Grant Programs forGrant Programs forRural AmericaRural America

Kent Brooks Kent Brooks Western Oklahoma State CollegeWestern Oklahoma State College

June 6, 2005June 6, 2005

Why are we Here? Why are we Here? (in 20 minutes or less)(in 20 minutes or less)

Because of the classroom needs we Because of the classroom needs we have in delivering the education have in delivering the education needed by the digital natives we now needed by the digital natives we now serve are differentserve are different

DisclaimerDisclaimer

This message is a natural handmade This message is a natural handmade product.  The slight variations in  product.  The slight variations in  spelling and grammar enhance its spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and  individual character and beauty and  in no way are to be considered flaws in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. or defects.

When I want When I want to learn to learn something something why do I go to why do I go to Google Google instead of instead of taking a class taking a class at the college?at the college?

When I want When I want to learn to learn something something why do I go to why do I go to Google Google instead of instead of taking a class taking a class at the college?at the college?

Grant 101 Grant 101 (in 20 minutes or less)(in 20 minutes or less)

The Grant Puzzle—Without all the pieces The Grant Puzzle—Without all the pieces all you have is a half finished picture with all you have is a half finished picture with holes in it.holes in it.• Research Research

problem—solution-funderproblem—solution-funder

• Plan and ManagePlan and Manage• PartnersPartners• How much will this costHow much will this cost• Communication Communication • WritingWriting

My Basic Rule of ThumbMy Basic Rule of Thumb

Don’t write it unless you want to do a Don’t write it unless you want to do a project anywayproject anyway• Does it match your organizational Does it match your organizational

missionmission• Does it match your organization’s Does it match your organization’s

capacitycapacity• Is it realisticIs it realistic

Grant BasicsGrant Basics

Idea must be credibleIdea must be credible Involve others and communicateInvolve others and communicate Use simple language Use simple language

• ((www.fightthebull.comwww.fightthebull.com))

Support what you say Support what you say • Brief citationsBrief citations

Be positiveBe positive Be specificBe specific

Grant Basics (cont.)Grant Basics (cont.)

Don’t be boringDon’t be boring• data,facts, human element data,facts, human element • words & graphswords & graphs

Answer the questionsAnswer the questions Have someone read your draftHave someone read your draft Always Ask Always Ask

• Who are you writing toWho are you writing to• What are you asking forWhat are you asking for

Grant SourcesGrant Sources

PublicPublic PrivatePrivateDetailed RFP’s*Detailed RFP’s* Few detailed RFP’sFew detailed RFP’s

Format is keyFormat is key General interest General interest areasareas

Scored by review Scored by review panelpanel

Letter of inquiry or Letter of inquiry or brief proposalbrief proposal

Orientation Orientation WorkshopsWorkshops

Relationships carry Relationships carry more weight than more weight than proposalsproposals

RFP’s Requests for ProposalsRFP’s Requests for Proposals

And Always RememberAnd Always Remember

Victory doesn’t always go to the Victory doesn’t always go to the strongest, swiftest or smarteststrongest, swiftest or smartest• Other organizations may have a Other organizations may have a

stronger relationship with a board stronger relationship with a board (private)(private)

• Geographic distribution, diversity of Geographic distribution, diversity of approaches or diversity of fundeesapproaches or diversity of fundees

• Politics do sometimes come into playPolitics do sometimes come into play

Web Sites for ResearchWeb Sites for ResearchPublicPublic PrivatePrivatewww.cfda.govwww.cfda.gov www.guidestar.orgwww.guidestar.org

www.grants.govwww.grants.gov www.grantsmart.orgwww.grantsmart.org

www.firstgov.govwww.firstgov.gov

www.usda.govwww.usda.govwww.fdncenter.orgwww.fdncenter.org

Web Sites for ResearchWeb Sites for ResearchData to support your assertions:Data to support your assertions:http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/federalfunds/federalfunds/

Distribution of Federal Funds to Distribution of Federal Funds to Rural AreasRural Areas

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/nofas/http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/nofas/index.htmlindex.html

Rural Development Funding Rural Development Funding NoticeNotice

http://www.kc.frb.org/RuralCenter/http://www.kc.frb.org/RuralCenter/RuralMain.htmRuralMain.htm

Center for the Study of Rural Center for the Study of Rural America: Federal Reserve Bank of America: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityKansas City

http://http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ruralres/funding.htmwww.nal.usda.gov/ric/ruralres/funding.htm

Most of the AboveMost of the Above

Bonus Section Bonus Section PTFP & USDAPTFP & USDA

Public Telecommunications Facilities Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP)Program (PTFP) –National –National Telecommunications and Information Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce - Focus = EquipmentCommerce - Focus = Equipment

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program (DLT)Grant Program (DLT) –Rural Utilities –Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Focus = Equipment- Focus = Equipment

Public Public Telecommunications Telecommunications Facilities Program Facilities Program

