Need to fund a program or project?
About $400 billion in annual awards is available from more than a thousand federal grant programs, and it’s all organized’or on the way to becoming organized’in one place: Grants.gov.
Invited by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, The Clarkston News and its sister publication The Citizen, police, government officials, and others heard about the website, many for the first time, when they arrived at Clarkston Junior High School last week, hoping to learn new ways to stay afloat in Michigan’s weak economy.
‘A lot of people are struggling,? said Pat Fitchena, Oxford Township trustee and North Oakland Transportation Authority director. ‘Some of this money could help expand our program.?
Fitchena said the organization has seen a surge in the need for transportation recently, some times up to a dozen new requests per week.
And often, she said, the requests are coming from educated, white-collar individuals.
‘People bought expensive homes,? she said. ‘But now the jobs are gone, their homes are in foreclosure, what do they do??
It was just such questions that prompted Rogers to bring information about Grants.gov, along with several experts, to Clarkston Nov. 20.
The event attracted people from Brighton, Madison Heights, Wixom, Holly and many other surrounding communities.
Merrie Carlock, park planner and landscape architect for the City of Southfield, arrived with coworkers, saying she’s constantly on the lookout for funds to support parks and environmental projects such as storm water mitigation,
‘Every little bit helps,? she said, noting a centrally organized source for grants seemed like a good idea, as fund-seeking adds a great deal of time to the workday. ‘You could work full time just looking for grants. No one has the time for that.?
By registering once on this site, an organization can apply for grants from 26 federal grant-making agencies such as U.S. Department of Education, the Small Business Administration, National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and many others.
Through the website, state, local, and tribal governments, colleges and universities, not-for-profits, research institutions, and other organizations can access, find, and apply for
Federal grants.
But, some warned, no organization should rely on federal funds alone.
‘Federal grant dollars are great, apply for them,? said US Department of Labor representative Marium Baker, who was available to answer questions at the forum. ‘But it’s critical to have a fiscally sustainable plan. Just banking on federal dollars, with the way things are right now, can be risky. Sometimes the funds are available, sometimes they’re not. But there’s a lot of money available through foundations and private organizations. I strongly encourage people to diversify their grant portfolios.?
The site was implemented to improve effectiveness and performance of federal financial assistance programs, simplify the application and reporting requirements and improve delivery of services to the public.