Small Cities Block Grant

Office for Small Cities

The Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program (Small Cities CDBG) is a federally funded program authorized by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 that is administered by the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s Office for Small Cities (OFSC). The Small Cities CDBG Program provides funding to eligible communities for the development of projects that provide decent and hazard-free affordable housing, access to safe drinking water, proper disposal of household wastewater, access to community-needed services in local facilities, foster microenterprise activities and economic opportunities through the support of projects that create and/or retain permanent employment opportunities that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. Activities funded under the Small Cities CDBG Program must benefit low- and moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight or meet community development needs having a particular urgency.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants are units of general local government (village, city, town or county), excluding metropolitan cities, urban counties and Indian tribes. Cities, towns and villages having a population under 50,000, and counties with an un-incorporated population under 200,000 are eligible to apply for Small Cities CDBG funding. Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to OFSC.

FUNDING:  Approximately $40 million is available in funding for the 2008 Annual Competitive Round and the 2008 Open Round Economic Development Programs.

DEADLINE:  April 21, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the Office for Small Cities, Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State Street, Albany, NY 12227, or call (518) 474-2057.

Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program

Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities

As the administering agency for this program, the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) is announcing the availability of federal funding to establish five-year contracts for the period July 1, 2008-June 30, 2013 with not-for-profit organizations to provide program services in nine regions throughout New York State. These funds will be used to establish nine contracts with eligible agencies in the New York City-Outreach, New York City-Legal, Upper Hudson, Lower Hudson, North Country, Long Island, Central/Southern Tier, Western-Outreach, and Western-Legal regions of New York State to provide culturally competent, legal and/or non-legal individual advocacy, information and referral, technical assistance, and advocacy training and networking for individuals with developmental disabilities. To receive funds, individuals must be equipped to provide treatment or habilitation services to persons with disabilities. Additionally, the recipients of these grants must have the capacity and expertise to effectively advocate on behalf of eligible individuals. It is anticipated that a total of approximately $1,156,100 will be available during the first one-year contract period of July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009. Funding amounts for years two-five of the five-year term will be subject to the availability of federal program funds.

ELIGIBILITY:  Not-for-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in providing services to eligible individuals.

FUNDING:  A total of approximately $1,156,100 will be available during the first one-year contract period.

DEADLINE:  February 27, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact William Combes, PADD Program Director, by phone at (518) 388-2887; or by e-mail at bill.combes@cqcapd.state.ny.us.

Health Care Efficiency and Affordability

Health Department and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York

This grant program is being offered to realize the goal of the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL NY) – Phase 7, Capital Restructuring Initiatives. The strategic focus of the grant is to support projects which will assist facilities to enter into shared governance agreements and other collaborative arrangements that promote quality and efficiency in the delivery of care appropriate to the needs of their communities. Additionally, this grant program will assist facilities in meeting the needs of patients and clients formerly served by hospitals and nursing homes closed or downsized in response to the mandates of the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the Twenty-First Century. Lastly, this program will assist facilities in undertaking projects to reduce excess inpatient capacity in favor of ambulatory and community-based care. The Department of Health and the Dormitory Authority currently expects grants will be distributed regionally, based on capital restructuring priorities as described in the Request for Grant Applications (RGA). Further information regarding the RGA and related information will be available on the Department of Health public Web site, www.nyhealth.gov/funding/.

ELIGIBILITY:  Hospitals, nursing homes, certified home health agencies, and hospices.

FUNDING:  A total of $150 million.

DEADLINE:  April 3, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Robert Schmidt, Director, HEAL NY Implementation Team at Department of Health, Hedley Building, 6th Floor, 433 River Street, Troy, NY 12180, or by e-mail at healnycap08@health.state.ny.us.

Family Support Services

Central New York Developmental Services Office

The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) through the regional office of Central New York Developmental Services Office announces the availability of grants for services to families in the area of crisis intervention and for individuals with challenging behaviors. The services covered in this grant are targeted to eight counties as follows: Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison and Oneida. Family Support Services is a family directed, statewide system of comprehensive services which enhance a family’s ability to provide care to their family member with a developmental disability. Developmental disabilities include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and neurological impairment. Types of services include, but are not limited to, in-home and out-of-home respite; after-school, after-day program and school vacation respite/recreation; and evening and weekend recreation.

ELIGIBILITY:  Voluntary not-for-profit provider agencies; individuals who have a developmental disability and reside at home with natural relatives.

FUNDING:  A total of $375,000.

DEADLINE:  March 6, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Ms. Kelly Biviano at Central New York DSO, 800 S. Wilbur Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13204, or by e-mail at Kelly.Biviano@omr.state.ny.us.

Teacher Development Programs

Education Department

The Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) was established under Chapter 53 of the Laws of 1987. These grants will support and help shape teacher training curricula and professional development activities which address the needs of at-risk students. Targeted activities will allow teachers and prospective teachers to improve their content knowledge and classroom practice in order to help students achieve academically. The purpose of the TOC grant is to enhance the preparation of teachers and prospective teachers in addressing the learning needs of students at risk of truancy, academic failure, or dropping out of school and to increase the participation rate of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers. The intent of this TOC grant is to provide prospective and current classroom teachers with relevant training. The grant period will be July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011.

ELIGIBILITY:  All New York State public and independent degree granting colleges and universities or consortia of such institutions that have a teacher preparation program approved by the New York State Education Department.

FUNDING:  A total of $713,000 will be available for the initial year of this three year program.

DEADLINE:  March 10, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Amy Cox at Teacher Development Programs Unit, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 1069 EBA, Albany, NY 12234 or (518) 486-5347, or e-mail: ohetot@mail.nysed.gov.

. . . Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Newburgh, March 24-28, 2008, hosted by Orange County. Another Grantsmanship Training Program will be offered in: Buffalo, April 7-11, hosted by the Salvation Army.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $875, 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.

Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training opportunities during February 2008:

Grantseeking Basics:
February 5, 13, 19, and 26
Attendees will learn how the Center’s resources can help make them more effective grantseekers. For beginners, this introduction to the library provides instruction in foundation research and identification of potential funders. A tour of the library will follow.

Proposal Writing Basics and Workshops:
February 7, 14 and 27
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their non-profit organizations.

Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online:
February 5, 13, and 19
This session provides a hands-on introduction to the Center’s comprehensive Web subscription database.

How to Approach a Foundation:
February 21
Attendees will learn how to initiate contact with potential funders; plan calls and meetings; and build partnerships with donors. This class is intended for fundraisers with some experience, though not necessarily with foundations.

Classes are held at The Foundation Center, New York Library, 79 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor in New York City. Space is limited and you can register on-line at www.fdncenter.org, in person, or by calling (212) 620-4230. You may also visit the Web site for information on other training opportunities available through the Center.