Texas Rural Communities (TRC) Grant Application Available – Due February 26

Texas Rural Communities, Inc. (TRC), offers grants for community programs…environmental…economic…educational. The projects have to be located in rural areas and they must advance community development.

When applying, there are two types of funding to consider…

(1) Recognition grants are for new or existing programs that are making, or have the potential to make, a significant difference in the community. The award ceiling is $5,000.00

(2) Impact grants are for programs that demonstrate innovation or have the potential to serve as model programs for other communities. The award ceiling ranges from $5,001 to $25,000.00.

To submit an application, you must be a nonprofit community-based organizations located in a rural community…the funding rules do not allow a governmental or quasi-governmental organization(s) to be the submitting applicant.

Resource For the Unemployed and Employers

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst addressed members from the 28 workforce boards at the Texas Workforce Commission Quarterly Forum, where he kicked off the newest initiative… Texas Back to Work

Nonprofits that work with persons who are unemployed, should take note of the $15 million dollar program funded by the Texas Legislature. The monies are targeted at persons who made less than $15.00 when they became unemployed.

The Texas Back to Work funds are available to employers through the 28 Texas local workforce development boards and each of them will set policy for how the program will work in their part of the state. But ultimately, if an employer hires an unemployed person and keeps them for 120 days, they could receive a portion of the new employee’s wages back up to $2,000…the check comes from the state. Couple those funds with the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and the employer can gain a windfall for hiring new employees.

Also, this program could be used for the summer youth program that will be available this year.

HHS Assets for Independence – Spring Cycle Grant applications due March 25 – $19 million estimated funding for 55-65 grant awards

“Most young people stumble through their lives learning financial literacy by trial and error” – Jumpstart Coalition

There is a lack of financial literacy in the US of A to determine it an urgency… a crisis and non-profits are desperately needed to step up and think about offering financial literacy type of programs. Here is your chance with the Health and Human Services Assets for Independence Program (AFI).

The financial literacy concept in the Assets for Independence program provides five-year grants to nonprofit organizations — including faith-based organizations — and government agencies. The financial literacy programs should “empower low-income families to become economically self-sufficient for the long-term”.

AFI grantees provide financial education training on money management issues, and assist participants to save earned income in special accounts that are matched, sometimes, four dollars to each one dollar and are called Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).

Participants use the IDAs to accumulate funds with the goal of acquiring a first home, post-secondary education, or starting up or expanding a small business.
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Texas – one of the first states to approve Summer Youth Program…more states to come

The Texas Workforce Commission, has approved “stimulus” funds… (WIA – American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA)… to implement “Summer Youth Programs”. TWC Staff has completed planning for this year’s Summer Youth Program. The plan has gone through the “bureaucratic” tiers- nonprofits…workforce board…state…fed…. “This year’s Summer Youth Program is poised to implement some great programs,“ said a TWC staffer.

So nonprofits, education, churches…START PLANNING!!!…Nonprofits that work with youth have a great opportunity to “co-enroll” youth with the “Summer Youth Program”… churches and education need to channel the youth to get enrolled quickly help get more information by contacting a workforce board staffer.

In the state of Texas there are 28 workforce boards that will receive the funds. The youth will receive money and other “perks” to participate…but most of the youth will receive work experience and instruction that teaches them the “right” workplace behavior…like “no pants on the ground”… ethical behavior… foundation skills.
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Immigration – What’s Going On?

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
-Anais Nin

When I hear people talking about undocumented immigrants it makes me wonder why, if this is such a problem, is it allowed to happen here in the United States? Then I take a good hard look at the entities that have everything to gain by having them here.  The motivation for undocumented immigration may be found in the “moving force” known as the capitalist system – the quest for profits.

During the Health Care “debate,” it was loud and clear in the arguments that some people believe the costs of schools, hospitals and public service are rising because of this undocumented population.    ”Send them back,” some of the “debaters” said, but at the same time you had  the agriculture, construction, restaurants and manufacturing industries hiring this population and service industries selling to them without any regard to the law. This is called talking out of both sides of your mouth.   If you do not want undocumented workers here…then stop hiring them. If you do not want undocumented immigrants here…then stop selling to them. But this is not going to happen, because the removal of this population out of the economic equation for the US of A and Mexico for that matter…would cause a devastation that would require a long time and a lot more stimulus money to heal.
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First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas – Applications Due March 5

The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas, a program of The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy, announces its 2010 grant competition. The grants of up to $50,000 each are given to enable an established literacy program to build on existing service to a single generation, i.e., children or adults, and create a complete family literacy program.

A successful grant application includes clearly stated objectives, along with a solid assessment plan to measure progress toward those objectives. Collaborative partnerships with other community groups are strongly encouraged.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, March 5, with Grant winners announced in May 2010.  For more information go to the website