FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 29, 2008                                                        > HOME

Information from the

Cape Cod Economic Development Council

Barnstable County

Media Contact:

Daniel Dray, Administrator

Cape Cod Economic Development Council

508-744-1247

e-mail: ddray@barnstablecounty.org

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Call for Letters of Intent

Cape and Islands License Plate

Small Grant Program

The Cape Cod Economic Development Council announces the availability of $100,000 in grant funds for projects that support the economic development needs of the region.  Individual projects selected for funding can receive up to $25,000.

The EDC seeks Letters of Intent with an economic development focus in areas including but not limited to arts and culture, technology, marine and environmental science and technology, workforce education and training, healthcare, clean energy, and infrastructure.

The Small Grant Program will give preference to initiatives that produce new economic activity, require seed funding for early stage planning or implementation, create lasting collaborations, respond to a well-defined regional need or opportunity, and create sustainable models that have the potential to be replicated in other parts of the region.

Eligibility:

• Eligible applicants include non-profits, educational institutions, and municipalities located in Barnstable County, as well as agencies that are part of Barnstable County government. 

• Collaborating partners may include both for-profit and non-profit entities, educational institutions and government agencies. 

• Eligible projects should have multiple collaborating organizations in each partnership.  Each organization is expected to make a meaningful contribution to the project.

• Preference will be given to applicants with multiple funding sources who clearly describe how a project addresses a particular regional need and who document a project’s potential for long-term sustainability.

Funds will not be awarded for:

• Activities of limited duration that do not directly impact long-term economic development goals.

Letters of Intent should contain no more than two pages of narrative and a separate page for a preliminary project budget.  The narrative should include a preliminary request for funds.   Please attach a cover page with contact information including phone number and email address.   Letters of Intent will be reviewed on each of the following aspects:

Project Design:

• Does the project make innovative use of Cape Cod’s resources and assets?
• Does the project support the retention/expansion of an existing program, or help to start a new program? 
• Does the project bring added-value to an existing set of activities or assets so that their economic impact/benefit is increased?
• Does the project provide direct and measurable results?

Scope of Impact: 

• Does the project provide a regional benefit?
• Does the project benefit a large number of participants or have the potential to be replicated?
• Does the project generate economic value for a specific population or area?

 Collaboration: 

• Does the project involve multiple collaborating organizations sharing resources, power and control to conceptualize, develop and implement the project?

Leveraging Resources:

• Does the project leverage additional sources of cash and in-kind support? Although there is no specific matching requirement, projects that leverage additional sources of support will be given preference.  While both cash and in-kind sources are allowed, cash sources will receive greater weight during the review process.

Fiscal Accountability:

• Does the project clearly delineate expected costs and revenues?
• Is the project sustainable?

 Documents Need:

• Does the project convey a good understanding of a particular need?
• Does the project represent a creative response to a well-defined need?

Letters of Intent must be either hand-delivered by 12:00 noon on Monday, November 3, 2008 at the following address or, if mailed, postmarked by November 3, 2008.  Any Letter of Intent that is either hand-delivered or postmarked after the stated times will be declared non-responsive and returned to the applicant.  Please submit seven copies of the Letter of Intent in a sealed envelope to: Cape & Islands Small Grant Program, C/O Elaine Davis, Chief Procurement Officer, Barnstable County, Superior Court House, 3195 Main Street, PO Box 427, Barnstable, MA 02630.

Letters of Intent will be reviewed by a committee of the EDC for the purpose of selecting a limited number of applicants who will be asked to submit full project proposals.