Phase I Research and Development Grants Available

National Science Foundation [reposted from GrantStation]
The Small Business Innovation Research Program provides support to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting federal research and development needs, increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, and fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses. Proposed investigations should conform to the interests of the high-technology investment sector and address one or more of the following topics: biological and chemical technologies; education applications; information and communication technologies; and nanotechnology, advanced materials, and manufacturing. A proposal checklist and other guidance materials are available here. Applications are accepted from May 19 to June 19, 2012.

Advancing STEM Learning grant

Description

The Advancing Informal STEM Learning program invests in research and development of innovative and field advancing out of school STEM learning and emerging STEM learning environments.

Link to Additional Information

NSF Publication 12-560

If you have difficulty accessing

Research and Development Tax Credit

[reposted from Techburgher] On March 15th 2012 Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Jim Cawley met with members of the Pittsburgh Technology Council to discuss the important role that investments in research and development have in growing Pennsylvania’s manufacturing and technology sectors. They also took the opportunity to emphasize just how beneficial Governor Corbett’s 300% increase in the Pennsylvania R&D tax credit has been since it was adopted last year.

“According to a report issued earlier this week, in 2011, a record number of Pennsylvania businesses were awarded R&D tax credits. This falls on the heels of last year’s state budget which expanded the available pool of credits from $18 million in 2010 to $55 million in 2011. The 537 businesses that benefited from the credit, reported more than $4.1 billion in expenditures on research and development activities in the Commonwealth, which represents a $624 million increase in expenditures over the prior year or a 17.6 percent expansion.

Last year’s state budget also dramatically increased the small business set-aside for R&D credits from $3.6 million to $11 million, which enabled small businesses to receive 100 percent of the credits for which they applied. In 2010, and prior to the Corbett administration’s changes, just $3.6 million of the $8.5 million in applications submitted by small businesses were funded.

For more info:

http://www.newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/funding-and-program-finder/research-and-development-tax-credit

Computing Education for the 21st Century

Description

The Computing Education for the 21st Century (CE21) program aims to build a robust computing research community, a computationally competent 21st century workforce, and a computationally empowered citizenry. In this undertaking, there are three interrelated challenges: the significant underproduction of degrees needed for the computing and computing-related workforce, the longstanding underrepresentation of many segments of our population, and the lack of a presence of computing in K-12. Innovation in information technology (IT) has driven economic growth, underlies many of our recent scientific advances, and ensures our national security; it is not surprising then that predicted IT job growth is very strong. Yet students are not majoring in computing in sufficient numbers. This shortfall is exacerbated by the longstanding underrepresentation of women, persons with disabilities, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and indigenous peoples in computing. We cannot meet workforce demands without their participation and we cannot, in an increasingly competitive world economy, afford to cede the talents and creativity of so many. To ensure their participation, and the full participation of all students, we must provide better opportunities to study computing in K-12. We must start with a better understanding of how students learn computing. Unlike many of the other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, computing has not developed a robust research base on the teaching and learning of its fundamental concepts and skills. That research base must be built and it must be used in providing all students with rigorous academic curricula that cover computational concepts and skills, and the breadth of application and potential of computing. Providing access to rigorous, academic computing in K-12 will require an unprecedented effort to develop curriculum and materials and to prepare teachers.CE21 thus supports efforts in three tracks: Computing Education Research (CER) proposals will aim to develop a research base for computing education. Projects may conduct basic research on the teaching and learning of computational competencies; they may design, develop, test, validate, and refine materials, measurement tools, and methods for teaching in specific contexts; and/or they may implement promising small-scale interventions in order to study their efficacy with particular groups. Efforts can focus on computational thinking as taught in computing courses or infused across the curriculum, they can target students or their teachers in informal or formal educational settings, or they can address any level within the K-16 pipeline, from elementary school through high school and college. CS 10K proposals will aim to develop the knowledge base and partnerships needed to catalyze the CS 10K Project. The CS 10K Project aims to have rigorous, academic curricula incorporated into computing courses in 10,000 high schools, taught by 10,000 well-trained teachers. CS 10K proposals can address a wide range of needed activities, including the development of course materials, pedagogy, and methods courses, as well as professional development and ongoing support for teachers, approaches to scaling, best practices for increasing the participation of students from underrepresented groups, and strategies for building K-12, university, and community partnerships. Broadening Participation (BP) proposals will aim to develop and assess novel interventions that contribute to our knowledge base on the effective teaching and learning of computing for students from the underrepresented groups: women, persons with disabilities, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and indigenous peoples. Proposed interventions should be designed to engage and retain students from these groups and, at the same time, to increase their knowledge of computational thinking concepts and skills. Proposers are encouraged to leverage the resources provided by the existing BPC-A Alliances and to develop interventions that, if proven successful, could be implemented within a BPC-A Alliance. For additional information on the Alliances, see http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503593&org=NSF.In aggregate, CE21 projects will contribute to our understanding of how diverse student populations are engaged and retained in computing, learn its fundamental concepts, and develop computational competencies that position them to contribute to an increasingly computationally empowered workforce.

