Finding Federal Funds For Local Governments

With funding diminishing from the State of Michigan for local governments, including school districts, municipalities, townships, school districts and other authorities should focus their attention in securing federal funds for their programs, projects and services, instead of wasting their time in Lansing. For example, federal funds are available for local governments for a variety of programs ranging from new buildings to communications equipment for first responders. In FY 2009, the following communities received federal funding: Negaunee, MI for the Croix Street Reconstruction and completion of Phase I. Park City, UT for a Feasibility Study that would bring water from Reclamation facilities. Boise, ID, for design and construction of Boise's geothermal system expansion. Jackson, MS for a Transitional Job Project for job training and employment programs for the Homeless. Oakland, CA for a Green Jobs Initiative. Baltimore, MD, for construction for Healthcare for the Homeless center. Miami, FL for the Miami Green Initiative, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption in the city. Milwaukee, WI to improve access to and utilization of primary and preventive health care among low-income residents. The City of Beech Grove, IN, to enhance public safety with in-car cameras and at hot spots in the City to provide real-time feeds to the police command center. Holyoke, MA, to develop a full-service community school pilot project. The City of Shelbyville, IN, to complete the interoperable wireless public safety communications system for first responders. Medford, OR, to provide for the merging of two existing 9-1-1 dispatch centers for police officers. City of Sioux City, Sioux City, IA for meth related training. Moultrie, GA, for technology upgrades, including purchase of equipment and professional development City of Haverhill, MA for various Downtown Streetscape Improvements. Stamford, CT, Waste-to-Energy Project, to convert dried sludge into clean, renewable energy. City of Yonkers, NY Police Department, to reduce non-emergency 9-1-1 calls through the creation of a new public hotline. Albuquerque, NM for their Transit Facility Rehabilitation. City of Ashland, MO Main Street Redevelopment Project. Crystal City, VA Bus Rapid Transit. City of Tuscaloosa, AL Downtown Revitalization Project University Blvd. and Greensboro Avenue. Trenton, NJ for a Renewable Energy Feasibility Study, to examine possible renewable energy sources. Quincy, IL for Hydroelectric Power Generation, and their city's efforts to install hydroelectric plants at locks and dams. Oklahoma City, OK, to continue replacement of Oklahoma's aging communication system. Cincinnati, OH for the complete property acquisition, demolition, and remediation to create an urban industrial park. Craig, AK for the redevelopment of the abandoned cannery property. Milwaukee, WI for the development of supportive housing units for homeless.

In addition, the following school districts will receive federal funding through appropriations: The School District of Lancaster (PA) and Philadelphia School District each received $100,000 Project IMPACT, for abstinence education and related services. Troy High School (PA) received $247,000 for removal and/or replacement of non historic windows, infill, louvers, windows, and fan lights. The Logan Elm School District will receive $48,000 for water infrastructure improvements in Circleville, Ohio. The Hesperia Unified School District, Hesperia, CA, received $98,000 for an after school program for middle school students. The Independence School District, Independence, MO, received $347,000 for before- and after-school programs. The Washoe County School District, NV, received $248,000 for an online assessment and accountability instructional programs and an additional $248,000 for an English Instructional program. The Springfield School District, Springfield, IL, received $94,000 for a middle school history experience. And the City School District of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, received $422,000 for after school and summer school programs, faculty professional development, and parent education workshops. These are just some examples of how local governments and local schools benefited from Congressional appropriations and governmental advocacy in securing additional funds for their community. With limited funding from the state and a declining tax base, the federal government has funding available. It just needs to be identified and advocated for. In fact, cities throughout the country have been receiving federal funds, through grants and earmarks, to help offset the lack of funding from their state. While a number of communities here in Michigan have retained lobbyists to fight for a limited amount of money from the state government, only a few have recognized that more money exists from Washington. To help off set costs associated with retaining a lobbyist, communities can pool their resources, work through their chambers or local economic development organizations and find other creative ways to secure the funding they are no longer receiving from Lansing.

