Constituent Services > Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
Thank you for visiting my website to learn more about federal funding opportunities and technical assistance available for your project, organization or business located within the First Congressional District of Massachusetts.
Whether you are just beginning your search for funding or have already submitted a grant or loan application, I hope the following information will be of assistance to you.
Please contact an economic development specialist in one of my district offices located in Pittsfield, Holyoke or Fitchburg with additional questions.
Grant Assistance
Economic development specialists are available in each of my district offices to provide you with information on how to begin your search for federal grant assistance. Much of this information is available on my website.
My staff is also available to assist you with letters of support and advocate on your behalf with federal agencies and departments. However, my staff will not perform grant searches for your organization nor are they available to write grants for your organization.
Once you have obtained information regarding a federal grant, you may have questions while developing your proposal or application. You should contact the responsible federal agency directly. Contact information is usually listed in the federal agency's grant announcement in the Federal Register and elsewhere.
Grant Overview
Although highly competitive, there are hundreds of grants or loans for various purposes available from federal departments and agencies. A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States.
Federal grants are not federal assistance or loans to individuals. They are not benefits or entitlements.
It should be noted that most federal funding (over 90%) goes to state and local governments that determine state and local needs, and that themselves offer competitive grants and funding opportunities. Consequently, federal grant funding is extremely competitive.
Because government funds are limited, sources of private funding should also be considered. State and community foundations may be particularly interested in funding local projects; many projects may require a combination of government and private funding.
For eligible state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, identifying appropriate programs, and then contacting federal and state agencies early in the process, before submitting formal applications, is recommended. State-located federal offices often handle federal grant applications and disbursement of funds. State government departments and agencies also fund projects and administer federal block grants.
Below are links to two reports issued by the Congressional Research Service that you may find helpful:
Letters of Support
When submitting a federal grant application, you may consider requesting a Congressional Letter of Support from my Office. Although I do consider every request for a letter of support, it is not possible for me to provide letters of support in all cases.
Letters of support will be sent directly from my office to the head of the department or agency from which you are seeking a grant. Your organization will receive a copy of the support letter to submit with your application.
Finally, a letter of support from my office is not a guarantee of funding.
To request a letter of support for your application, please supply my office with the following:
- A description of your organization
- The executive summary of your grant application
- A description of what the money will be used for
- A draft letter of support
Grant Announcements
Each federal agency or department will notify applicants on decisions pertaining to their grant application. However, federal agencies and departments will sometimes notify my office if a grant has been awarded prior to notifying the applicant. In this case, my office will contact your organization upon notification of the grant award.
Grant Awards and Denials
Although a grant award is welcome news, it is also the beginning of the paperwork required to receive the grant fund disbursement. Should you encounter any difficulties in this process, please contact my office to speak with one of my economic development specialists who can contact the department or agency on your behalf.
If your grant application is unsuccessful, you may wish to contact the agency or department to review the proposal to suggest how to improve it so that you may resubmit the proposal if the program continues to be funded.
Spanish bilingual Web page on grants, benefits, business, and student financial assistance is available at: Subvenciones y Ayuda Federal de Ámbito Nacional (WG02001SP)
Federal Appropriations
The Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) runs from October 1–September 30th. So, for example, October 1, 2008 is the start of FFY09. My office solicits white paper applications the fall prior to the upcoming fiscal year (for example white papers are due November 15th 2008 for the 2010 federal fiscal year that starts on October 1, 2009.)
If you are considering submitting a white paper to my office, please contact one of my economic development specialists to discuss your project prior to October 1. White papers are due electronically by November 15. Only in very rare circumstances does my office accept white papers after this date.
I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of my district offices and ask to speak with an economic development specialist.