Link to Additional Information

NSF Publication 12-527

Expected Number of Awards:	20
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$13,000,000
Award Ceiling:	$10,000,000
Award Floor:	$200,000

Ford Foundation Launches Coalition to Expand Learning Time With $50 Million

[reposted from Philanthropy News Digest] The Ford Foundation has announced the launch of a coalition of education and civic leaders that will advocate for the addition of more learning time to the school day and year as a way to expand learning opportunities for all children.

Launched with the help of a three-year, $50 million commitment from Ford, the Time to Succeed Coalition will work to promote redesigned and expanded learning time in schools across the country, especially disadvantaged urban schools, where inadequate time in school and a lack of educational opportunities outside school are obstacles to student achievement. To date, a thousand schools serving 460,000 students have added extra hours to the school day as well as days to the school year while simultaneously rethinking the way classroom instruction is delivered. Using half the $100 million pledged by the foundation in 2009 to help transform secondary education, the coalition aims to double that number over two years.

Coalition leaders point to research which shows that additional learning time is closely correlated with improved student performance, makes other strategies for improving teaching and learning more effective, and enables students to spend more time mastering reading and math without sacrificing other subjects. Founding signatories to the coalition include Newark mayor Cory Booker, Harlem Children's Zone CEO Geoffrey Canada, education expert Linda Darling-Hammond, and American Teachers Federation president Randi Weingarten.

"To build a vibrant future as a nation, we have to equalize learning opportunities for all children," said Ford Foundation president Luis A. Ubiñas, who co-chairs the coalition with Chris Gabrieli, president of theNational Center on Time & Learning. "Afterschool programs, while engaging and educational, are not available to all kids and are not enough to solve the core problem. What is needed is a strategic redesign of the school day, where teaching practices are modernized to accommodate the unique needs of today's world, today's economy, and today's family life."

For a complete list of coalition signatories, visit the Time to Succeed Coalition Web site.

“More Than 100 National Leaders Join Forces to Advocate for Expanded Learning Time in Low-Income Schools.” Ford Foundation Press Release 5/10/12.

Help Wanted 2012

Join us for the 2012 HELP WANTED Summit, on September 20-21 in Washington DC for a robust conversation on how America is addressing the skills gap crisis. This exciting one and a half day conference will bring together business leaders, policy makers, and innovative education nonprofits to discuss a wide variety of issues throughout the K-12 to postsecondary education spectrum.

Learn about topics like:

• Innovation in K-12 education
• States that are serious about reform
• Highly skilled talent crisis
• Rebuilding workforce development
• And many more

Seats are limited, reserve yours today!

Location

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20062

Directions | Area Hotels

Clinton Global Initiative to include workforce development topics

[from Philanthropy News Digest] Former President Bill Clinton has announced the program for the second Clinton Global Initiative America meeting, June 7-8, in Chicago at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

Sponsored by the Pritzker Family and Joyce foundations, among other institutions, the two-day meeting will bring together private- and public-sector leaders to discuss effective solutions for job growth and economic prosperity in the United States. Topics to be addressed include advanced manufacturing, clean electricity and efficiency, clean fuel and transportation, early childhood education, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, housing recovery, reconnecting youth, small business, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education, wellness, and workforce development.