While we sit here in Michigan, trying to convince legislators that one program is more worthy of funding at the sacrifice of another, local government leaders should retain a lobbyist to secure federal funding from Congress. Now is the time to start planning for the next fiscal year and secure the funding necessary to govern. If we do shift our focus to Washington, other communities in other states will.

FEDERAL FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT FIRST YOU NEED TO ASK!

Last year the President said to the nation’s mayors at their annual conference, "we need to promote strong cities as the backbone of regional growth….we also need to stop seeing our cities as the problem and start seeing them as the solution…strong cities are the building blocks of strong regions, and strong regions are essential for a strong America…" And earlier today in a speech in Indiana the President said, "The battle for America's future will be fought and won in places like Elkhart and Detroit, Goshen and Pittsburgh, South Bend, Youngstown –- in cities and towns across Indiana and across the Midwest and across the country that have been the backbone of America. It will be won by making places like Elkhart what they once were and can be again –- and that's centers of innovation and entrepreneurship and ingenuity and opportunity; the bustling, whirring, humming engines of American prosperity." In fact, President Obama, commonly referred to the Nation's first Mayor President (because he hails from Chicago) created the Office of Urban Affairs and this week, began a national conversation to engage cities and metropolitan areas with an eye towards what works, and a call for an interagency review of how federal policies are impacting local communities. The President has said, "Our job is to advance a new federal vision that recognizes cities and metropolitan areas as dynamic engines for our economy, and develop federal policy built on these strengths."

Yet, municipalities throughout the country have been plagued by cuts in revenue sharing, triggering layoffs, unfunded programs and projects, uncut parks, and reduced or eliminated services. Revenue sharing pays for police officers, fire fighters, road maintenance, water systems, parks and other essential local services. In the past eight years, the State of Michigan has reduced revenue sharing by $3 billion, causing the layoffs of thousands of police officers and fire fighters and cuts to other critical services. Last month, President Obama announced the next phase in developing a new urban agenda including a national conversation to engage cities and metropolitan areas with an eye towards what works, and a call for an interagency review of how federal policies are impacting local communities. Cities throughout the country have been receiving federal funds, through grants and earmarks, to help offset the lack of funding from their state. While a number of communities here in Michigan have retained lobbyists to fight for a limited amount of money from the state government, only a few have recognized that more money exists from Washington. For communities such as Charlevoix, Negaunee, Birmingham, Battle Creek, Detroit, Oakland County and Wayne County have each retained a lobbyist to help them secure funding in Washington. A number of chambers, including the Detroit Regional Chamber, Kalamazoo Chamber, Battle Creek Chamber and Ludington Chamber, have also retained federal lobbyists, as well as a number of DDAs and economic development agencies throughout the country.

While I realize that a majority of local governments do not have the resources to retain a lobbyist, nor is it the most politically correct thing to do, there are still creative ways to secure federal funding for local communities through partnerships with other organizations in the region.

For example, in FY 2009, the following communities will receive federal funding (as an example):

