HAZMAT TEAMS LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE

Fiscal Year 2009 HazMat Grant Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit applications for federal State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funding made available by the NYS Office of Homeland Security (OHS) for the State’s Hazardous Materials (HazMat) response teams. The three primary objectives of this grant are to promote the development of regional partnerships among the State HazMat community; to build sustainable WMD/HazMat Response and Decontamination Capabilities; and to enhance the standing of the State’s HazMat teams within FEMA’s “typing system.”

HazMat teams located in New York State are eligible to apply for the 2009 HazMat Grant Program. This is project is focused on regional programs and OHS will not accept applications from individual teams; rather, two or more teams must apply together for a regional project. OHS will not identify pre-set regions for this grant program; instead, applicants will have the ability to determine their regional construct for the purposes of this grant program.

Applicants (consisting of two or more HazMat Teams) must identify one primary team to be the “submitting partner” for this grant. The other partners involved in a given application will be deemed “non-submitting partners”. The “submitting partner” will be the fiduciary agent for the regional application (if the region is a successful applicant under the 2009 HazMat Grant Program), responsible for completing all required grant reporting forms in coordination with and on behalf of their region. The “submitting partner” must be a publicly-funded HazMat team; however, the regional partnership can include “non-submitting partners” that are funded by private entities. “Non-submitting partners” will be responsible for coordinating with the “submitting partner” on the development of an application for the 2009 HazMat Grant Program and the implementation and evaluation of projects (if the regional partnership receives funding under this grant).

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 pm December 9, 2009 through the State’s electronic grants management system (E-Grants). For an application and instructions, contact: Office of Homeland Security, Meghan Dudley, 1220 Washington Ave., State Office Campus, Bldg. 7A, Albany, NY 12242, 1-866-837-9133, e-mail: [email protected]

APPLICANTS THAT CAN PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF NECESSARY FORECLOSURE PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM

The 2008-09 NYS budget provided $25 million to the Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) for the development and administration of a subprime foreclosure prevention services program. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was released in June of 2008, seeking applicants that could provide a continuum of necessary foreclosure prevention services within a proposed service area. The required continuum of services included outreach/education, counseling, legal representation, and court-based services. From August, 2008, through February, 2009, the HTFC approved sixty-four (64) grant awards to foreclosure prevention programs.

Due to the ongoing problems associated with foreclosure, the 2009-10 New York State budget appropriated an additional $25 million to the HTFC to continue the State's foreclosure prevention efforts started in the previous budget year. The new funds have been allocated from the Fiscal Stabilization Fund provided to the State under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

These additional resources will allow organizations to expand existing services when warranted, fund innovative and or new approaches that will lead to a decrease in the rates of default and foreclosure, and fund strategies that will increase levels of participation in the State's Mandatory Settlement conferences.

Qualified applicants may submit proposals for funds to provide one or more of the following foreclosure prevention services: Outreach/education, counseling, mediation, legal representation, negotiation and court-based services on behalf of borrowers facing default or foreclosure.

Collaborative proposals by multiple eligible applicants are strongly encouraged to achieve coverage of all necessary services in an efficient manner that decreases duplication and maximizes the impact of public resources. Also proposals that build upon or coordinate with existing local foreclosure prevention services programs are encouraged. Proposals should support the goal of preserving homeownership and strive to stabilize communities that face a high rate of foreclosures.

It is expected that $20 million in grant awards will be made to not-for-profits under the Request for Proposals (RFP). The application process is a continuous, open window RFP for not-for-profits seeking funds under the Program. Proposals for funding will be accepted on a continuous basis until all funding designated has been awarded or until discontinued by HTFC. Proposals may be submitted immediately. The RFP may be found at www.nysdhcr.gov or by contacting: Caillin Furnari, Housing and Community Development Assistant, Division of Housing and Community Renewal, (518) 473-8273; Shannon Sexton-Bates, Housing and Community Development Secretary, Division of Housing and Community Renewal, (518) 473-3247