Plenary sessions to be offered at the event include "Jumpstart Nation: Getting America Back to Work," which will highlight effective economic recovery strategies and showcase how to replicate them; "Place-Based Innovation: Creating Centers of Prosperity," which will explore how partnerships and cooperative efforts can spur innovation, grow businesses, and create jobs; and "What's Next?: Toward a More Perfect Union," which will address the nation's economic identity in an increasingly globalized world as well as what can be done to ensure a creative, innovative, and sustainable future for all Americans.

“President Clinton Announces the Program for the 2012 CGI America Meeting.” Clinton Global Initiative Press Release 5/03/12

Registration Now Open for ARC Livable Communities Workshops

Registration is open for three upcoming regional workshops on developing livable communities in Appalachia. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the workshops will be held May 15 in Cartersville, Georgia; July 12 in Kingsport, Tennessee; and August 16 in California, Pennsylvania. Registration is free.  More information

Appalachian Regional Commission Angel Capital Fund

Appalachian Angel Capital Fund Formation Request for Proposals: Formation of New Angel Capital Funds in Appalachia 
ARC is making available support to local communities to form angel investment funds in the Appalachian Region. Two types of awards are available through this RFP:

1. Technical assistance will be provided to local entities to support new angel fund formation or to improve the performance of an existing angel fund/network. Up to four applicants will be selected for this support.
2. Direct grant support will to be provided to qualified local organizations to support the formation of a new angel fund. Up to $30,000 of direct grant support will be provided to one qualified applicant in this round.

Selected applicants are anticipated to raise over $1 million each in local investment capital in angel investment funds for early-stage and/or expanding companies. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 15, 2012.

Informational webinars will be held on May 14 and 15, 2012, to answer questions about this RFP and about angel fund formation and operation. Please see the RFP for details. 

Appalachian Angel Capital Fund Formation Request for Proposals (PDF: 270 KB)

Refugee IDA grant

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is offering funds to nonprofit and public agencies for grants to assist refugees in opening and contributing systematically to IDAs for savings goals including home ownership business capitalization, vehicles for education or work purposes, professional recertification, and post secondary education. Deadline: 6/18/2012. For an application, click here.

Know a charitable woman?

L’OREAL PARIS is offering $10,000 awards to women who make a difference in their communities. People can nominate a woman they admire for her dedication to volunteerism and charitable efforts.  The program will honor 10 women whose affiliated charities will each receive $10,000. Deadline to apply: 5/31/2012. For an application, click here.

Grant to serve Vets

VETS News Release: [05/02/2012]
Contact Name: Jason Kuruvilla of Mike Volpe
Phone Number: (202) 693-6587 or x3984
Release Number: 12-0780-NAT

US Department of Labor announces availability of approximately $12 million in grants to provide job training services for more than 6,000 veterans

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $12 million in grants through the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program to provide job training and skills development services that will help approximately 6,000 veterans succeed in civilian careers.

"These men and women served our country, and now it is our turn to serve them and to support them. The grants announced today will help ensure our nation's veterans receive the assistance they need as they make the transition to civilian life," Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said.

Through funds provided by this program, veterans will receive skills assessments, individual job counseling, labor market information, classroom or on-the-job training, skills upgrades, placement assistance and crucial follow-up services. Veterans also may be eligible for services through other Workforce Investment Act programs for economically disadvantaged or dislocated workers.

The department will award at least 10 grants in 10 states on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit — including faith-based and community —organizations. Grantees must be familiar with the areas and populations to be served, and have demonstrated that they can administer effective programs.

More information about the Department of Labor's unemployment and re-employment programs for veterans can be found athttp://www.dol.gov/vets/.

The solicitation for grant applications is available at http://www.grants.gov. It also may be viewed athttp://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/vwip/main.htm.