PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS -- PLANNING GRANTS

In 2012, 242 applications were submitted to the Promise Neighborhood program (a slight increase from previous years); 182 of which were submitted for planning grants. A total of 17 grants were made this round; seven implementation grants, and 10 planning grants. No new competition is expected in FY 2013. Be sure to check back to the Grant Center for updated program information in 2014.

Grant: Promise Neighborhoods – Planning Grants
Agency: U.S. Department of Education
Division: Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII)
Deadline: This competition is closed. The deadline was July 27, 2012.

Description: The purpose of the Promise Neighborhoods program is to significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in the most distressed communities and to transform those communities.

There are two types of Promise Neighborhoods grants: Planning Grants and Implementation Grants. For more information about Implementation Grants, read the profile.

Planning grants will support eligible organizations that need to develop plans to create a continuum of solutions with the potential to significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in a neighborhood.

For this competition, there are three absolute priorities. Only applications that meet one or more of these absolute priorities will be considered. Applicants must indicate in their application which of the following they are applying under:

• Planning Grant Priority 1 (Absolute): Proposal To Develop a Promise Neighborhood Plan. To meet this priority, an applicant must submit a proposal for how it will plan to create a Promise Neighborhood. The proposal must describe the need in the neighborhood, a strategy to build a continuum of solutions and the applicant's capacity to achieve results. The applicant must also describe how it will build community support for and involvement in the development of the plan. The proposed continuum of solutions must include high-quality early learning programs, comprehensive education reforms, programs that prepare students to be college- and career-ready, and family and community supports. Planning proposals must also include a discussion of how the applicant will create formal and informal partnerships; applicants must submit a preliminary memorandum of understanding, signed by each organization or agency with which it would partner in planning the proposed Promise Neighborhood. The proposal should also include a plan for securing and integrating funding streams from multiple public and private sources from the federal, state and local level.
• Planning Grant Priority 2 (Absolute): Promise Neighborhoods in Rural Communities. To meet this priority, an applicant must propose a plan for implementing a Promise Neighborhood strategy that meets all of the requirements in Absolute Priority 1 and serves one or more rural communities only.
• Planning Grant Priority 3 (Absolute): Promise Neighborhoods in Tribal Communities. To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to develop a plan for implementing a Promise Neighborhood strategy that meets all of the requirements in Absolute Priority 1 and proposes to serve one or more Indian tribes.

There are also four competitive preference priorities for this competition. Additional points will be awarded to an application depending on how well the application meets these priorities. Applicants may address more than one, but the U.S. Department of Education will review and award points only for a maximum of two of the following competitive preference priorities:

• Planning Grant Priority 4 (Competitive Preference): Comprehensive Local Early Learning Network (up to two points). This priority specifically mentions public television stations. To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to develop a plan to expand, enhance or modify an existing network of early learning programs and services to ensure that they are high-quality and comprehensive for children from birth through the third grade. The plan must include early learning opportunities on multiple platforms (e.g, public television, web-based, etc).
• Planning Grant Priority 5 (Competitive Preference): Quality Internet Connectivity (up to one point). To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to develop a plan to ensure that almost all students in the geographic area have broadband internet access at home and at school, the knowledge and skills to use broadband internet access effectively and a connected computing device to support schoolwork. 
• Planning Grant Priority 6 (Competitive Preference): Arts and Humanities (up to one point). To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to develop a plan to include opportunities for children and youth to experience and participate actively in the arts and humanities in their community.
• Planning Grant Priority 7 (Competitive Preference): Quality Affordable Housing (up to one point). To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to serve geographic areas that were the subject of an affordable housing transformation pursuant to a Choice Neighborhoods or HOPE VI grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during FY 2009 or later years.

There is one invitational priority for this grant competition. Applications that meet the following priority do not receive a competitive or absolute preference over other applications:

• Planning Grant Priority 8 (Invitational): Family Engagement in Learning Through Adult Education. To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to develop a plan that is coordinated with adult education providers serving neighborhood residents. Examples of services and programs include preparation for the GED test, literacy training, or other training that prepares adults for postsecondary education and careers or supports adult engagement in the educational success of children and youth in the neighborhood.

