Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his August 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 under-funded 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 that 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.”

The Grants Action News bulletin is updated at the beginning of each month with newly-available grants and information on how to apply. Continuing his monthly updates, Palmesano will be providing regular updates on his Assembly website at: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Philip-A-Palmesano, as well as posts to his Facebook page – just like “Assemblyman Phil Palmesano” to stay up-to-date on new grant information.

The bulletin can be accessed here:

http://nyassembly.gov/gan/20160801/index.pdf

State Grants

NYS Department of Transportation

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is accepting applications for funding under the new BRIDGE NY program. Up to $200 million in enhanced assistance for local governments is being made available to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts statewide. The BRIDGE NY program supports projects that address poor structural conditions; mitigate weight restrictions or long detours; facilitate economic development; or increase competitiveness and/or reduce the risk of flooding. Awards will be made through a competitive process and will support all phases of project development including design, right-of-way and construction. Evaluations will be based on the resiliency of the structure, the current bridge and culvert structural conditions, and the significance and importance of the bridge based on traffic volumes, detour considerations, the number and types of businesses served; and the overall impact on commerce.

• Eligibility: This funding opportunity is available to all municipalities authorized to receive and administer state and federal transportation funding.
• Funding: Up to $5 million is available per project, $200 million in total.
• Deadline: September 9, 2016
• Contact: NYS Department of Transportation Phone: (518) 402-8177, Email: BridgeNY@dot.ny.gov, Website: www.dot.ny.gov/BRIDGENY

Federal Grants

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking applications for its Advancing Patient Safety Implementation Through Safe Medication Use Research Program. The program will consider proposals which focus on investigative research that examines the effective implementation of processes, policies and behaviors that support safe use of medication. This research will help HHS develop comprehensive plans to reduce adverse drug events by focusing on areas such as communication improvement, effective use of health information technology, medication management approaches, and more.

• Eligibility: Public or private nonprofit institutions, local or state governments, federal agencies or tribal governments are eligible to apply.
• Funding: The program will award up to $500,000 per year or $1.5 million total for the total project period.
• Deadline: September 25, 2016
• Contact: Deborah Perfetto Phone: (301) 427-1295, Email: Deborah.Perfetto@AHRQ.hhs.gov, Website: www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-14-002.html

National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities, in partnership with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is seeking applications for its Humanities Open Book Program. This program is designed to make outstanding out-of-print humanities books available to a wide audience, utilizing low-cost ‘e-book’ technology that will allow teachers, students, scholars and the general public to access books that have been out of print. The program is seeking proposals from academic presses, scholarly societies, museums and other institutions that publish public books in the humanities to participate in the program.

• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, state or local government agencies and Indian tribal governments are eligible to apply.
• Funding: Awards range from $50,000 to $100,000.
• Deadline: September 13, 2016
• Contact: NEH Office of Digital Humanities Email: odh@neh.gov, Website: www.neh.gov/grants/odh/humanities-open-book-program

Private Grants

The Glaucoma Foundation

The Glaucoma Foundation is seeking applications for its Grant Research Program. The program is aimed at improving the lives of glaucoma patients through novel innovations and scientific advancements. The organization’s current focus is on exfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma.

• Eligibility: Applicants must have a full-time faculty position at an institution of higher education.
• Funding: $40,000 is available, with a possible $50,000 for a renewal grant for continued research.
• Deadline: September 1, 2016
• Contact: Andrea Steele Phone: (212) 651-2509, Email: asteele@glaucomafoundation.org, Website: www.glaucomafoundation.org/Grant_Application.htm

Cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Cure SMA is seeking applicants for its research grants. SMA is a disease that robs people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat or breathe, and is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. Cure SMA supports novel research that will enhance understanding of SMA pathology at the molecular, cellular and biomechanical levels. Additionally, the organization is seeking to ensure the development of new drugs and clinical trials as well as new therapeutic strategies for SMA.

• Eligibility: Research scientists at universities, research hospitals and research centers are eligible to apply.
• Funding: $75,000 per year over two years will be awarded, $150,000 total.
• Deadline: September 2, 2016
• Contact: Jill Jarecki Phone: (800) 886.1762 Email: Jill@curesma.org, Website: www.curesma.org/research/for-researchers/funding-opportunities/basic-researchfunding-opportunities/

American Psychological Foundation

The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is seeking applications for the David H. and Beverly A. Barlow grant program. For over 60 years, APF has provided financial support for innovative research, scholarships and projects for students and early career psychologists, working to make a difference in people’s lives. The David H. and Beverly A. Barlow Grant is aimed at providing funding and innovative clinical research into anxiety and anxiety-related disorders in order to further understanding and improve treatments. APF encourages graduate students and other researchers studying anxiety and mental health to apply for the grant to support research.

• Eligibility: Applicants must be a graduate student or early career researcher and be affiliated with a nonprofit charitable, educational or scientific institution.
• Funding: One grant of $9,000 is available.
• Deadline: September 15, 2016
• Contact: Erin Carney Phone: (202) 336-5984, Email: ecarney@apa.org, Website: www.apa.org/apf/funding/barlow.aspx

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training classes:

Introduction to Finding Grants:

Classroom: September 28

In this newly-revised class, attendees will learn what funders want in nonprofits seeking grants and how to find potential funders.

Introduction to Proposal Writing:

Classroom: September 20

This newly-revised class will provide attendees with an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation.

Introduction to Project Budgets (Proposal Budgeting Basics):

Classroom: September 20 Webinar: September 7

This class will provide attendees with step-by-step instructions on how to generate a standard project budget for a foundation proposal. Prior attendance at Introduction to Proposal Writing is strongly recommended.