New York State Quality Communities Program

New York State Department of State

The New York State Department of State has announced the availability of funding through the New York State Quality Communities Program. Under this program, funds are available for planning projects that revitalize downtowns, develop strong economies and protect environmental resources. Eligible applicants may apply for grants by submitting proposals that incorporate one or more of the following programs: Intermunicipal Growth, Community Growth, Community Open Space, Mountain Communities, and Community Center.
ELIGIBILITY:  Counties, towns, cities, villages, local public authorities, public benefit corporations, Indian tribes/nations, and not-for-profit corporations.
FUNDING:   Contact the Department of State for details.
DEADLINE:  December 5, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Requests for applications and forms along with other pertinent information are available for downloading from the Quality Communities Clearinghouse Web site, www.qualitycommunities.org. Other information is available by calling (518) 473-3355 or by sending an e-mail to QC@dos.state.ny.us.

Child Day Care Center Funding

New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)

OCFS is making available a series of grant opportunities to expand the availability of and/or improve the quality of care in regulated child care settings. The specific funding categories include: Child Day Care Center and School Age Start Up and Expansion Programs; Expansion of Hours of Existing Child Day Care Centers and School Age Child Care Programs; Health and Safety Grants; Innovative Programs Initiative and Accreditation Grants.
ELIGIBILITY:  All categories except for the Innovative Programs Initiative are open to not-for-profit and for-profit child day care centers, school age child care programs other not-for-profit organizations and government agencies. The Innovative Programs Initiative category is limited to government and not-for-profit organizations.
FUNDING:   Contact the Office of Children and Family Services for funding details.
DEADLINE:  Applications for all program types, except Health and Safety grants $15,000 and under, will be accepted on 1/20/06, 4/14/06, and 7/14/06. Applications may be submitted for Health and Safety grants $15,000 and under by the 10th of each month.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  For information and an application, contact Suzanne Sennett, Bureau of Early Childhood Services, 52 Washington Street, N. Building, Room 338, Rensselaer, New York 12144; phone (518) 474-9454.

Food and Agriculture Industry Development Projects

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets invites proposals for implementing innovative and low risk approaches to the research, development, production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products and foods that capitalize on the State's unique resources and strategic location near significant markets.
Projects involving new product development; alternative production, processing, distribution and marketing methods or technologies; the introduction of high technologies; or organizational methods that further the development of the food and agricultural industry in New York State are eligible for funding.
ELIGIBILITY:  Public and private agencies and organizations, business and industry, educational institutions, local governments, and individuals.
FUNDING:   Contact the Department for funding details. Grant recipients must match awards made under this program with at least equal amounts of cash, in-kind services, or other resources including indirect and overhead costs.
DEADLINE:   Proposals for funding in fiscal year 2005-2006 must be received by the Department before 4:30 p.m. on December 6, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Questions about funding requirements must be submitted in writing (facsimiles and e-mails will be accepted) to Meg McCabe, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, 10B Airline Drive, Albany, New York 12235; fax (518) 457-2716; e-mail meg.mccabe@agmkt.state.ny.us. Questions must be submitted by November 29, 2005, and a list of submitted questions and their answers, as well as any changes, additions, or deletions to the RFP will be posted in the "Funding Opportunities" section of www.agmkt.state.ny.us, along with the electronic version of the RFP.

Barns Restoration and Preservation Program

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced the availability of funding through the New York State Barns Preservation and Restoration Program. Under this program, funds are available to preserve the historic character and extend the useful life of historic agricultural buildings. Proposed project work must be compatible with the historic character of the building. Work on properties that are listed on or eligible for the State and National Registers of Historic Places must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation Projects. Projects receiving Highest Priority for funding are those that will have the greatest impact upon building longevity, such as repair and restoration of roofs, foundations, sills, and framing. Eligible project work of Lesser Priority includes repairs that protect the barns' structural systems and/or preserve character-giving historic features, such as repairs to siding, doors, windows, flooring, cupolas, and architectural details.
ELIGIBILITY:  Any person interested in preservation of an eligible structure can apply for a Barn grant. If the applicant is not the owner of the structure that is the subject of the application, the owner's permission to apply and/or an explanation of the applicant's interest in the barn must be included with the application. Please note that if the application is successful, all those with an ownership interest in the property must execute a preservation covenant. Applicants will be expected to provide a matching share, ranging from 10% to 50% of total project cost, on a sliding scale according to income. The grantee's cost share can be in the form of cash, in-kind services, materials, or labor, including the use of heavy equipment. Other state funds or grants may not be used as grantee match.
FUNDING:   For the 2005 grant cycle, $2 million is available for awards and program administration, with a maximum award amount of $50,000 for barns at least 60 feet long x 30 feet wide, $50,000 maximum for multiple barns or outbuilding, and a maximum award of $35,000 for barns smaller than 60 feet long x 30 feet wide.
DEADLINE:   Applications must be submitted (postmarked or delivered) to the Regional Grant Representative by Friday, December 16, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Applications and other pertinent information are available on the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website, www.nysparks.com or contact Phil Bair, Barns Program Coordinator, by telephone at 315-492-1756 or by e-mail at Phil.Bair@oprhp.state.ny.us.

