Congratulations go out to the Meriden Public Library and the New Haven Free Public Library for receiving approval of their recent construction grant applications. The State Library Board approved these grants with funding earmarked for distressed municipalities. New Haven Free Public Library will receive $318,524 towards a project to renovate their performance and exhibit area, as well as expand programming space. Meriden Public Library will receive $62,667 towards replacement lighting and other renovation work. Construction grants for distressed municipalities pay for 1/3rd of total project costs up to $1 million.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) offers $8,000 Shade Structure Program grants for the purchase of permanent shade structures designed to provide shade and ultraviolet (UV) ray protection for outdoor areas.
The AAD also provides a permanent sign to be displayed near the shade structure that promotes the importance of sun safety. FAQ.
Eligible considerations include:
* Be a school/nonprofit primarily serving children 18 and younger;
* Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to sun safety and skin cancer awareness
Applications due: April 12, 2010

The staff of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Connecticut office is sponsoring a free 2-day grant writing training workshop in Stamford from August 20-21.
It looks to be mainly oriented toward HUD grants, but the language implies that the training’s content could help with other federal grant funding as well. It mentions that space is limited and that registration is online.
The content of the flyer, available here, is as follows:
* * * *
Learn grant writing techniques, how to become more competitive for federal funds, programs available to nonprofits, organizational capacity building and more. Register online today!
TWO-DAY WORKSHOP
8:30-9:00 REGISTRATION & 9:00-4:30 TRAINING
MANDATORY TWO DAY ATTENDANCE
LEARN THE ART AND SCIENCE OF GRANT WRITING FROM TRAINED HUD STAFF!!
You will receive personal instruction from key HUD staff on how to become more competitive for federal grant funds, securing a 501c3 and the organizational structure necessary to secure government funds. Not only will the information prepare you to apply for public funds but also corporate and foundation sources!
Workshop Topics Include:
• GRANT PROPOSAL WRITING TECHNIQUES
• HOW TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT FUNDS
• HUD PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO NONPROFITS
• HUD COMMON FACTORS FOR AWARD
• THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GRANT WRITING
• WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
• ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING
• COALITION BUILDING
University of Connecticut Gen RE Auditorium, One University Place Stamford, CT 06901-2315
In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, individuals wishing to attend this training who require special accommodations, including services for the hearing impaired, should contact Raymond Jordan on the HUD Free Grants Writer Workshop Hot Line at 617-994–8210.
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This U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program is designed to develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas, including schools, libraries, and fire and police stations in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population.
Community Programs utilizes three flexible financial tools to achieve this goal: the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program, the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program, and the Community Facilities Grant Program.
For the grant site click here.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are handled by USDA Rural Development field offices; the one closest to CT is in Amherst MA.
Seven towns will see new or improved public libraries thanks to public library construction grants approved at today’s State Library Board meeting. The legislature recently increased the maximum grant to one-third the cost of construction up to $1 million.
Brooklyn Public Library, the Albany Avenue Branch of Hartford Public Library, the Atwater Memorial Library in North Branford and the Barney Branch Library in Farmington all received $1 million grants for new construction, major additions or renovations. The Bethel Public Library received a grant of $898,432.
In addition the Terryville Public Library in Plymouth received a $16,773 grant to help with code compliance and the Ferguson Library in Stamford received a grant of $145,000 for their HVAC system.
Congratulations to these towns.