Water Quality Improvement Projects

Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is announcing funds for water quality improvement projects addressing non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control and for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems Phase II Stormwater Permit Implementation.
ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities and soil and water conservation districts.
FUNDING:   Approximately $11.7 million of the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has been appropriated for agricultural and non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control projects, and a portion of the $11.7 million from the EPF will be available for assistance to regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems in implementing Stormwater Phase II General Permit requirements.
DEADLINE:  Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2006. No hand delivered, facsimile, or electronic application will be accepted.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  For an application, contact Water Quality Improvement Projects, Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, New York 12233-3508; phone (518) 402-8151. You may also visit www.dec.state.ny.us/website/bondact/bamenu.html#wqipapp.

Building Skills in New York State (BUSINYS) Grants

Department of Labor

BUSINYS provides funds to train employed workers in specific skills needed by the applicant business or the industry in which it operates and that lead to potential career growth and increased wages for the trainees. Funds may be used to pay for outside vendors or in-house trainers to provide on-site training, off-site training or distance learning. The position targeted for training must exist and be filled at the time that the application is submitted. The applicant must demonstrate that the training will result in the workers’ acquisition of transferable skills. Any award must be expended on program activities in New York State and the employees must be trained to work in New York State upon completion of the training.
ELIGIBILITY:  Private sector for-profit and not-for-profit businesses with at least one physical location in New York State or a group of two or more such businesses with the same or similar training needs.
FUNDING:  Approximately $15 million will be made available and awards for individual proposals may not exceed $50,000, subject to funding availability. Contracts will be awarded for a period of up to one year.
DEADLINE:  Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.workforcenewyork.com or contact Andrew Gehr, Office of Program Development, at the Department of Labor, Workforce Development and Training Division, State Campus, Building 12, Room 450, Albany, NY 12240; (518) 457-0361.

. . .On the Federal Level

National Scenic Byways Program

United States Department of Transportation

The United States Department of Transportation has announced available funding to implement projects on roads designated as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads, state scenic byways, or Indian tribe scenic byways.
ELIGIBILITY:  State, local and Federally recognized tribal governments, special district governments, and non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education.
FUNDING:   The estimated total program funding is $30,000,000.
DEADLINE:  March 31, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.bywaysonline.org/grants/.

. . . Foundations and Organizations

Grants for Service-Learning Projects

Learn and Serve America

Learn and Serve America, part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, has released a notice of funding opportunity for grant funds to support school-based, community-based, higher education, and tribal and U.S. territory service-learning projects. The grant competition is to promote the development and sustainability of high quality community-based service-learning programs in youth-serving community organizations across the nation.
ELIGIBILITY:   K-12 schools, colleges, volunteer centers, and faith-based organizations.
FUNDING:  Varies.
DEADLINE:  March 7, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.learnandserve.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp.

Let's Just Play Giveaway

Nickelodeon

Children’s television network Nickelodeon will distribute funding through its Let’s Just Play Giveaway, which offers kids around the United States the opportunity to take action and enter for a chance to improve their school or community program’s fitness resources.
ELIGIBILITY:  Kids 6 to 15 years of age partnering with teachers and other community-based leaders.
FUNDING:  The maximum award is $5,000.
DEADLINE:  Rolling until May 31, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/.

Preserve New York Grant Program

Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts

The Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts announce the 2006 Preserve New York Grant Program. The program provides funding to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations, and supports three types of projects only: historic structure reports, historic landscape reports and cultural resource surveys. Through the program, the Preservation League, a statewide, not-for-profit organization, and the Council, the state’s arts funding agency, seek to support efforts to plan for the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings and landscapes throughout the state. The Preservation League especially encourages projects that link preservation to smart growth land use planning; neighborhood and “Main Street” revitalization; preservation initiatives along rural roads and other historic transportation corridors; and projects that involve the continued use of historic municipal buildings and historic bridges.
ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities and not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are eligible to apply unless they are applying for funding directly from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Architecture, Planning and Design Program (APD) for another project in 2006. Groups are limited to one project with APD support per year. State agencies and religious institutions are ineligible for support. Groups that previously received funding through this grant program must have successfully completed their projects to be eligible for the 2006 grant round. The grant panel members will evaluate: architectural and historic significance of the building, landscape or area; the need for the project and for financial support at this time; the applicant group’s ability to carry out the project within a stated schedule; the applicant group’s ability to raise sufficient funds to complete the project; the appropriateness of the project budget and consultant(s); extent of local support for the project; and the likelihood that significant restoration or planning work will result.
FUNDING:   A total of $82,200 is available and will be split among all three project types. Grants are likely to range between $3,000 and $10,000 each. No formal financial match is required; however, the Preservation League and the New York State Council on the Arts expect to see a project budget that reflects the applicant’s meaningful commitment to the project. Please note that it is unlikely that this program will be able to provide full support for any project. It is also expected that the consultant fee structure reflects the applicant’s understanding of the value of these professional services.
DEADLINE:   Applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 1, 2006. Please follow the directions included in the application for assembling the packets.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:   If your organization and project meet these guidelines, contact the League to discuss your potential application and to receive an application form. Forms are not available online. You may contact Tania G. Werbizky, Director, Technical and Grant Programs, at (607) 272-6510 or Lorraine E. Weiss, Program Manager, at (518) 462-5658, ext. 12, or at lweiss@preservenys.org.

Domestic Grantmaking Program

Mattel Children's Foundation

Mattel and the Mattel Children's Foundation have announced the second year of the foundation's Domestic Grantmaking Program. The program provides funds to organizations working to benefit children in need. Applicants must have a mission that focuses on direct service to children up to twelve years old. Priority will be given to organizations or programs that use creative and/or innovative methods to address a locally defined need directly impacting children in need and that align with Mattel's philanthropic priorities, which include learning, health, and girl empowerment. Two types of grants will be considered: 1) program-specific grants, i.e. funding for the launch of new programs or expansion of existing programs; and 2) core operating support, i.e., support for administrative and operating costs that help organizations to sustain their program.
ELIGIBILITY:  Organizations with 501(c)(3) public charity status that have an annual operating budget of less than $1 million. Organizations may not be affiliated in any way with national organizations, regardless of whether funds are received from the national entity.
FUNDING:   Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000.
DEADLINE:   April 7, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.mattel.com/About_Us/Philanthropy/ci_mcf_philanthropy_grantmaking.asp.

. . . Grant Writing

The Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Buffalo, March 20-24, 2006, hosted by American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter and New York City, May 8-12, 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 Ryan St. Louis (Buffalo) at (716) 878-2372 and Ben Sher (New York City) at (212) 385-3030, ext. 3198.

Other classes will be held in Albany on April 24-28, Buffalo on October 23-27, and Troy on November 6-10, 2006. As they become available, details on these classes will be published in future issues of the newsletter.