Negaunee, MI for the Croix Street Reconstruction and completion of Phase I. Park City, UT for a Feasibility Study that would bring water from Reclamation facilities to the Park City, Utah area -- Funding would provide additional non-construction support. Boise, ID, for design and construction of Boise's geothermal system expansion. Jackson, MS for a Transitional Job Project for job training and employment programs for the Homeless. Oakland, CA for a Green Jobs Initiative. Baltimore, MD, for construction for Healthcare for the Homeless center. Miami, FL for the Miami Green Initiative, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption in the city. Milwaukee, WI to improve access to and utilization of primary and preventive health care among low-income residents. The City of Beech Grove, IN, to enhance public safety with in-car cameras and at hot spots in the City to provide real-time feeds to the police command center. Holyoke, MA, to develop a full-service community school pilot project. The City of Shelbyville, IN, to complete the interoperable wireless public safety communications system for first responders. Medford, OR, to provide for the merging of two existing 9-1-1 dispatch centers for police officers. City of Sioux City, Sioux City, IA for meth related training. Moultrie, GA, for technology upgrades, including purchase of equipment and professional development 100k City of Haverhill, MA for various Downtown Streetscape Improvements. Stamford, CT, Waste-to-Energy Project, to convert dried sludge into clean, renewable energy. City of Yonkers, NY Police Department, to reduce non-emergency 9-1-1 calls through the creation of a new public hotline. Albuquerque, NM for their Transit Facility Rehabilitation. City of Ashland, MO Main Street Redevelopment Project. Crystal City, VA Bus Rapid Transit. City of Tuscaloosa, AL Downtown Revitalization Project University Blvd. and Greensboro Avenue. Trenton, NJ for a Renewable Energy Feasibility Study, to examine possible renewable energy sources. Quincy, IL for Hydroelectric Power Generation, and their city's efforts to install hydroelectric plants at locks and dams. Oklahoma City, OK, to continue replacement of Oklahoma's aging communication system. Cincinnati, OH for the complete property acquisition, demolition, and remediation of the Queen City Barrel area to create an urban industrial park. Craig, AK for the redevelopment of the abandoned cannery property. Milwaukee, WI for the development of supportive housing units for homeless. (Source Office of Management and Budget)

Federal funding is available for a wide-variety of projects, from putting more police officers on the street, fighting gang violence, reducing drug use, updating aging 911 systems, building intermodal facilities, rehabilitating properties or after school programs, the federal government has resources through grants and earmarks available for cities such as yours. As one Congressman once said, "I do not know why various organizations do not ask Congress for help and support of a number of programs." Where an entity has a program that meets a community need, the availability of federal funding is a strong possibility. But first you need to ask.

Michigan...It is time to seize the opportunity

Although it is officially summer, there is a big chill across Michigan. With the auto industry firmly in control by the federal government, Congress continues to focus on the economy, the environment and on everyone’s health. Just before the July 4th recess, the U.S. House of Representatives passed The American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act (HR 2454), a major piece of legislation affecting climate change, energy and the environment. While Detroit and the entire state of Michigan continue to struggle, we must find opportunity amidst crisis and take advantage of every and any opportunity to restore stability to Michigan’s economy. There is no doubt that our struggling automakers and suppliers will receive additional help once ACES passes Congress. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) also will provide much needed assistance for Detroit and for Michigan.

Restoring stability and setting a path to economic diversity requires leadership to make a bad situation good. The climate change legislation contains a number of provisions that can bolster our state’s position, bring our auto industry into the next generation and help diversify our state’s economy so we are no longer a one-industry town. This includes:

Retooling existing and recently abandoned plants to meet new fuel and energy standards.

Retrofit plants to accommodate electronic vehicle production.

Securing funding for Detroit’s efforts to create light rail and mass transit in the region and become a model for other communities by adapting the latest and cleanest transportation technology.

Direct engineers leaving the auto industry to create new companies to support the development and commercialization of clean energy technology.

Lobby the federal government to have Detroit house one of eight regional Clean Energy Innovation Centers.

Celebrate our collaborative efforts to incubate new companies in partnership with our universities through the University Research Corridor and Next Energy and identify federal resources to expand Next Energy and Tech Town.

This bill also contains a number of provisions vital to the growth of green vehicles and a number of opportunities to keep the engineers, designers and line workers recently laid off, from the auto industry, employed in Michigan. By no means is this a perfect piece of legislation, and it does not necessarily favor Detroit over other regions. However, it is a blueprint by which Detroit and this state must change if we are to weather this storm and restore stability to our economy and to our people. We as a state must work together to leverage our assets and seize the opportunities provided to us in this legislation. By taking advantage of the tools given to us, we can take advantage of the incentives and financial opportunities to retool our economy and emerge much stronger than we have ever been.

