COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR SPECIFIC CATCHMENT AREAS IN SULLIVAN, CAYUGA, OSWEGO, ST. LAWRENCE, JEFFERSON/LEWIS, AND WYOMING/GENESEE/ORLEANS COUNTIES

The New York State Tobacco Control Program (NY TCP) is seeking applications to implement the Community Partnership component of the NY TCP for specific catchment areas in New York State (Sullivan, Cayuga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Jefferson/Lewis, and Wyoming/Genesee/Orleans counties). Community Partnerships will engage community members and leverage resources from the community to advance local and statewide tobacco control action. Community partnership contract funds will be used to engage local stakeholders, educate community leaders and the public, and mobilize community members and organizations to strengthen tobacco-related policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use and limit opportunities for exposure to secondhand smoke. Community Partnerships will work with local businesses, employers, work places, health care institutions and providers, and schools and community groups to implement effective tobacco-free policies, change public opinion about tobacco use, and promote access to cessation services. Community Partnerships will implement public communication campaign components in support of statewide campaigns and will host community events to promote or recognize community tobacco control action.

It is anticipated that total funding available for this initiative is approximately $1,060,000 annually for 4.5 years. It is expected that up to 6 contracts will be awarded. This Request for Applications may be found in the New York State Department of Health’s website at: http://www.nyhealth.gov/funding.

Applications will be accepted through September 9, 2009. This Request for Applications (RFA) is open to nonprofit organizations and local government agencies in the State of New York with experience and expertise in organizing community members and organizations to advance public health policy, conduct policy advocacy, and mobilize communities to address tobacco use.

PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS IN COUNTIES WITH FEMA-APPROVED ALL-HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS

The New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) is pleased to announce the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2010 Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program. The Unified HMA Program consolidates the deadlines and many of the procedures for four previously-distinct FEMA mitigation grant programs:

---the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM);

---the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA);

---the Repetitive Flood Claims Program (RFC);

---the Severe Repetitive Loss Program (SRL).

While the majority of the requirements are the same for all four programs, there are differences such as program eligibility and cost share requirements outlined in the Program Overviews, Program Comparison Chart, and guidance documents prepared by FEMA and available as noted below. There are many benefits to this consolidation: filing will be simplified with similar online application procedures and a single deadline for all programs, and sub-applications submitted but not funded under the requested grant program may be considered by FEMA under another mitigation grant program without requiring a sub-applicant to reapply.

Where to Get Information

The application period is now open and the complete FY 2010 Unified HMA Guidance is now available through County Emergency Managers and Mitigation Coordinators who received program information via e-mail, through SEMO’s five Regional Offices, on SEMO’s website at www.semo.state.ny.us, and FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3309.

PDM: www.fema.gov/government/grant/pdm

FMA: www.fema.gov/government/grant/fma

RFC: www.fema.gov/government/grant/rfc

SRL: www.fema.gov/government/grant/srl

Potential sub-applicants involved in developing local all-hazard mitigation plans and mitigation projects are encouraged to review the applicant and project type eligibility requirements for each of the programs to determine which might assist their efforts.

Important Deadlines

Letters of Intent (LOIs) must be faxed to SEMO at 518-322-4983 by 5:00 p.m. Monday 17 August 2009.

However, eligible sub-applicants are encouraged to submit their LOIs well before the deadline: doing so will maximize your ability to work with SEMO to develop a viable application for one or more of the programs, which are evaluated competitively on a national basis.

If SEMO does not receive sufficient applications for a given program, it may re-submit previously submitted eligible mitigation applications that remain unfunded.

LOIs and program guidance are available as noted in “Where to Get Information” above.

Participating jurisdictions in counties with FEMA-approved All-Hazard Mitigation Plans (or which are nearing completion of such plans) are encouraged to submit project applications.

If you have questions or need further information on the program, please call Richard Lord, SEMO’s Chief of Mitigation Programs, at (518) 292-2304.