Technology Grants for Rural Schools
| Funding Source | Foundation for Rural Education and Development |
| Funds Available | $10,000 Award Ceiling |
| Deadline | September 14, 2009 |
| Overview | As the role of technology in classroom grows, it becomes a powerful tool to improve both teaching and learning. Many schools are incorporating new, innovative technology in an effort to help motivate and inspire their students. Their goals include bringing modern computers to every classroom, connecting every classroom to the information superhighway and making sure that effective and engaging software and online resources will be an integral part of every school curriculum. Many public schools in rural areas lack the resources to obtain new technologies and cannot meet these goals. The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) in cooperation with the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) created the Technology Grants for Rural Schools program to help meet the growing need for innovative technology in the classroom. This grant program provides funding for projects that advance technology and foster cooperation among the telco, school and community. Any public K-12 school located in the service area of an OPASTCO telephone company may apply. To see service areas, visit the site. |
| For More Info | http://www.fred.org/programs.html |
Economic Development Assistance Programs
| Funding Source | Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Commerce |
| Funds Available | $240 Million |
| Deadline | September 30, 2009 (Applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received) |
| Overview | Pursuant to the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended, EDA announces general policies and application procedures for grant-based investments under the Public Works, Planning, Local Technical Assistance, and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs that will promote comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts to enhance the competitiveness of regions, resulting in increased private investment and higher-skill, higher wage jobs in regions experiencing substantial and persistent economic distress. Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for and eligible recipients of EDA investment assistance include a(n): (i) District Organization; (ii) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (iii) State, a city or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions; (iv) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or (v) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State. |
| For More Info | http://www.eda.gov/PDF/FY09-EDAP-FFO-FINAL.pdf |
Sustainable Community Innovation Grants
| Funding Source | Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and the Southern Rural Development Center |
| Funds Available | $10,000 Award Ceiling |
| Deadline | October 5, 2009 |
| Overview | The Sustainable Community Innovation Grants program is seeking to invest in projects that embrace and invest in local strategies that are intended to link farm and nonfarm economic development with agricultural and natural resource management. This partnership of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program and the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) encourages applicants who seek to increase knowledge, build capacity, and make connections among on- and off-farm sustainable agriculture activities, economic and community development efforts, value-added activities, civic engagement, and local government policy. As outlined in the RFP, the SARE/SRDC partners remain interested in proposals that focus on entrepreneurship efforts and on value-added activities that build on the agricultural and nonagricultural assets of communities. These include efforts to establish entrepreneurial-friendly communities that help support and sustain value-added entrepreneurship endeavors. |
| For More Info | http://srdc.msstate.edu/economic/ sustainable_communities.html |
Recovery Act Local Energy Assurance Planning (LEAP) Initiative
| Funding Source | National Energy Technology Laboratory |
| Funds Available | $300,000 Award Ceiling |
| Deadline | October 8, 2009 |
| Overview | A goal of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), in part, is to: “facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply” and “enhance reliability and quicker repair of outages.” This initiative will create jobs at the local level and allow Cities to have well-developed, standardized energy assurance and resiliency plans that they can rely on during energy emergencies and supply disruptions. City governments will address energy supply disruption risks and vulnerabilities in their plans to lessen the devastating impact that such incidents have on the economy and the health and safety of citizens. This initiative, (restricted to U.S. cities) called “Local Energy Assurance Planning” (hereinafter called the LEAP Initiative) focuses on developing new, or refining existing, plans to integrate new energy portfolios (renewables, biofuels, etc) and new applications, such as Smart Grid technology (http://www.oe.energy.gov/smartgrid.htm), into energy assurance and emergency preparedness plans. Better planning efforts will help contribute to the resiliency of the energy sector, including the electricity grid, by focusing on the entire energy supply system, which includes refining, storage, and distribution of fossil and renewable fuels. |
| For More Info | http://www07.grants.gov/search/ search.do?oppId=48595&mode=VIEW |
Rural Development Stimulus Funds
| Funding Source | Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture |
| Funds Available | n/a |
| Deadline | Ongoing awards through September 30, 2010 |
| Overview | Stimulus assistance funds are available for USDA Rural Development administered programs through the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service. While program funding expires September 30, 2010, most applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are expended. Entities wishing to apply for assistance, or that are in need of further information, should contact the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where the project is located. A list of the USDA Rural Development State Offices addresses and telephone numbers is available in the notice. |
| For More Info | http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-17512.htm |