(PTFP)(PTFP) Distance Learning GrantsDistance Learning Grants

Distance Learning GrantsDistance Learning Grants

Activate Telecommunications FacilityActivate Telecommunications Facility Extend Telecommunications FacilityExtend Telecommunications Facility NOT “IMPROVE” (replace equipment)NOT “IMPROVE” (replace equipment) Must have television (video) componentMust have television (video) component Videoconferencing equipment Videoconferencing equipment

supportedsupported NOT JUST INTERNET TEXT-BASED NOT JUST INTERNET TEXT-BASED

LEARNINGLEARNING

Variety of TechnologiesVariety of Technologies

Satellite InterconnectionSatellite Interconnection ITFS; MicrowaveITFS; Microwave Fiber; DS3; Telephone LinesFiber; DS3; Telephone Lines Internet; ATM/SONETInternet; ATM/SONET Cable channelCable channel Portion of Digital Broadcast SignalPortion of Digital Broadcast Signal

Distance Learning & Distance Learning & TelemedicineTelemedicine

Grant and Loan ProgramsGrant and Loan Programs

Telecommunications ProgramTelecommunications ProgramRural Utilities ServiceRural Utilities Service

U. S. Department of AgricultureU. S. Department of Agriculture

Program PurposeProgram Purpose

The Distance Learning & Telemedicine The Distance Learning & Telemedicine

Program is designed to encourage and Program is designed to encourage and

improve distance learning and improve distance learning and

telemedicine services in rural areas telemedicine services in rural areas

through the use of telecommunications, through the use of telecommunications,

computer networks, and related advanced computer networks, and related advanced

technologies.technologies.

Applicant EligibilityApplicant Eligibility

Deliver or proposing to deliver Deliver or proposing to deliver distance learning or telemedicine distance learning or telemedicine servicesservices

Be an incorporated organization or Be an incorporated organization or partnership partnership

An Indian tribe or tribal organization;An Indian tribe or tribal organization; A state or local unit of government, a A state or local unit of government, a

consortium; orconsortium; or

Applicant EligibilityApplicant Eligibility Other legal entity such as a private Other legal entity such as a private

corporation either not-for-profit or corporation either not-for-profit or for profitfor profit

Be operating a rural community Be operating a rural community facilityfacility

Be delivering distance learning or Be delivering distance learning or telemedicine services to entities at telemedicine services to entities at rates that ensure that the economic rates that ensure that the economic value and benefits of the DLT grant value and benefits of the DLT grant are passed on to other entities or are passed on to other entities or to residents of rural areasto residents of rural areas

Applicant Eligibility (cont.)Applicant Eligibility (cont.)

NOTE:NOTE: RUS electric and RUS electric and telecommunications borrowers are telecommunications borrowers are eligible for loans onlyeligible for loans only

Rurality RequirementRurality Requirement

Rurality is significant in two Rurality is significant in two ways . . .ways . . .

1.1. For project eligibility to qualify For project eligibility to qualify for the DLT Programfor the DLT Program

2.2. As a scoring criterion to rank As a scoring criterion to rank eligible projects eligible projects

Rurality RequirementRurality Requirement

To Qualify for the DLT Program . . .To Qualify for the DLT Program . . .

A project must meet a minimum A project must meet a minimum

eligibility of 20 points based on a eligibility of 20 points based on a

rurality calculation that determines rurality calculation that determines

the extent to which a project serves the extent to which a project serves

rural areas.rural areas.

Rurality RequirementRurality Requirement

As a Scoring Criterion . . As a Scoring Criterion . . . .

Once it is determined that a project Once it is determined that a project

serves a rural area, the project may serves a rural area, the project may

be awarded points based on the be awarded points based on the

relative rurality of a project’s service relative rurality of a project’s service

area.area.

Rurality RequirementRurality Requirement Calculation & Considerations Calculation & Considerations

Each end-user site will receive points. Each end-user site will receive points. The final score is the average score for The final score is the average score for all end-user sites included in the all end-user sites included in the project. project.

If the hub is utilized as an end-user site If the hub is utilized as an end-user site & hub – the hub must be included as one & hub – the hub must be included as one of the end-user sites for the rurality of the end-user sites for the rurality calculationcalculation

A project’s rurality calculation must be A project’s rurality calculation must be based on the 2000 U.S. Census databased on the 2000 U.S. Census data

Rurality Calculation TableRurality Calculation Table Exceptionally Rural Exceptionally Rural 45 points45 points

(population 5,000 or less)(population 5,000 or less) Rural AreaRural Area 30 points30 points

(population: 5,001 - 10,000)(population: 5,001 - 10,000) Mid-Rural AreaMid-Rural Area 15 points15 points

(population: 10,001 - 20,000)(population: 10,001 - 20,000) Urban AreaUrban Area 0 points 0 points

DLT Grant ProgramDLT Grant Program

•Seven Scoring CriteriaSeven Scoring Criteria 4 Objective & 3 Subjective4 Objective & 3 Subjective

•Competitive process based Competitive process based on points scoredon points scored

