Rural Economic Recovery Initiative
Helping New Mexico’s Rural Communities Take Advantage of the Federal Recovery Act.
Lt. Governor Diane Denish in partnership with the New Mexico Community Foundation
On February 19, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This historic legislation provides $787 billion to assist individuals, small businesses and communities impacted by the downturn in the economy. We are making information about these benefits and grants available and hoping that New Mexico organizations will apply for these monies and put these federal resources to work in New Mexico communities.
LATEST GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Education – Teacher Improvement Grants
Teacher Quality Partnership Grants – $100 million to consortia of colleges, high need school districts and states to improve the quality of the teaching workforce. Thirty-five awards to be made nationwide. Deadline to apply July 23, 2009. For more information go to www.grants.gov.
Workforce Training – Green Jobs Grants
The U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting applications for programs which prepare individuals for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The following grants are open for nonprofit entities and local entities to apply.
Energy Training Partnerships. Grants are intended to provide training and placement services for workers that prepare them to enter the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, as well as green occupations within other industries. National nonprofit labor organizations, statewide and nonprofit enitites are eligible to apply. Applications are due September 4, 2009.
Pathways Out of Poverty. Grants are intended to integrate training and supportive services into cohesive programs that will help target populations find pathways out of poverty and into economic self sufficiency through employment in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Local entities are eligible applicants. Deadline for applications is September 29, 2009.
The federal register notice containing green jobs training grant details may be found at: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/findgrants.cfm
Energy
Energy Efficient Information and Communication Grants – The US Department of Energy will award $50 million to develop new technologies to address the challenge of controlling the power usage of microprocessors or servers and supporting power and cooling systems. Open to all applicants including for profit entities. Deadline to apply is July 21, 2009. More information at www.grants.gov under recovery opportunties.
Geothermal Technologies Grants – The US Department of Energy will award$170 million to demonstrate new exploration technologies, evaluate production from oil and gas wells and collect and develop data. Open to all entities. Estimated 60 awards nationwide. Deadline to apply is July 22, 2009. More information at www.grants.gov.
Wind Consortia- The US Department of Energy will award $24 million to Universities partnering with wind energy industry to advance research in materials design, performance measures, analytical models, repair operations, or component manufacturing. 2 grants will be awarded nationwide. Deadline to apply is July 29, 2009. More information at www.grants.gov.
High Penetration Solar Deployment- The US Department of Energy will award grants to 1) develop modeling tools with high penetration scenarios of PV on a distribution system, 2) develop monitoring, control and integration systems to enable cost-effective widespread deployment of small modular PV systems and 3) demonstrate the integration of PV and energy storage into Smart Grid applications. Open to anyone. Deadline to apply is July 30, 2009. More information at www.grants.gov.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles – The U.S. Department of Energy is accepting grant applications for projects that expand the use of alternative fueled vehicles and advanced technology vehicles. The installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support an alternative fueled vehicle or advanced technology vehicle is also eligible. States, local governments, metropolitan transportation authority, or combinations of these, along with a designated Clean Cities Coalition may apply for program funding. Second round applicaiton deadline is September 30, 2009. The full grant announcement and application may be found at http://www.grants.gov under recovery grant opportunities.
Rural Broadband
Broadband Initiatives Program
(Administered by the Rural Utilities Service, USDA)
This program will extend loan, grants and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband infrastructure in rural areas. The percentage of grant verses loan funding will be determined by percentage of remote, underserved rural areas covered by the application.
Broadband Technology Opportunties Program
(Administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, US Dept of Commerce)
Three catagories of grant applications will be accepted:
Broadband Infrastructure. Funds will be awarded for Last Mile and Middle Mile projects. Last Mile projects will include infrastructure which provides service directly to a premise or to end users. Middle Mile projects must connect 2 points without predominately providing broadband service to an end user and must be capable of bringing broadband service to rural communities with 75 percent or more unserved or underserved areas.
Public Computer Centers. Grants for projects which expand public access to broadband service and enhance broadband capacity at entities such as community colleges and public libraries.
Sustainable Broadband Adoption. Grants for innovative projects that promote broadband demand, including projects focused on providing broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment or support particularly among vulnerable population groups where broadband technology has traditionaly been underutlilized.
Local governments, tribes, nonprofit and for profit companies are eligible to apply. Applications for all programs will be accepted through August 14, 2009. More detailed information about grant requirements, as well as grant applications can be found at www.broadbandusa.gov.