Community Colleges Must Turn to Washington for Financial Aid

President Barack Obama is expected to announce today an initiative to invest $12 billion in community colleges nationwide over the next 10 years. According to today's Detroit News, Components of the initiative to be announced today will include $9 billion to fuel community college challenge grants, $2.5 billion for construction and renovation of buildings and $500 million for online curriculum development. The initiative will get under way within the first six months of 2010. However, the President has said, "Our community colleges can serve as 21st century job training centers, working with local businesses to help workers learn the skills they need to fill the jobs of the future. We can reallocate funding to help them modernize their facilities, increase the quality of online courses and ultimately meet the goal of graduating 5 million more Americans from community colleges by 2020." This is welcomed news as community colleges will rely less and less on the state to provide funding. In fact, more community colleges are finding more funding available at a federal level.

In May, the president outlined measures to make it easier for the unemployed to pursue a degree or training and get help paying for it. Through the White House Automotive Task Force, funding also is being made available to communities negatively affected by the auto industry.

According to the Detroit News, the Labor Department is providing job search services to approximately 15,000 auto workers affected by permanent plant closures through emergency grants. It also has boosted Small Business Administration loans to auto, boat and recreational vehicle dealers.

Today's announcement by the President provides great impetus for community colleges to aggressively seek federal funding for a variety of programs and projects that will help the President achieve his goals of increasing community college enrollment. For example, many community colleges throughout the country have received federal funds for nursing programs, workforce and job training related programs, homeland security and other opportunities.

In fact, here is just a sampling of federal funding individual community colleges will receive in FY 2010:

$200,000 to the Riverside Community College for construction of the School of Nursing in Riverside, California; $250,000 for Metropolitan Community College of Omaha, Nebraska, for construction of a Health Careers Center; $72,750 to the Southwest Tennessee Community College for expansion of a biotechnology building in Memphis, Tennessee; $97,000 to Hudson County Community College for construction of Union City Campus in Union City, New Jersey; $397,000 to Southeast Community College (Cumberland, KY) for facilities and equipment for an allied health training facility. (This is a continuation of the FY 2004 project that will be used to renovate 69,900 gross sq. ft. of an existing building to create the Southeast Education Alliance Center); $2,000,000 to Waubonsee Community College (Sugar Grove, IL) for science building at Waubonsee Community College in Illinois; $317,000 to Clatsop Community College, Astoria, OR, for equipment and technology for its Technology for Student Access Initiative; $250,000 to the Riverside Community College in Riverside, California for facilities construction and renovation improvements; $250,000 to the Montgomery County Community College for facilities construction of the Small Business Development & University Transfer Center in Pottstown, PA; $200,000 to Polk Community College, Lakeland, FL for a corporate college program; $99,000 to South Seattle Community College, WA for apprenticeship training programs; $199,000 to Central Maine Community College, for education programs, student recruitment and marketing activities; $50,000 to Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie, NY, for the upgrade of the college computer network; $317,000 to the Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, for it's Closing the Gap college preparation and retention initiative for minority students, including student scholarships; $96,000 to Washington State Community College in Marietta, Ohio for construction of a conference center; $248,000 to Western Nevada Community College to create an Occupational Therapy Assistant program; $496,000 to Iowa Lakes Community College to create a Wind Energy and Turbine Technology education program; $422,000 to Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH for equipment and programming for the Centers for Nursing and Health Careers; and, $397,000 to West Shore Community College (Scottsville, MI) for workforce investment and training for unemployed individuals'.

The President also has said that, "Without community colleges, millions of people would not be able to access the education and skills they need to further education or succeed in the workplace." And last month, Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff said, "What's been forgotten is how important our community college system is to the economy. As a competitive advantage for the United States, the community college system is essential, and the administration is intent on boosting funding for growth of the system.”

