The New York State Commission on National and Community Service, through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, will be accepting applications for AmeriCorps Program Grants and Education Awards.

AmeriCorps is the “Domestic Peace Corps” initiative that provides funding for state agencies, local governments, and non-profit organizations to implement community service programs. AmeriCorps programs serve educational, environmental, public safety or human needs in a given community.

Through this grant opportunity, agencies sponsor AmeriCorps members who will serve to implement community service initiatives while earning a modest living allowance, health benefits and an education award upon successful completion of a term of service. AmeriCorps program grants provide AmeriCorps member support funds and operating funds (totaling no more than $11,250/AmeriCorps member) and education awards for full-time members of $4,725.

Agencies that apply must be able to demonstrate the capacity to administer a federal program, have a detailed plan of action, strong connections to the community it is planning to serve, a real need for the proposed service within the community, and the ability to raise the required matching funds.
Applications also will be accepted for the AmeriCorp Education Award only grants. These grants provide agencies $500 per AmeriCorps member for operating expenses and education awards of $4,725 for full-time members. All member benefits and other program expenses are absorbed by the host agency. There are no matching requirements.

The Commission will be hosting ten grant writing workshops around the state. The following are the cities and dates: Buffalo – September 30; Rochester – October 1; Albany – October 5; Plattsburgh – October 6; Utica – October 7; Syracuse – October 8; New York City – October 12; Long Island – October 13; Poughkeepsie – October 14; and Binghamton – October 15.

ELIGIBILITY: Non-profit agencies, colleges and universities, state agencies and local government agencies are eligible.

FUNDING: Approximately $15 million.

DEADLINES: Concept papers are due by November 20, 1999. Full proposals are due by December 17, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (518) 473-8882 or see the Commission’s website at www.nyscncs.org. To obtain an application packet, fax request to (518) 402-3817.

Wilson/Fish Projects – Alternative Refugee Services

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), through the Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, announces that applications will be accepted from public and private non-profit organizations under a standing announcement for Wilson/Fish projects which propose alternate approaches to serving refugees. The purpose of an alternative project is to provide integrated services and cash assistance to refugees in order to increase refugees’ prospects for early employment and self-sufficiency, reduce their level of welfare dependence, enhance acculturation, and promote coordination among voluntary resettlement agencies and service providers.

Projects will be accepted under two categories: (1) projects to establish or maintain a refugee program in a state where the state is not participating in the refugee program or is dropping out of the refugee program or a portion of the program; and (2) projects to provide an alternative to the existing system of assistance and services to refugees.

ELIGIBILITY: Public and private non-profit organizations, such as states, private voluntary resettlement agencies, a consortium of agencies, local government entities, refugee mutual assistance associations and community-based organizations, are eligible.

FUNDING: ORR will consider the requests for funding based on the merits of the proposals. Projects proposed under this announcement will be alternatives to an existing program in a state or community.

DEADLINE: October 31, 1999 and March 31, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Barbara R. Chesnik, Team Leader, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), ORR/Division of Refugee Self-Sufficiency, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447; telephone (202) 401-4558; or e-mail bchesnik@acf.dhhs.gov.

National Resource Centers Program and Fellowships Program
for Foreign Language and Area Studies

The National Resource Centers (NRC) Program makes awards to institutions of higher education for general assistance in strengthening nationally recognized centers of excellence in foreign language and area or international studies. NRC awards are used to support undergraduate centers or comprehensive centers which include undergraduate, graduate, and professional school components.

The Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS) Program makes awards to institutions of higher education for fellowship assistance to meritorious students undergoing graduate training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies. FLAS awards are used to support academic year and summer fellowships.

ELIGIBILITY: Institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions of higher education are eligible.

FUNDING: The estimated range of awards for the NRC Program is $175,000 to $225,000 per year. The estimated range for the FLAS Program is $27,000 to $172,800 per year.

DEADLINE: October 18, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Cheryl Gibbs, Ed McDermott, Karla Ver Bryck, or Amy Wilson, NRC-FLAS Team, U. S. Department of Education, International Education and Graduate Programs Service, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 600 Portals Building, Washington, DC 20202-5331; telephone (202) 401-9798; e-mail OPE_NRC-FLAS@ed.gov. Information can also be found on the following website: http://www.ed.gov/news/html.

