Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his “January Grants Action News Update” to residents, organizations and local governments about a series of grants available from the state, federal government and private entities. Each month, the Assembly provides an updated list of grants for a variety of categories.

“During a time of economic recovery, grants can play an integral part in helping our local communities complete needed infrastructure repairs or support underfunded projects,” said Palmesano. “Many people don’t realize the scope of available opportunities because they aren’t sure where to look. The ‘Grants Action News’ bulletin makes finding these grants much easier by consolidating the information and making it available to everyone. I hope residents, organizations and local governments throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions will be able to use this resource to find much-needed support to strengthen communities in our rural area.”

All not-for-profit applicants must now prequalify on the NYS Grants Reform website at grantsreform.ny.gov/grantees in order to apply for certain New York state grant solicitations. Potential not-for-profit applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process of registering and prequalifying immediately as this is a lengthy process.

The Grants Action News bulletin is updated at the beginning of each month with newly-available grants and information on how to apply.

The update can be accessed here:

https://nyassembly.gov/gan/?sec=story&story=100262

State Grants

NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, NYS Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets invites eligible municipal and incorporated not-for-profit pounds, shelters and humane societies to submit proposals for funding consideration from the Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund. Funding totaling $4.25 million will be available through this request for proposals for the costs of capital projects, including construction, renovation, rehabilitation, installation, acquisition or expansion of buildings, equipment or facilities necessary for the secure containment, health and adequate care of sheltered dogs and cats.

■ Eligibility: Not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities are eligible to apply.

■ Deadline: Jan. 25, 2022 4 p.m. ET

■ Funding: Award amounts range from $50,000 to $500,000

■ Contact: Makayla Kemmeren Email: Makayla.kemmeren@agriculture.ny.gov Website: https://nysapf.org/companion-animal-capital-fund/

NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, Rural Communities of Practice Initiative

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) seeks applications to fund strategies for the prevention of and response to juvenile delinquency in rural areas of New York State. Funding will be made available for programming to improve approaches to prevent and respond to delinquency in seven areas that were identified using data from the U.S. Census Bureau as well as the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) definition of rural communities.

■ Eligibility: DCJS will accept proposals from teams made up of counties that participated in DCJS’ Rural Community of Practice previously, as well as those now identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as being “rural” (See Appendix: Rural Community of Practice Counties). Proposals from existing multi-county, multi-disciplinary teams are eligible to apply. Not-forprofit entities, units of local government (including school districts) and institutions of higher learning (universities, colleges, and community colleges) that are located within the eligible counties are also eligible to apply.

■ Deadline: Jan. 14, 2022

■ Funding: Approximately $525,000

■ Contact: Maura Gagan Email: maura.gagan@dcjs.ny.gov Website: https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ofpa/

Federal Grants

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Learning Program

The USDA’s Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program aims to increase knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. The program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only increase access to school meals for low-income children, but also to dramatically improve their quality.

■ Eligibility: Applicants for the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program (FASLP) must meet all the requirements in order to apply. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from making an award. Eligibility is limited to the following groups: state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations, non-profit organizations, foundations, or corporations; individuals; or any group consisting of two or more entities described herein. The eligibility requirements are limited to the applicant. Project partners and collaborators need not meet the eligibility requirements.

■ Funding: Up to $225,000 per award for a total of $1.92 million in program funding.

■ Deadline: Jan. 31, 2022

■ Contact: Lisa Jahns Email: lisa.jahns@usda.gov; grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov Website: https://nifa.usda.gov/program/food-andagriculture-service-learning-program

Private Grants

William T. Grant Foundation, Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence

The William T. Grant Foundation supports research to improve the lives of young people ages 5-25 in the United States. The foundation is currently seeking letters of inquiry for its Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence program. The program funds research studies that advance theory and build empirical knowledge on ways to improve the use of research evidence by policy makers, agency leaders, organizational managers, intermediaries and other decision-makers that shape youth-serving (ages 5 to 25) systems in the United States. Proposed studies must pursue one of the following goals: building, identifying or testing ways to improve the use of existing research evidence; building, identifying or testing ways to facilitate the production of new research evidence that responds to decision makers’ needs; and testing whether and under what conditions using research evidence improves decision making and youth outcomes. The foundation invites studies from a range of disciplines, fields and methods and encourages investigations into various youth serving systems, including justice, housing, child welfare, mental health and education.

