Suzette's Funding Letter December 4, 2015

FUNDING

Environmental Protection Agency FY 2016 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants

EPA 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.

Deadline: January 14, 2016

Applicants are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions.

View the Funding Opportunity Announcement.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Public and Indian Housing Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Program

HUD 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. 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.

Read HUD’s Funding Notice.

U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration $100 Million TechHire Grants Competition

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.

Deadline: Application must be received by 4:00PM EST on March 11, 2016.

Read DOL’s Funding Notice.

Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration 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.

Deadline: 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.

Read EDA’s Funding Notice.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program

The USDA Rural Development Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP) program provides eligible utilities with low-cost federal financing for energy efficiency and conservation in rural communities of a population of 20,000 or less.  Utility borrowers design their own Energy Efficiency programs and can re-lend Rural Development funds to end-users to meet their energy needs. Borrowers can also upgrade their systems to furnish the energy needs of their customers more efficiently. Learn more about the EECLP program.

More information is available on the USDA Rural Development website.

Quality Health Foundation Issues Request for Proposals

Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to programs designed to improve access to healthcare services for the unserved and underserved. Projects should demonstrate that improved access through measureable outcomes and stated goals.

Link to the RFP

DEADLINE: January 15, 2016

Walgreen Community Grant Program

The Walgreen Community Grant Program supports organizations seeking funding for projects focused on improving:

•Access to health and wellness in the community

•Pharmacy education programs and mentoring initiatives

•Civic and community outreach

•Emergency and disaster relief

Program website

Deadlines: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis

Suzette's Funding Letter November 20, 2015

Funding

Goldman Sachs to Invest $150B in Clean Energy Development

Fortune reports that financial giant Goldman Sachs is investing $150 billion in clean energy and technology projects, including wind and solar farms, energy efficiency upgrades, and power grid infrastructure.

Kresge Foundation Issues RFP for Creative Food Initiative

POSTED: November 11, 2015
DEADLINE: December 14, 2015

Grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded for the planning of place-based efforts aimed at increasing access to healthy food in cities and regional supply chains serving urban markets....

EREF Accepting Applications for Sustainable Solid Waste Management Research

The Environmental Research and Education Foundation is accepting pre-proposals for its Research in Sustainable Solid Waste Management grants program. The program supports research projects related to sustainable solid waste management practices, including waste minimization; recycling; waste conversion to energy, biofuels, chemicals, or other useful products; strategies to promote diversion to higher and better uses (e.g., organics diversion, market analysis, optimized material management, logistics, etc.); and landfilling. Desirable aspects of the above topics, in addition to or as part of hypothesis-driven applied research, also include economic or cost/benefit analyses; feasibility studies for untested technologies or management strategies; life cycle analysis or inventory, and analyses of policies that relate to the above (e.g., extended producer responsibility, recycling goals, carbon legislation, bottle bills, etc.).

RWJF Announces RFP for High-Value Innovations From Low-Resource Communities

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has issued a Request for Proposals for projects that support the identification and evaluation of promising innovations that improve health and healthcare quality — without increasing costs — in low-resource communities.

Up to ten evaluations will be funded for a total of up to $2.5 million. Priority will be given to evaluations of innovations that are set in and meant to benefit the health of people in low-resource communities; intended to substantially improve a pressing community health problem; and  recognize consumers as important arbiters of value.

Pollination Project Invites Applications From Social Entrepreneurs for Seed Grants

The Pollination Project is accepting applications from social entrepreneurs looking to make their communities and  world a better place. Seed grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to projects in the early stages of development, including those that promote compassion toward all life (people, planet, animals), environmental sustainability, justice in all its forms, community health and wellness, and social change-oriented arts and culture. Only applications for seed funding, as opposed to ongoing operational or program costs of a nonprofit organization, will be accepted.

To be eligible, applicants must be a passionate, committed individual with a social change vision that fits within one or more of the categories above. Established nonprofit organizations with paid staff will not be considered. See the Pollination Project website for complete program guidelines, examples of previously funded projects, and application instructions.

Link to Complete RFP

2015 Self-Help Homeownership (SHOP) Program

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.

Deadline Date: January 4, 2016

View the NOFA.

More information is available on the HUD website.

Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program (JRAP)

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.HUD encourages activities in communities with Preferred Sustainability Status (PSS) and/or Promise Zones (PZ), HUD will award two (2) points for qualified activities within a designated zone or area and supporting either or both initiative(s).

Deadline: January 4, 2016

View the NOFA.

More information is available on the HUD website.

Training to Work 3 – Adult Reentry Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor announces the availability of approximately $20 million in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Second Chance Act of 2007 for Training to Work 3 – Adult Reentry. As a participant in the Promise Zone Initiative, DOL is cooperating with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Agriculture, and nine (9) other federal agencies to support comprehensive revitalization efforts in 20 of the highest poverty urban, rural and tribal communities across the country. Applicants that submit a certification (HUD Form 50153) signed by an authorized representative of the lead organization of a Promise Zone designated by HUD or the Department of Agriculture supporting the application will receive 2 priority consideration points.

Deadline: January 15, 2016

View the NOFA.

More information is available on the DOL website.

National Endowment for the Arts

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.

Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by 11:00 PM EST on January 12, 2016.

The Request for Proposals is posted on the CIRD website.

Federal Partners Announce Availability of Program Support for State Medicaid-Housing Agency Partnerships

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in partnership with national organizations are pleased to announce a new opportunity for states needing targeted program support aimed at strengthening state-level collaboration between health and housing agencies to bring to scale permanent supportive housing (PSH) by coordinating housing resources with Medicaid-covered housing-related services. The Administration is committed to bringing to scale the cost-effective, evidence-based solution known as PSH toend chronic homelessness in 2017, as well as to support the community integrationfor people with long-term services and supports needs. USICH, HUD, and HHS recognize that access to affordable, stable housing and access to coordinated and comprehensive health care services will improve health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries and lower health care and other public services costs for states and communities. To apply, state Medicaid, housing, and behavioral health agencies should work collaboratively to complete the Expression of Interest by December 1, 2015. The Expression of Interest form can be found in the announcement made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of coordinated program support being offered through their Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Small Buildings Risk Sharing Initiative

 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is inviting Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to apply for its Small Buildings Risk Sharing (SBRS) Initiative. The purpose of SBRS is to support and encourage the production and preservation of affordable housing. The program provides insurance and reinsurance for multifamily housing projects whose loans are originated, underwritten, serviced, and disposed of by approved lenders, including CDFIs. CDFIs and other lenders participating in the SBRS may elect to access low-cost fixed-rate long-term financing through the Federal Financing Bank (FFB). FFB pricing will be benchmarked to comparable Ginnie Mae securities.

To learn more about SBRS, the benefits of the program, and how to apply, please visit the program's website. More information can also be found in HUD's press release about the Initiative.

$118 Million Public-Private Effort for Women, Girls of Color Launched

Backed by more than $100 million in initial funding commitments, the White House has announced a new public-private initiative aimed at improving the lives of women and girls of color.

Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation Project Grant

Introduction

The purpose of the Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation project is to prevent and control diabetes through developing coalitions in distressed counties in Appalachia. The project will help coalitions organize around the problem of diabetes, including planning, implementing and evaluating their specific projects.  The community projects should seek to help people with type 2 diabetes control their disease and prevent the disease in people who may be at risk.

Strengthening Grant Applications for 2015-16

We are offering small skills building “strengthening grants” of $3,000 to the existing diabetes coalitions in Kentucky.  (Refer to page 4 for a list of the eligible counties.) The purpose of this grant is to help diabetes coalitions strengthen their planning skills and to equip them to implement evidence-based and best practice programs in their county.

Applicants must complete the following requirements:

1. Complete the application      form on the following page.
2. Commit to send a minimum      of three people to attend a three-hour planning workshop using the      Diabetes Today for Community Leaders model. 
3. Commit to two or more evidence-based      or best practice programs. Please      refer page 4 for a list of recommended programs. If you want more information about these      programs please contact Shelia Plogger: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 304-545-0424.
4. Submit quarterly reports      on your activities to the Marshall online system, including progress      toward meeting evidence-based program performance targets.
5. Funds are to be used only      for the purpose of implementing the recommended programs.

Application Deadline

The application must be received by November 20, 2015.

ARC Flex-E-Grants 2015