•Total possible points - 225Total possible points - 225

Grant ProgramGrant Program Objective Scoring CriteriaObjective Scoring Criteria

• Comparative Rurality of the Project Service Comparative Rurality of the Project Service Area (Up to 45 Points)Area (Up to 45 Points)

• Ability to Leverage ResourcesAbility to Leverage Resources(15 % minimum match) (Up to 35 Points)(15 % minimum match) (Up to 35 Points)

NOTE: Although 15% makes you eligible it will NOTE: Although 15% makes you eligible it will take 50% to be competitivetake 50% to be competitive

• Economic Need of the Applicant’s Service Area Economic Need of the Applicant’s Service Area as estimated by the National School Lunch as estimated by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) (Up to 35 Points)Program (NSLP) (Up to 35 Points)

• Project Participation in Enterprise Project Participation in Enterprise Zone/Empowerment communities (EZ/ECs) and Zone/Empowerment communities (EZ/ECs) and Champion CommunitiesChampion Communities(Up to 15 Points).(Up to 15 Points).

Grant ProgramGrant Program

Subjective Scoring Criteria:Subjective Scoring Criteria:

• Innovativeness (Up to 15 Points)Innovativeness (Up to 15 Points)

• Cost Effectiveness of the SystemCost Effectiveness of the System(Up to 35 Points)(Up to 35 Points)

• Need for Services and Benefits Need for Services and Benefits Derived from Services (Up to 55 Derived from Services (Up to 55 Points)Points)

Grant Eligible PurposesGrant Eligible Purposes

- Acquiring (lease or purchase) Acquiring (lease or purchase) eligible equipment. Eligible eligible equipment. Eligible equipment means:equipment means:

• computer hardware and softwarecomputer hardware and software• audio or video equipmentaudio or video equipment• computer network componentscomputer network components• telecommunications terminal equipmenttelecommunications terminal equipment• data terminal equipmentdata terminal equipment• inside wiringinside wiring• interactive video equipmentinteractive video equipment

Grant Eligible PurposesGrant Eligible Purposes

- Acquiring instructional Acquiring instructional programming.programming.

• Educational material, including computer Educational material, including computer software, which would be used for software, which would be used for educational purposes in connection with educational purposes in connection with eligible equipment but eligible equipment but does not includedoes not include salaries, benefits, and overhead of salaries, benefits, and overhead of medical or educational personnel.medical or educational personnel.

Grant Eligible PurposesGrant Eligible Purposes Limited to 10% of the GrantLimited to 10% of the Grant

− Technical Assistance Technical Assistance • Assistance in learning to manage, Assistance in learning to manage,

operate, or use equipment or systemsoperate, or use equipment or systems

• Studies, analyses, designs, reports, Studies, analyses, designs, reports, manuals, guides, literature, or other manuals, guides, literature, or other forms of creating, acquiring, or forms of creating, acquiring, or disseminating information.disseminating information.

• Instruction for using eligible Instruction for using eligible equipment, including any related equipment, including any related softwaresoftware

Grant Eligible PurposesGrant Eligible Purposes Limited to 10% of the GrantLimited to 10% of the Grant

- DevelopingDeveloping instructional instructional programmingprogramming

- Providing engineering or Providing engineering or environmental studies relating environmental studies relating to the establishment or to the establishment or expansion of the phase of the expansion of the phase of the project being financed with the project being financed with the grant.grant.

Ineligible Grant Purposes IncludeIneligible Grant Purposes Include Salaries, wages, or employee benefits to Salaries, wages, or employee benefits to

medical or educational personnelmedical or educational personnel Salaries or administrative expenses of Salaries or administrative expenses of

the applicant or the projectthe applicant or the project Acquisition, installation, or construction Acquisition, installation, or construction

of telecommunications transmission of telecommunications transmission facilitiesfacilities

Site development and the destruction or Site development and the destruction or alteration of buildingsalteration of buildings

The purchase land or buildings or for The purchase land or buildings or for building constructionbuilding construction

DLT Grant ProgramDLT Grant ProgramFY 2005FY 2005

Application WindowApplication Window Not open yet – I think it will be early Not open yet – I think it will be early

this yearthis year

Competitive Application ProcessCompetitive Application Process

15% Required Matching 15% Required Matching Contribution 50% needed to be Contribution 50% needed to be competitivecompetitive

$50,000 Minimum/$500,000 $50,000 Minimum/$500,000 MaximumMaximum

Grant ProgramGrant ProgramFY 2003FY 2003

266 Applications received 266 Applications received

234 Eligible for review234 Eligible for review

84 Grant Recipients - $32.5 million84 Grant Recipients - $32.5 million

57 Educational & 27 Medical Projects57 Educational & 27 Medical Projects

42 States Benefit42 States Benefit

Grant ProgramGrant ProgramFY 2004FY 2004

329 Applications received 329 Applications received

274 Eligible for review274 Eligible for review

66 Awards $24 million66 Awards $24 million

Where From Here?

• What is your vision• Survey info• Commitment and Support Letters• Equipment Specs and pricing• Budget• Government Obligation Documents• USDA = paper application • Commerce = paper + electronic