Fit for public broadcasting: Public television stations are specifically mentioned in Priority 4, a competitive preference priority. Applicants that meet Priority 4 can receive up to two additional points on their application. By partnering with public television stations, applicants can therefore improve their chances of being awarded a grant. Stations should use this fact when discussing collaboration with potential partners. Priority 4 also requires applicants to address early literacy and numeracy, so applicants can benefit from stations' expertise in programs that improve early literacy and numeracy.

Promise Neighborhoods is a place-based program that requires collaboration among many partners and is an exciting opportunity for stations to collaborate with other community-based organizations. Public media stations will make valuable partners, as they have a history of success in many of the areas this program emphasizes. All applicants must include early learning programs and community and family supports in their strategies. Public media stations have expertise in early childhood learning programs, and they are well-prepared to engage families and communities. Absolute Priority 2 is for programs that serve rural areas, so rural stations are well positioned to apply under that priority.

Public broadcasters can also add value to partnerships through their experience in focus areas highlighted by the U.S. Department of Education's competitive preference priorities. Applicants that improve early learning programs, establish internet access for students at home and in school and help students engage with the arts and humanities will all receive additional points during the application process. As mentioned above, Priority 4 (competitive preference) specifically mentions public television as an example of the multiple platforms through which applicants must deliver early learning opportunities. The invitational priority also speaks to public media's strengths; applicants are encouraged to include adult education programs.

Local stations can play a major role in Promise Neighborhoods projects and are valuable partners. Seek partnerships with local education agencies (LEAs) and with community-based organizations. In 2011, 15 Promise Neighborhoods Planning Grants were awarded. A list of those awardees is here and may be helpful in identifying partners in your area.

Eligibility: An eligible organization is one that:

• Is representative of the geographic area proposed to be served.
• Is a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education or an Indian tribe.
• Currently provides at least one of the solutions from the applicant's proposed continuum of solutions in the geographic area proposed to be served.
• Operates or proposes to work with at least one public elementary or secondary school, in coordination with the school's Local Education Agency (LEA).

To be eligible for a planning grant, an applicant must demonstrate that it has established a commitment from one or more entities in the public or private sector to provide matching funds for the planning process. Applicants must obtain matching funds or in-kind donations equal to at least 50 percent of its grant award. Applications that meet Absolutely Priority 2 or Absolute Priority 3 must obtain matching funds or in-kind donations equal to at least 25 percent of the grant award.

Anticipated funding: In FY12, the Department of Education received $60 million for Promise Neighborhoods. This is double what was received in FY11. The $60 million will be split between supporting existing Promise Neighborhood programs, as well as for new planning and implementation grants.

There is $7,000,000 available for planning grants. Awards will be for up to $500,000, and the estimated average size of award is $467,000. The U.S. Department of Education expects to award up to 15 Planning grants for a project period of 12 months each.

How to apply: Applications can be obtained via email and on the Promise Neighborhoods website. The U.S. Department of Education strongly encourages each potential applicant to submit notification of the applicant's intent to submit an application by June 8, 2012. To do so, applicants should submit their name and address and the type of grant for which they intend to apply via an online form. Applicants that do not complete this form may still apply for funding.

Pre-application webinars about Planning Grants will be held on May 15, 2012, and June 12, 2012. These webinars are designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Detailed information can be found online.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by July 27, 2012. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the deadline. To do business with the U.S. Department of Education, you must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and you must register both with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant database.

Resources:
2012 Planning Grants Program notice
Program website
2011 Planning Grant Awardees
Pre-application webinars about Planning Grants will be held on May 15, 2012, and June 12, 2012. These webinars are designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Detailed information can be found online.

In April 2011, APTS, CPB and PBS submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the proposed priorities for the 2011 Promise Neighborhoods competition. Read them here.

The Promise of Promise Neighborhoods: Beyond Good Intentions - Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the Harlem Children's Zone Fall Conference.

Promise Neighborhoods: A Planning How-To Guide - Initial Guidance for Organizations Interested in Replicating the Harlem Children's Zone Model.