International Education and Cultural Activities – Open Grant Program

The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States Information Agency’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an assistance award program.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U. S. private sector, non-profit organizations on cooperative international group projects that introduce American and foreign participants to each other’s social, economic, political structures, and international interests. The Office supports international projects in the United States or overseas involving leaders or potential leaders in the following fields and professions: urban planners, jurists, specialized journalists (specialists in economics, business, political analysis, international affairs), business professionals, NGO leaders, environmental specialists, parliamentarians, educators, economists, and other government officials.

ELIGIBILITY: Public and private non-profits may apply.

FUNDING: Proposals for less than $135,000 will receive preference. Organizations with less than four years experience are limited to $60,000.

DEADLINE: October 15, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, E/PL, Room 216, United States Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202) 619-5348; website http://www.e.usia.gov/education/int-l/. All communications should refer to the Annual Open Grant Program. The announcement number is E/P-00-1.

Fulbright-Hays Research Awards

The United States Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education announces the availability of funding opportunities through the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program, Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program, and Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program.

The Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program offers opportunities to faculty members of institutions of higher education for research and study in modern foreign languages and area studies.
The Group Projects Abroad Program provides grants to support overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in a common endeavor. Projects may include short-term seminars, curriculum development or group research or study. The program does not support advanced intensive language projects under this competition.

The Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program provides opportunities for graduate students to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies.

ELIGIBILITY: Institutions of higher education are eligible to participate in the Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program and the Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program. Institutions of higher education, state departments of education, non-profit private educational organizations, and consortia of these entities are eligible to participate in the Group Projects Abroad Program.

FUNDING: The estimated average awards are as follows: Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program - $43,000; Group Projects Abroad Program - $55,000; and Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program - $23,000.

DEADLINE: October 25, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For the Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program, contact Eliza Washington at (202) 401-9777 or eliza_washington@ed.gov. For the Group Projects Abroad Program, contact Lungching Chiao at (202) 401-9772 or lungching_chiao@ed.gov. For the Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program, contact Karla Ver Bryck Block at (202) 401-9774 or karla_verbryckblock@ed.gov. Information is also available on the following website: www.ed.gov/news.html.

Technical Skill Training Grants

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U. S. Department of Labor, announces the availability of grant funds for skill training programs for unemployed and employed workers. This initiative is intended to strengthen linkages between employers experiencing skill shortages in specific occupations and the publicly funded work force development system.

Technical skills training includes occupational skills training that may combine academic and work-place learning and related instruction, customized training with a commitment of an employer or group of employers to employ an individual upon successful completion of training, and training that may be tailored to meet the needs of the individual participant.

ELIGIBILITY: Private Industry Councils (PICs), Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and regional consortia of PICs or local boards may apply. Regional consortia may be interstate.

FUNDING: Approximately $25 million is available. Awards will not exceed $1.5 million each.

DEADLINE: October 29, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Questions should be faxed to Diemle Phan, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, fax (202) 219-8739. All inquiries should include the SGA number (DFA 99-019) and a contact name, fax and phone number.

Syracuse University

Syracuse University will be offering three one-day grant writing courses in October. Introduction to Grant Writing is being held October 1 and October 29, 1999. Advanced Grant Writing is being held October 30, 1999. Each workshop runs from 9 am to 4 pm and costs $129 each. All courses are held on the Syracuse University campus.

For distance learning, Syracuse University is offering an eight-week Online Grant Writing Course. The class runs from October 8, 1999 until November 19, 1999 and costs $249 per person.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Syracuse University at (315) 443-3271 or enrich@uc.syr.edu.

Council on Opportunities for
Professional Excellence

The Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence (COPE) is offering three grant writing classes in September. Each class costs $145 and includes a full day of training and a grant writing manual. COPE is offering a class in Kingston, NY on September 16, 1999 at the Ramada Inn. They will be at the Holiday Inn in Rockville, Long Island on September 21, 1999 and the Ramada Inn in New Rochelle, NY on September 28, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (914) 756-2673 or e-mail jnb@copeinc.com.