The purpose of the Urban and Rural Community Economic Development priority is to encourage the creation of projects intended to provide employment and business development opportunities for low-income people through business, physical or commercial development. Generally the opportunities must aim to improve the quality of the economic and social environment of TANF recipients; low-income residents including displaced workers; at-risk teenagers; non-custodial parents, particularly those of children receiving TANF assistance; individuals residing in public housing; individuals who are homeless; and those with developmental disabilities.

Funds will be provided under the Rural Community Facilities Development (Water and Waste Water Treatment Systems Development) priority to help low-income rural communities develop the capability and expertise to establish and/or maintain affordable, adequate, and safe water and waste water treatment facilities.

Funds under this priority area may not be used for construction of water and waste water treatment systems or for operating subsidies for systems, but other mobilized funds may be used for these activities. It is suggested that applicants coordinate projects with the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) and other federal and state agencies to ensure that funds for hardware for local community projects are available.

ELIGIBILITY: Urban and Rural Community Economic Development – Private, non-profit community development corporations (CDCs) governed by a board consisting of residents of the community and business and civic leaders that has as a principal purpose planning, developing, or managing low-income housing or community development projects are eligible. Rural Community Facilities Development – Multi-state, regional private non-profit organizations that can provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities in meeting their community facility needs are eligible.

FUNDING: Approximately $26,560,000 is available.

DEADLINE: November 15, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For a copy of the full announcement, contact the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW, 5th Floor West, Washington, DC 20447; telephone (202) 401-9345 or (202) 401-9354; fax (202) 401-4687.

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U.S. Department of Education

Special Demonstration Programs for Rehabilitation Services

The United States Department of Education is offering financial assistance to projects that expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services for individuals with disabilities.

The Department is particularly interested in applications that meet one or more of the following priorities: Special Demonstrations to Increase Employment Outcomes, Especially Self-Employment, Telecommuting, or Business Ownership, for American Indians With Disabilities Who Reside on or Near Reservations or in Urban Settings; Programs That Demonstrate Methods of Providing Affordable Transportation Services to Individuals With Disabilities; or Projects Focusing on Career Advancement.

ELIGIBILITY: State vocational rehabilitation agencies; community rehabilitation programs; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and public or non-profit agencies or organizations, including institutions of higher education, are eligible.

FUNDING: A total of $3.8 million is available to fund awards up to $275,000.

DEADLINE: February 4, 2000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Pamela Martin or Alfreda Reeves, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3314, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2650; telephone (202) 205-8494 or (202) 205-9361. For applications, call (877) 433-7827 or fax (301) 470-1244.

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U.S. Department of Agriculture

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service – Competitive Grants Program

The United States Department of Agriculture is inviting applications for competitive grant awards in agriculture, forest, and related environmental sciences under the National Research Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CREES).

Applications are being accepted for Conventional Projects, which include standard research grants and conferences, and Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards, which include Postdoctoral Fellowships and New Investigator Awards.

Research areas and funding levels are as follows: Natural Resources and the Environment ($19.1 million); Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health ($14.9 million); Plant Systems ($38.2 million); Animal Systems ($27.0 million); Markets, Trade, and Policy ($4.3 million); and New Products and Processes ($7.6 million).

ELIGIBILITY: Any state agricultural experiment station, college, university, or other research institution or organization, federal agency, national laboratory, private organization, corporation, or individual may apply.

FUNDING: Funding is listed above by research area.

DEADLINE: The earliest deadline is November 15, 1999 for selected research areas.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact USDA/CREES/NRI, Stop 2241, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-2241; telephone (202) 401-5022; e-mail nricgp@reeusda.gov. The application kit and information are also available on the NRI home page, www.reeusda.gov/nri.

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U.S. Department of Education

Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program

The United States Education Department is offering financial assistance to graduate students through the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program. The purpose of this program is to award fellowships to eligible students of superior ability, selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need, and exceptional promise to undertake graduate study leading to a doctoral degree or a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at accredited institutions of higher education in selected fields of the arts, humanities, or social sciences.

ELIGIBILITY: Individuals who at the time of application have not yet completed their first year of graduate study or will be entering graduate school in academic year 2000-2001, and who are eligible to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance and intend to pursue a doctoral degree or MFA in fields selected by the JKJ Board at accredited U.S. institutions of higher education.

FUNDING: The estimated range of awards is $11,000-$25,500.

