Posts Tagged ‘grant funding’

As a grant writer working with public safety and municipal agencies throughout the country, I frequently encounter skepticism regarding funding opportunities for smaller agencies.  The  viewpoint held by many of these agencies’ representatives is that agencies who serve large populations have an overwhelming advantage over agencies with more modest numbers of residents during the application review process.

This opinion is both true and untrue at the same time.  Who is eligible to apply and/or what types of projects are fundable vary by each and every grant program.  Some grants, like the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative, only provide funding to major metropolitan areas in each state.  Other grants, like HUD’s Sustainable Communities Planning Initiative, only  provide funding to projects that affect a set, high number of residents.  For small agencies considering these types of funding opportunities, the eligibility requirements automatically appear to exclude them from award potential.

The reality is that thinking creatively and being flexible can remove most barriers that smaller agencies face.  Take for instance the aforementioned Sustainable Communities Planning Grant.  A small agency can partner with surrounding municipalities and units of governments to achieve a sufficiently large cumulative population served and gain eligibility.  This approach has the added bonus of encouraging higher scoring during the review process because it encompasses a regional, collaborative approach.

In talking about today’s federal funding priorities and review process, most of the 26 federal grant making agencies are looking for projects that are innovative and replicable.  Innovative implies a new approach to an old problem.  Replicable means that the project is general and scalable enough that it can be implemented successfully in other cities and counties throughout the country.  Now consider that most cities and towns in the United States serve an average population of just over 43,000.  It makes sense that an agency serving a similar population would have the advantage of designing and implementing a project that is easily replicable throughout the country – a task that is otherwise challenging for a metropolis serving over 1 million.

So what have we learned about funding opportunities for smaller average-sized agencies?  First, that partnering with surrounding areas can provide a competitive edge over agencies serving large populations.  Secondly, that serving a “smaller” population can actually work in an agency’s favor as more grant programs emphasize replicability.

One final point of note for small agencies is that even those with populations way under the national average have funding opportunities that are designated just for them.  There are at least a dozen federal grant programs that provide funding only to rural agencies serving a population of 20,000 or less.  There is grant funding to build new public safety buildings, to acquire broadband, to secure green spaces, to improve service delivery, implement software, and much more – all only for rural agencies.  Identifying and securing funding, therefore, is truly a game that agencies of all sizes have to learn to play.  Being flexible, thinking strategically, and being aware of opportunities are important tools for any sized player in the search for grant funding.