gov or by calling (202) 653-0421.  The CDFI Fund will stop responding to questions about the FY 2016 award round at 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 28, 2016.

  • To learn more about the CDFI Fund and its programs, please visit cdfifund.gov.

U.S. EPA
Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement

Deadline: Feb. 12, 2016

The funding provided through the EJCPS Cooperative Agreement will be awarded to community-based organizations to support collaboration and partnerships with industry, government, academia, and other stakeholders so as to develop and implement solutions that address local environmental and public health issues. Organizations are encouraged to have a connection between the proposed project activities and applicable neighborhood, local, city, or regional land use planning efforts. Proposals should include outreach to affected underserved vulnerable communities and residents about environmental and public health issues and engage them in activities to plan, access, improve, and benefit from their local environment.

Maximum Grant Award: $120,000

  • To view the full announcement and access the application, CLICK HERE.
  • EJ Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement Program Brochure (PDF)
  • 2014 Project Descriptions (PDF)

USDA
The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative
Deadline: March 10, 2016

The USDA is now accepting applications for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI). The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Approximately 18 million in funding is available and grants typically range from $50,000-$200,000. Visit the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative website to apply.

USDA
Grant applications sought to help repair rural housing

Deadline: Extended to March 15, 2016

USDA Rural Development is seeking applications for grants to make housing repairs for low- and very-low-income rural residents, and has extended the deadline to March 15, 2016. The grants are being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grant Program.

This program are intended to help rural homeowners and rental housing owners repair and improve their properties. Funds may be used to resolve health or safety issues, make accessibility modifications for people with disabilities, or make energy efficiency improvements to reduce utility costs.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants for Housing Preservation Grants include town or county governments, public agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations. USDA does not provide funding directly to homeowners under this program. For additional eligibility information, see page 81279 of the December 29, 2015, Federal Register. Funding is limited, and applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis with scoring preference for applications that serve very-low-income households, demonstrate leveraged funding, show the applicant’s capacity to successfully manage a housing repair program, and address other considerations as listed in the Federal Register notice.

OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Mary Kay Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program

Awards grants to women’s domestic violence shelters.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: May 31, 2016

Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts Invites Applications
DEADLINE: February 25, 2016

With the goal of promoting dialogue, raising awareness, and developing new and broader audiences, the foundation will award grants of up to $30,000 to help organizations with the production and presentation of significant programs about architecture and the designed environment….

William T. Grant Foundation Seeks Applications for Research to Understand Inequality
DEADLINE: May 5, 2016

Grants of up to $600,000 will be awarded in support of research designed to advance understanding in the area of inequalities in youth development and/or to increase understanding of how research is acquired, understood, and used, as well as the circumstances that shape its use in decision making….

U.S. Conference of Mayors Announces 2016 Community WINS Grant Program
DEADLINE: March 18, 2016

Grants will be awarded in support of nonprofit projects focused on accelerating neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and job creation in municipalities across the country….

Voya Foundation Issues RFP for College Readiness Programs
DEADLINE: March 18, 2016 (Initial Proposals)

Grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded to new and existing programs that encourage parental involvement as a means to improve high school graduation rates….

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Invites Applications for Innovative Regulatory Science Awards
DEADLINE: March 9, 2016

Grants of up to $500,000 over five years will be awarded to academic investigators developing new methodologies or innovative approaches in regulatory science that have the potential to inform regulatory decisions made by the Food and Drug Administration and others….

COMING EVENTS

(NEW) HUD: Webinar to focus on targeted community reinvestment

Feb. 10, 2016, 2 p.m.

This webinar will describe how the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program (Section 108) can serve as an important financing tool in targeting reinvestment for economic development, public facilities and improvements, and housing rehabilitation. The loan guarantees can help recipients leverage limited public resources to catalyze investment in communities, especially those facing, among other challenges, persistent poverty and the need to increase community resilience following the impact of natural disasters. Along with this information, the webinar will explain recent rule changes that permit HUD to charge borrowers a one-time fee upon loan approval. The webinar also will provide an overview of how Section 108 recipients should be using HUD’s Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) to track and disburse funds.

Participants will receive an overview of key program aspects and a description of new training materials and underwriting guidelines available from HUD. They also will learn about initiatives at the local and state level that are employing Section 108 loan guarantees to fund targeted reinvestment projects or create loan pools dedicated to comprehensive community revitalization. Finally, participants will understand the fee requirements associated with Section 108 Loan Guarantee approvals in fiscal year 2016. Following the presentation, participants will be able to submit questions to HUD and technical assistance providers regarding any element of the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program.

Who Should Attend? This webinar is relevant to CDBG recipients and subrecipients, current and prospective participants in the 108 program, and community and economic development professionals. This webinar is limited to 1,000 participants and registration for this training will close 24 hours before the webinar begins.

Contact: Gladys Schneider | 813-830-3450 | gschneider@capitalaccessinc.com

WEBINARS: Learn how to use USDA Rural Development’s new application intake system

Four times: Feb. 10, 2016 to March 23, 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Telecommunications Program will host a series of webinars focused on our new application intake system: RD Apply. This new system allows interested parties to apply electronically for loans and grants administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).

Apply with ease for the latest RUS Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program and Infrastructure Program loans through RD Apply. Eventually, more programs will be added into the system, allowing a wider range of customers to submit applications electronically.

