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PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS -- IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS

Promise Neighborhoods -- Implementation Grants

In 2012, 242 applications were submitted to the Promise Neighborhood program (a slight increase from previous years), of which 60 were toward implementation 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 -- Implementation 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 Planning Grants, read the profile.

Implementation grants will support eligible organizations in carrying out their plans to create a continuum of solutions that will significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in the target neighborhood. These grants will aid eligible organizations that have developed a plan that demonstrates the need for the creation of a Promise Neighborhood in the geographic area they are targeting, a sound strategy for implementing a plan for creating a continuum of solutions and the capacity to implement the plan.

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:

  • Implementation Grant Priority 1 (Absolute): Submission of a Promise Neighborhood Plan. To meet this priority, an applicant must submit a plan to create a Promise Neighborhood, and the plan must describe the need in the neighborhood, a strategy to build a continuum of solutions and the applicant's capacity to achieve results. The strategy 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.
  • Implementation Grant Priority 2 (Absolute): Promise Neighborhoods in Rural Communities. To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to implement a Promise Neighborhood strategy that meets all of the requirements in Absolute Priority 1 and serves one or more rural communities only.
  • Implementation Grant Priority 3 (Absolute): Promise Neighborhoods in Tribal Communities. To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to implement a Promise Neighborhood strategy that meets all of the requirements in Absolute Priority 1 and serves 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:

  • Implementation 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 in its 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.)
  • Implementation Grant Priority 5 (Competitive Preference): Quality Internet Connectivity (up to one point). To meet this priority, an applicant must 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.
  • Implementation Grant Priority 6 (Competitive Preference): Arts and Humanities (up to one point). To meet this priority, an applicant must include in its plan opportunities for children and youth to experience and participate actively in the arts and humanities in their community.
  • Implementation 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:

  • Implementation Grant Priority 8 (Invitational): Family Engagement in Learning Through Adult Education. To meet this priority, an applicant must include 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, 5 Promise Neighborhood Implementation Grants and 15 Promise Neighborhoods Planning Grants were awarded. If any of those Planning Grant awardees are in your area, contact them to see if they are planning to apply for an Implementation Grant during this competition. A list of those awardees is here.

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 an implementation 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 implementation process. Applicants must obtain matching funds or in-kind donations equal to at least 100 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 50 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 $27,790,000 available for new Implementation grants. Awards will range from $4,000,000 to $6,000,000, and the estimated average award size is $5,000,000. The U.S. Department of Education expects to award between five and seven Implementation grants for a project period of 36 to 60 months.

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 Implementation Grants will be held on May 17, 2012, and June 14, 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. 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 Implementation Grants Program notice
Program website

Pre-application webinars about Implementation Grants will be held on May 17, 2012, and June 14, 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.