There are a number of community colleges throughout the country, including here in Michigan, that have recognized a renewed focus on community colleges by Congress and the President. In fact, a number of them have retained lobbyists to advocate on their behalf for individual earmarks and to help direct federal public policies that will affect their college, their research and the programs they provide the students and community. In Michigan, specifically, the following community colleges have retained outside lobbying counsel:

Schoolcraft College Kalamazoo Valley Community College Lansing Community College Mott Community College Oakland Community College Wayne County Community College

The following Michigan (public) universities and colleges have some sort of federal advocacy effort now under way and already retained an outside lobbying firm:

Eastern Michigan University Ferris State Grand Valley State Lake Superior State Michigan Technological University (uses in house counsel) Northern Michigan University Oakland University Central Michigan University

The University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University each have a Washington office and from time to time bring in outside legislative and regulatory counsel, while Saginaw Valley State and Western Michigan University have not retained outside advocates. The following private universities have retained outside lobbying counsel:

University of Detroit Ave Marie Lawrence Tech Michigan Jewish Institute Northwood University Walsh College

In addition to federal funding which is available to community college, Congress is working on a number of other issues that will affect your work. For example, Congress is still debating the Higher Education Authorization Bill with important provisions that will help or hurt students in capturing financial aid. The Labor-HHS bill actually increases funding for the NIH and NSF.

With the state of Michigan scaling back their budget, particularly the funding for community colleges, it is important that community colleges turn to the federal government for financial support, particularly at such a crucial time in Michigan's history. Our community colleges can provide Michigan with the economic lifeline for retraining and retooling an aging workforce and help us move forward into the next economy.

Funding for Community Development Corporations Exists, Even In Today's Economy

In this week's Crain's Detroit Business, reporter Nancy Kaffer writes about Detroit-based community development corporations rethinking their business model as funding becomes scarce to support their programs. (See Credit crunch forces CDCs to scale back, rethink). While it is true, in today’s economy, it is becoming more-and-more competitive to raise money. However, funding is available through various programs such as: Acquisition of real property; relocation and demolition; construction of public facilities and improvements (such as water and sewer facilities, streets, school conversions); business assistance; energy conservation and renewable energy projects; structural rehabilitation's; planning; transit oriented developments; homeless assistance grants; housing counseling; tenant based rental assistance; Self Help Home ownership Opportunity; Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities Program; Neighborhood Reinvestment programs; Mortgage Foreclosure Mitigation Assistance; and, others through the Departments of: Commerce; Education; HUD; the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; Community Development Block Grants; The University Community Fund; Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives; Sustainable Communities Initiatives; Section 108 Loan Programs; Economic Development Initiative Grants; Compassion Capital Fund Grants; Office of Community Services funds; Energy; Labor; Health & Human Services; National Endowment for the Arts; and, other agencies and departments, depending on what you want funded.

In fact, the following community development organizations have turned to Washington to seek federal funds and have retained a lobbyist in Washington:

Reid Community Development Corporation Calhoun County Community Development (Michigan) Southside Community Development South Carolina Association of Community Development Jefferson Square Community Development Norwich Community Development New Man Community Development (Maryland) Paramount Community Development Town of Riverhead Community Development

HUD also is refocused on rebuilding and reinvesting in urban communities. President Obama has also made urban investment a priority, even creating an office in The White House, to focus on helping urban communities. Funding and support may also be available through The White House Auto Taskforce on Distressed Communities.

I cannot think of a better city than Detroit and its surrounding communities, for The White House and Congress to focus on. Detroit has been one of the hardest hit cities by the economic tsunami that rocked our world. And Detroit CDCs are the perfect organization, with an established track record of success and a dedicated group of leaders to help direct money towards the city of Detroit.

Detroit is a city of limited resources. The City government itself is focused on a number of priorities that may not necessarily be "neighborhood" priorities. Therefore, it is important that Detroit-area CDC's work collaboratively to secure additional funds for Detroit neighborhoods. Not necessarily working against the city for federal funding, but working alongside the city to secure funds it would normally not secure. CDCs can work alone in trying to work with Michigan's Congressional Delegation to secure funding or they can retain a lobbyist or advocate familiar with the process and personalities to identify the funding, apply for any necessary grants and work the requests through the legislative process.

Funding is available at a federal level. The CDCs need to identify the projects that need to be funded and then ask for Congressional support.