Learn about our new system at one of our WEBINAR training events (time and date subject to change): Feb 10, 2016       2:30 – 4 PM EST; Feb 23, 2016       10 – 11:30 AM EST; Mar 8, 2016         10 – 11:30 AM EST; Mar 23, 2016       2:30 – 4 PM EST  | Instructions on attending these events can be found here

WEBINARS: Expanding Community Development Financial Institutes coverage in underserved areas

Four webinars: Feb. 9, 2016, to April 5, 2016

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) has released the schedule of the next set of free webinars through the Capacity Building Initiative’s “Expanding CDFI Coverage in Underserved Areas” series. The webinars, provided by Opportunity Finance Network and its partners, will be held between January 2016 and April 2016. The CDFI Fund launched the “Expanding CDFI Coverage in Underserved Areas” series to help fill the gaps in Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) service coverage in underserved communities in the United States and its territories. The free webinars are designed to maximize CDFI industry participation in this important training. The webinars will expand upon training topics developed for in-person training sessions held during the summer of 2015, as well as new topical content on expansion developed by CDFI experts. The five webinars are:

  • Exploring New Models for CDFI Coverage through Formation of New or Affiliated CDFIs (Tuesday, February 9, 2016, 2 p.m. EST)
  • Capitalization Strategies: Raising Debt and Equity for CDFIs (Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 2 p.m. EST)
  • Customer Acquisition (Tuesday, March 22, 2016, 2 p.m. EDT
  • Fundraising Strategies for your CDFI (Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 2 p.m. EDT
  • Future webinar opportunities will be posted as they are confirmed to the “Expanding CDFI Coverage in Underserved Areas” webpage. Webinars will be recorded and made available on the CDFI Fund’s Resource Bank later in 2016.

NEW RESOURCES

USDA Rural Development 2015 Progress Report

Highlights the investments USDA Rural Development has made to promote community and economic development including the support for healthcare facilities and the support for projects that impact the health and safety of rural Americans. Provides state-by-state statistics on the total amount of funding for each of the USDA-RD programs. Includes information on USDA-RD funding for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Western Pacific.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development

Investing in Educator Capacity: An Analysis of State ‘Race to the Top’ Spending

Race to the Top, a $4.35 billion federal grant competition launched in 2009 with the goal of sparking improvements in K-12 education, drove significant reform at the state level, a report from the Center for American Progress finds.

FCC Petition: Better Rural Broadband Means More Telehealth Services

Describes a coalition of telehealth and health IT organizations and its effort to petition the Federal Communications Commission to improve wireless and broadband access in rural areas to encourage further development of telehealth capabilities in these areas.
Source: mHealth Intelligence

Giving Unchained: Philanthropy and the Blockchain

Blockchain, a secure transactional data technology, could offer new opportunities for businesses and charities, including greater transparency, lower costs, and increased donor trust, a report from the Charities Aid Foundation argues.

Obama Administration to Partner with 27 Communities to Boost Neighborhood Revitalization Through Local Food Enterprises

The White House Rural Council and six federal agencies announce selected communities to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative aimed to increase health and economic wellness in rural and urban communities by improving access to healthy, local food.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture

What Works: Partnerships Serve Rural Populations

Describes three awardees of the Centene Foundation’s Improving Health in Rural Counties/Parishes program and how they sought to address behavioral health and nutritional needs of rural people in 3 different states across the country. Highlights the importance of collaboration and partnerships in serving rural communities.
Source: Behavioral Healthcare

Rural Hospital Crisis Crosses Borders

Describes the spread of financial pressure on rural healthcare facilities across multiple states, specifically drawing on examples of rural service closures in Georgia and South Carolina.
Source: Georgia Health News

Strengthening the Small Hospital Supply Chain: Big Opportunities, Big Savings

Discusses the importance of focusing on efficiently managing the supply chain for rural hospitals. Highlights potential savings that can be realized despite the challenges that rural hospitals face.
Source: Hospitals & Health Networks

Healthy Food and Small Stores

In October 2015, Wallace Center attended a meeting of 40 public health leaders and national experts in food retail, agriculture, distribution and marketing to tackle challenges and best practices for distributing healthy food to small stores across the United States. This meeting, co-hosted by The Food Trust and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, produced a full report on closing the distribution gap.

Growing Farm to School: Partnering with Farm Credit

Farm Credit is partnering with National Farm to School Network to support their efforts to increase local food purchases and bring agriculture education to schools. Read through this FAQ on who Farm Credit is and why your organization should consider a partnership with Farm Credit.

Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities: Making the Case to Help Young Men of Color Succeed

A toolkit from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds that effective strategies to secure support for promising programs aimed at helping young men of color must address implicit bias, the racial gap in perceptions of structural bias, and an empathy gap that causes young men of color to be seen as “other”

 Blueprint 2016

Philanthropy and the Social Economy: Blueprint 2016 explores how changes in the nature of employment, made possible by new technologies, will lead to a shift in the role and approach of civil society organizations. This annual forecast by scholar Lucy Bernholz is published by GrantCraft, a service of Foundation Center. Blueprint’s signature features include predictions of global events in the coming year and a “Buzzword Watch.” Download the report ›

Earned Income Tax Credit Can Help Rural Families

Thanks to the hard work of Rural Americans, along with record investments in infrastructure under the Recovery Act and the 2014 Farm Bill, over the last seven years America was able to pull itself out of one of the deepest economic recessions since the Great Depression.  While we’ve seen wages rise and unemployment fall in rural areas over the last several years, workers in rural America still receive less hours and earn less pay than those in urban areas. Fortunately, for those who need help making ends meet, the Earned Income Tax Credit can help.

HUD Updates the Entitlement and State CDBG IDIS Manuals for Grant Based Accounting

HUD has updated the Entitlement and State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) Manuals to incorporate grant based accounting changes. Edits include:

  • Activity Funding and Drawdowns – the addition of instructions to specify the year of the CDBG grant from which funds are to be committed for grant years 2015 and later
  • Program Income – instructions for associating program income with the grant
  • Repayments – new instructions for repayment of grant funds to a local account

These training manuals explain how to set up, fund, draw funds, and report accomplishments and performance measures for CDBG activities in IDIS.

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