. . . Foundations and Organizations

Conservation Assessment Program

Heritage Preservation and Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) is a cooperative agreement between Heritage Preservation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This program provides eligible museums with an assessment of conditions, policies and procedures that relate to and affect collections care, including storage and exhibition conditions; museum environment; fabrication and condition of the structures housing collections; museum staffing and training; and policies and procedures concerning the use of collections.
The program is designed to serve museums whose collections and physical plant can be assessed in a two-day period. The assessment is provide by professional conservators who spend two days on site conducting the survey and three days writing a report with prioritized recommendations.
ELIGIBILITY:  Any nonprofit museum that is open to the public at least 90 days a year and has at least one full-time paid or volunteer staff person is eligible. Eligible museums include: aquariums; arboreta, botanical gardens and nature centers; art museums/centers; children's museums; historic houses and sites; history, science and natural history museums; science technology centers and planetariums; specialized museums; and zoos.
FUNDING:   CAP grant amounts range from $3,080 to $6,540, depending on the number of assessors and the institution's budget. Museum that are to be assessed are expected to cover a portion of the costs, generally in the range of $400 to $950.
DEADLINE:    Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until December 1, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Heritage Preservation at (202) 233-0800 or at kmarks@heritagepreservation.org.

New York State Conservation Partnership Program

Land Trust Alliance

The Land Trust Alliance, in partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, has announced the 2006 Conservation Partnership Program grants, which will be awarded in four categories: Conservation Capacity & Excellence; Conservation Catalyst; Land Conservation Transaction; and Professional Development. These grants are designed to increase the pace of land conservation in New York, support the New York Open Space Plan (www.dec.state.ny.us) and guide land trusts toward implementation of Land Trusts Standards and Practices.
ELIGIBILITY:  Land trusts must be in New York and a Land Trust Alliance member.
FUNDING:    Up to $400,000 will be awarded. All selected projects must document at least a 1:1 match ratio, the cash portion of which must come from non-State funding sources. To date, grant awards have ranged from $1,975 to $40,000.
DEADLINE:  The postmark deadline for Conservation Capacity & Excellence, Conservation Catalyst, and Transaction grant applications is December 5, 2005. Professional Development pre-proposals are due November 15, 2005 and will be considered on an invitation basis. If invited to submit a full proposal, Professional Development applications must be postmarked by January 27, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Applications and grant guidelines are available at www.lta.org/resources/ltagrants.htm. You may also contact Ethan Winter, Northeast Program Coordinator, Land Trust Alliance, P. O. Box 792, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866; phone (518) 587-0774; fax (518) 587-6467; e-mail ewinter@lta.org.

Pets and Their Families

Banfield Charitable Trust

The Banfield Charitable Trust offers grants to organizations that make life better for pets and their families. At this time, the Trust's funding priorities are promotion of preventive health care for pets; educating children about veterinary medicine; programs based on the human-pet bond and how this relates to longer, healthier lives for pets and people; and veterinary education programs. Contact the Trust for information on what specific programs are eligible for funding.
ELIGIBILITY:  501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.
FUNDING:   Grants typically range from $500 to $10,000.
DEADLINE:   January 20, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.banfieldcharitabletrust.net or call (866) 802-0566.

Farmer/Grower Grant Program

Northeast SARE Program

The goal of the Farmer/Grower Grant Program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) region, which includes New York State. SARE defines sustainable practices as those that are profitable, environmentally sound, and beneficial to the community.
ELIGIBILITY:   Farm business owners or managers in the SARE region. Applicants need not be farming full time, but the operation must have an established farm income from a crop or animal product that is sold on a regular basis.
FUNDING:  In 2005, Northeast SARE awarded $138,803 in grants. Awards ranged from $2,186 to $10,000, with the average grant being about $6,000. In 2006, the cap on any single grant will be $10,000.
DEADLINE:  Proposals must be postmarked by Tuesday, December 6, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.uvm.edu/~nesare/grants.html for additional information, including "How to Write a SARE Farmer Grower Grant Application." You may also contact the Farmer/Grower grants specialist, Dale Riggs, by phone at (518) 733-0602 or by e-mail at farmergrants@taconic.net.

. . . Grant Writing

The Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Newburgh, January 9-13, 2006, hosted by Orange County Community College and Rockland Community College, and New York City, January 30-February 3, 2006, hosted by the Institute for Community Living.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $825, 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. For local information and arrangements, call Fontaine McNamara (Newburgh) at (845) 341-4337; and Ben Sher (New York City) at (212) 385-3030, ext. 3198.