DEADLINE: November 29, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Melissa Burton, Jacob J. Javits Fellowship Program, U.S. Department of Education, International Education and Graduate Programs Service, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 600-B, Portals Building, Washington, DC 20202-5247; telephone (202) 260-3574; or e-mail melissa_burton@ed.gov. For applications, call (877) 433-7827.

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U.S. Department of Education

The Business and International Educational Program

The Business and International Educational Program, administered through the United States Department of Education, provides grants to institutions of higher education to enhance international business education programs and to expand the capacity of the business community to engage in international economic activities.

ELIGIBILITY: Institutions of higher education that enter into agreements with trade associations, business enterprises or trade organizations that are engaged in international economic activity.

DEADLINE: November 1, 1999.

FUNDING: A total of $1.9 million is available to fund awards ranging from $50,000 - $90,000.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Tanyelle Richardson, Business and International Education Program, 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) 260-3383; e-mail tanyelle_richardson@ed.gov.

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U.S. Department of Education

American Overseas Research Centers Program

The United States Department of Education, American Overseas Research Centers (AORC) Program supports American overseas research centers that are consortia of institutions of higher education, to enable these centers to promote postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

Support includes funds to pay all or a portion of the costs of establishing or operating centers or programs of activities, including: faculty and staff stipends and salaries; faculty, staff, and student travel; operation and maintenance of overseas facilities; teaching and research materials; acquisition, maintenance, and preservation of library collections; bringing visiting scholars and faculty to a center to teach or to conduct research; organizing and managing conferences; and the publication and dissemination of material for the scholarly and general public.

ELIGIBILITY: Centers that receive more than fifty percent of their funding from public or private United States sources; have a permanent presence in the county in which the overseas center is located; and are 501(c) (3) organizations are eligible.

FUNDING: $700,000 is available to fund awards ranging from $55,000 - $95,000.

DEADLINE: November 4, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Cheryl E. Gibbs, American Overseas Research Centers Program, U.S. Department of Education and Graduate Programs Service, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 600, Portals Building, Washington, DC 20202-5331; telephone (202) 401-9785; e-mail cheryl_gibbs@ed.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor

Testing Innovative Methods of Providing Reemployment
Assistance and Training

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), announces a demonstration program to test innovative methods of providing reemployment assistance and training to eligible workers.

Awardees will receive intensive technical assistance, test new approaches and practices and participate in a rigorous evaluation. In addition, they will participate in and help structure national DOL activities meant to identify and disseminate lessons learned.

ELIGIBILITY: States, Private Industry Councils (PICs)/Workforce Investment Boards, and consortiums of PICs or Work force Investment Boards are eligible.

FUNDING: Approximately $6 million is available to fund 10-12 awards.

DEADLINE: November 8, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Marian Floyd, Division of Federal Assistance, by fax (202) 219-8739. All inquiries should include the announcement number DFA 99-017. Information is also available on the Employment and Training Administration’s home page at http://doleta.gov.

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U.S. Department of Education

International Studies and Foreign Language Program

The Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program provides grants to strengthen and improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages in the United States.

ELIGIBILITY: Institutions of higher education; combinations of institutions of higher education; partnerships between non-profit educational organizations and institutions of higher education; and public and private non-profit agencies and organizations, including professional and scholarly associations, are eligible.

FUNDING: Approximately $1,990,000 is available to fund awards ranging from $40,000 to $130,000.

DEADLINE: November 1, 1999.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Christine Corey, Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program, 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) 401-9783; or e-mail christine_corey@ed.gov.

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Grant Writing

Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence (COPE)

The Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence is offering three full-day classes in grant writing during October. Classes will be held in Albany, NY on October 21, 1999; Binghamton, NY on October 27, 1999; and Syracuse, NY on October 25, 1999. The registration fee is $145 and includes the full day of training and manual. To register, call (914) 756-2673 or e-mail your registration request to: jnb@copeinc.com.

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The Foundation Center Provides On-Line Services

The Foundation Center, an independent national service organization which disseminates information on foundation grants, offers an on-line service through its internet site. The Foundation Center’s Electronic Reference Desk allows grant seekers to question an on-line librarian. Grant seekers may also scan the website for information about upcoming grant training seminars, funding trends, publications, and locations. The Foundation Center maintains Cooperating Collections of grant resources, including a database of funding organizations on CD-ROM, at libraries throughout the state.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Foundation Center at 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003; on line at www.fdncenter.org; or call (800) 424-9836/ (212) 620-4230. E-mail comments can be sent to mfn@fdncenter.org.

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