G&SP BULLETIN An occasional publication |
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The G&SP Office assists grantseekers in identifying funding sources, preparing proposals & securing required internal approvals before submission. Contact us as soon as you decide to prepare an application.
In with the New
As one small part of the President Obama administration's economic stimulus package, some funding may support "green" schools and technological access. Preliminary reports indicate funding will be requested to modernize public schools to boost energy efficiency and to enhance computer access for all students. Additional reports focus on improving public federal building's energy efficiency, expanding internet access in libraries, and enhancing technological links between hospitals.
What if any of those ideas will trickle down to states and public higher education is anyone's guess, but clearly expanding grant programs as an element of any economic stimulus package seems to be a key component of the developing plans.
In with the Old
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has just announced a series of Education and Research Funding Opportunities. The Scholarship and Fellowship Program is for undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. citizens. Applications are due January 6 and will provide funding for tuition and monthly stipends beginning in fall 2009 as well as a 10-week summer internship at a federal research facility or a DHS Center of Excellence. A separate Summer Internship Program will provide undergraduate students with 10-week summer research experiences at federal research facilities, including $500/week stipend and transportation expenses. Applications for internships are due January 5.
For more information, access the DHS web site at http://www.orau.gov/dhseducationprograms or send an email to dhsed@orau.org.
Sustainability-Related Grant Opportunities
According to the 4th Report on Climate Change produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, irreversible climate change is happening faster than anticipated. It will happen in this generation, rather than in the next.
Here is a short list of grant opportunities available for initiatives to lesson carbon emissions:
Campus Sustainability Funds - The “Green Fee” Model
Rachel Barge (rachel@campusINpower.org) is a nationally recognized environmental leader who, as a student at the University of California - Berkeley, co-created The Green Initiative Fund, a $2 million revolving loan fund that finances large-scale energy, infrastructure and sustainability upgrades on campus, as well as student internships. As director of the organization Campus INpower, Rachel is now traveling the country for a year to train student organizers, at no cost, on how to establish large sustainability funding mechanisms at their college/university. See http://www.campusinpower.org.
2009 Urban Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant
Grants are available to establish sustainable urban and community forests by encouraging communities of all sizes to manage and protect their natural resources. Applications are due February 17, 2009. For more information, contact Nancy Stremple, 202-205-7829; nstremple@fs.fed.us, or see http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=43426&flag2006=false&mode=VIEW.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
The Minnesota Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Program will award up to $150,000 in competitive grants of up to $25,000 for on-farm sustainable agriculture research or demonstration projects in Minnesota. The purpose of the Grant Program is to fund practices that promote environmental stewardship and conservation of resources as well as improve profitability and quality of life on farms and in rural areas. Eligible recipients include Minnesota farmers, individuals at Minnesota educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and local natural resource agencies. The application due date is January 16, 2009. For more information, see http://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/demogrant.htm.
Bikes Belong Coalition
Fundable projects include paved bike paths and rail-trails as well as mountain bike trails, bike parks, BMX facilities, and large-scale bicycle advocacy initiatives. Details are available at http://www.bikesbelong.org. Annual pre-proposal deadlines are April 1 and September 1. The maximum award for facility, capacity, and advocacy projects is $10,000.
Kodak American Greenways
The Greenways program offers grants of $500 to $2500 greenways projects, including planning bike trails, walkways, etc. Grants may be used for activities such as: mapping, ecological assessments, surveying, conferences, and design activities; developing brochures, interpretative displays, audio-visual productions or public opinion surveys; hiring consultants, incorporating land trusts, building a foot bridge, planning a bike path, or other creative projects. In general, grants can be used for all appropriate expenses needed to complete a greenway project. Applications may be submitted from March 31 through June 30 of each calendar year. For more information, see http://www.conservationfund.org/node/245.
Minnesota State Energy Office
The Office is seeking applicants for its Energy Investment Loan Program. Public schools, cities and counties can use this money -- $1.5 million maximum -- to finance energy-saving capital improvements that have a simple payback of 10 years or less. Typically expenditures are for: conversions to alternative fuels, lighting modifications, and HVAC modifications. There are no deadlines. Decisions are usually within 30 days. This is for K-12 schools in our Sustain Winona partnership. For more information contact Amy Bicek at 651/296-2429 or amy.bicek@state.mn.us.
Temper of the Times Foundation
The Foundation promotes the use of marketing concepts to increase environmental awareness. Grants to non-profit organizations support advertising for the conservation and restoration of native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems in the United States. Money can be used to produce print, radio, or television ads, to pay for advertising space or airtime, or to produce or distribute pamphlets, books, videos, or press packets. The application deadline is approximately October 15th each year. Letters of inquiry may be submitted but are not required. For more information, see http://www.temperfund.org/.
Environmental Research and Education Foundation
The Foundation awards several grants each year for research or education in topics pertaining with any aspect of solid waste management. Proposals should include a description of the proposed activity, project timeline, budget, and resumes of principal investigators. Grants are for $10,000-$500,000. Deadlines are two weeks prior to each Board meeting in April, August and December. See http://www.erefdn.org/guide.html for more information.
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF)
SMIF is once again offering funds up to $25,000 in seed capital for biobusinesses through their Bio Seed Fund. These funds are designed to support start up and expanding bio-medical, bio-agriculture and renewable energy businesses. Also, grants of up to $20,000 will support asset based collaborative projects in emerging business and emerging workforce areas. Deadlines vary. See www.smifoundation.org.
If you have other projects to fund and need contacts for grants, please email NPeterson@winona.edu or Mklinkner@winona.edu.