Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his “October 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 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 update can be accessed here: http://nyassembly.gov/gan/pdfs/201710.pdf

State Grants

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.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The 2017 Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Program is available to municipalities for the purchase or leasing of clean vehicles for municipal fleets or for the installation of infrastructure which supports public use of clean vehicles. There are two separate applications for the municipal purchase and lease of clean vehicles and for the installation of infrastructure projects which can include electric vehicle supply equipment and hydrogen refueling stations. Funding is provided through rebates to municipalities.

• Eligibility: Eligible applicants are counties and NYC boroughs, cities, towns and villages in the state of New York.
• Funding: $2 million is available for rebates on the purchase/lease of ZEV and for eligible infrastructure projects for public charging and/or fueling of vehicles. Infrastructure projects must pass a series of eligibility criteria.
• Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the funding is depleted or May 31, 2018.
• Contact: Nancy Welsh Phone: 518-402-8448 Email: ZEVrebate@dec.ny.gov Website: www.dec.ny.gov/energy/109181.html

Federal Grants

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Jobs Plus Initiative

The Jobs Plus program develops locally based, job-driven approaches through public housing authorities (PHA) that increase earnings and advance employment outcomes through work readiness, employer linkages, job placement, educational advancement, technology skills and financial literacy for residents of public housing. All applicants must include employment-related services, financial incentives (removing disincentives to employment) and community supports for work.

• Eligibility: Eligible applicants will be those PHAs that operate one or more public housing developments and which did not receive a Jobs Plus grant in 2014, 2015 or 2016. Federally designated tribes and tribally designated housing entities are not eligible under this award. Applicants must be able to implement the full 48-month term of the grant at the public housing site.
• Funding: $15 million is available through this Notice of Fund Availability to fund five awards.
• Deadline: November 17, 2017.
• Contact: Office of Strategic Planning and Management, Grants Management & Oversight Division Phone: 202-708-0667 Email: JobsPlus@hud.gov Website:

  https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/%20administration/grants/fundsavail/nofa16/jpi

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), HIVassociated neuropathic pain and opioid interaction

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to promote research investigating the underlying mechanisms by which opioids, including prescription drugs, exacerbate HIV-associated neuropathic pain for HIV-infected patients exposed to opioids.

• Eligibility: Eligible organizations include institutions of higher education, nonprofits, small businesses, for-profit organizations, state and local governments and others.
• Funding: An estimated four to five grant awards will be made corresponding to $3 million allocated for fiscal year 2018.
• Deadline: Applications will be accepted between November 18 and December 18, 2017.
• Contact: Grants.gov Customer Support Phone: 800-518-4726 Email: support@grants.gov Website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfafiles/RFA-DA-18-015.html

Private Grants

Bright Focus Foundation

The Bright Focus Foundation provides research funds for U.S. and international researchers pursuing high-risk studies that illuminate areas for which there currently is little understanding, hoping to bring to light crucial knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Their mission is to save mind and sight by funding innovative research. They are currently accepting applications for the National Glaucoma Program for two-year research studies on innovative investigator initiated, glaucoma-related programs. The program is designed to give scientists the opportunity to develop the preliminary data necessary to be considered competitive for larger government or corporate types of sponsorship.

• Eligibility: Typically these awards are made to junior investigators, or to more established investigators who are proposing particularly innovative research.
• Funding: The maximum award is $150,000 for a two-year duration.
• Deadline: November 7, 2017.
• Contact: Phone: 1-800-437-2423 Email: researchgrants@brightfocus.org Website: www.brightfocus.org

Women’s Studio Workshop

Art-in-Education Artist’s Books Grant This is an eight- to ten-week residency awarded to two emerging artists to create a new artist’s book and teach local grade school students. The resident usually dedicates her first month to producing a limited edition artist’s book, which is hand printed and bound in the studio. During the second half of the residency, the artist works with young people in WSW’s studios, teaching one to two days per week for three to four weeks, and visiting the students twice in school.

• Eligibility: Any artist who is woman identified, able to submit a writing sample and CD of up to 10 images of recent work and has teaching experience is qualified to apply for this award.
• Funding: The residency includes a stipend of $350 a week for up to 10 weeks, up to $750 for materials, up to $250 for travel within the U.S., free housing and 24/7 studio access during non-instructional sessions.
• Deadline: November 15, 2017.
• Contact: El Horsfall Phone: 845-658-9133 Email: info@wsworkshop.org Website: www.wsworkshop.org

Scholar Awards

Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Carter Manny Award

The Graham Foundation provides project-based grants to individuals and organizations, and produces public programs to foster the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture and society. The Carter Manny Award supports dissertation research and writing by promising scholars whose projects have architecture as their primary focus and the potential to shape architectural discourse.

• Eligibility: Ph.D. students who are presently candidates for a doctoral degree are eligible to apply. Students must be nominated by their department to apply, and the award is open to students enrolled in the schools in the U.S. and Canada, regardless of citizenship.
• Funding: The research award is acknowledged with up to $15,000 and the writing award is acknowledged with up to $20,000.
• Deadline: Applications are accepted from September 15 through November 15, 2017.
• Contact: James Pike Phone: 312-787-4071 Email: jpike@grahamfoundation.org Website: www.grahamfoundation.org

American Association of University Women (AAUW), American Fellowships Program

The annual program supports women who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions or preparing research for publication. Applications are currently being accepted for three awards: dissertation fellowships, postdoctoral research leave fellowships and short-term research publication grants.

• Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Dissertation fellowship applicants must have completed all coursework, passed all preliminary exams and received approval for their research proposal or plans by the preceding November to be eligible to apply. Postdoctoral research leave fellowships are designed to assist scholars in obtaining tenure and other promotions by enabling them to spend a year pursuing independent research, and they are not intended for tenured professors. Short-term research publication grants applicants must have eight consecutive weeks of final writing and editing in response to critical reviews. The grant is designed to assist candidates in obtaining tenure and other promotions.
• Funding: The dissertation fellowship award is for $20,000; the research leave fellowship award is for $30,000; and the short-term research award is for $6,000.
• Deadline: Applications are accepted from August 1 through November 15, 2017.
• Contact: Phone: 800-326-2289 or 202-785-7700 Email: aauw@applyists.com Website:

  http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/%20educational-funding-and-awards/%20american-fellowships/

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training classes:

Introduction to Proposal Writing: Classroom, November 2

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

Introduction to Finding Grants: Classroom, November 7

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

Introduction to Project Budgets (Proposal Budgeting Basics): Classroom, November 28

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.