■ Eligibility: Applicants must have tax-exempt 501(c) (3) status as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Applications from underrepresented organizations, including historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, tribal colleges and universities, Alaska Native-Serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, are encouraged.

■ Funding: The foundation will award major research grants of between $100,000 and $1 million over two to four years (including up to 15% indirect costs) and officers’ research grants of between $25,000 and $50,000 over one to two years (including up to 15% indirect costs).

■ Deadline: Jan. 12, 2022 3 p.m. ET

■ Contact: Email: info@wtgrantfdn.org Website: http://wtgrantfoundation.org/grants/ research-grants-improving-use-research-evidence

Dr. Seuss Foundation, Literacy Projects

The Dr. Seuss Foundation aims to create a world in which people, animals and the environment are valued and thriving. To help that vision become a reality, the foundation will support projects to improve literacy and learning, which are essential to the arts and humanities, health and well-being, animal welfare and the environment. Letters of Intent may be submitted starting January 1 and are due February 1, 2022. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by March 15, 2022.

■ Eligibility: Applicants must be a tax-exempt charitable organization in good standing, as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. While applicants need not be headquartered in California, the foundation focuses its support on projects in the state.

■ Funding: At least $10,000 per award

■ Deadline: Letters of Intent due Feb. 1, 2022, full application (by invitation) due March 15, 2022.

■ Contact: Through foundation website at https:// drseussfoundation.org/contact/

■ Website: https://drseussfoundation.org/grantprocess/

Scholars Awards

The Helping Project, Black American Engineering Scholarship

The Helping Project Corp. is dedicated to creating diversity in the field of engineering and further dismantling institutional racism toward Black Americans in STEM careers. Presently, only 7% of STEM programs are comprised of Black Americans and a mere 9% of engineering degrees are awarded to Black Americans. The need to create more opportunities and level the playing field is not only evident — it is absolutely critical, especially when diverse teams are 21% more likely to outperform competitors and 33% more likely to create industry-leading profitability. This scholarship aims to provide a pathway to achievement for Black Americans pursuing careers in civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering. Selected candidates receive substantial assistance that is designed to close the financial gap left after the Pell Grant is used for tuition, as well as participating in a mentorship program designed to support their future professional success.

■ Eligibility: Applicants must be a Black American incoming college freshman/current high school senior or a student transferring from a two-year program into a four-year program. Applicants must be eligible for Federal Pell Grant funding and able to show proven financial need. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident in good academic standing who is enrolling in an accredited, not-for profit four-year institution. Applicants must also be pursuing a degree in civil, electrical, mechanical or chemical engineering, including any subfield of those disciplines. Recipients may re-apply for up to four years for a complete Bachelor’s degree.

■ Funding: Up to $10,000 per school year is awarded to recipients to be used for tuition, books, fees and/or room and board. Award amounts are based on length of stay, plus travel and research costs.

■ Deadline: Jan. 31, 2022

■ Contact: Email: info@thehelpingproject.org Website: https://thehelpingproject.org/scholarship/

CLOC, Scholarship Program

The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium is inviting applications for its annual scholarship program. Students who are enrolled in a graduate degree program such as a J.D. or MBA and who have a business/metrics-driven focus as it relates to the practice of law or have demonstrated an interest in legal operations are encouraged to apply. Recipients are selected based on scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership abilities, academic and personal goals and an essay summarizing educational goals and future career plans. CLOC awards up to 10 scholarships per calendar year. In addition to scholarship funding, awardees will be paired with a CLOC legal operations professional leader close to their current school for career guidance, networking and mentorship.

■ Eligibility: Applicants must be current students in the same applying academic calendar year. ■ Funding: All scholarship winners will receive an academic award of $6,000 and a one-year paid membership to CLOC.

■ Deadline: Jan. 31, 2022

■ Contact: Email: scholarship@cloc.org Website: https://cloc.org/cloc-scholarship-program