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ABOVE: Tammy has held workshops to help inform her constituents about federal contracting opportunities. |
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I firmly believe that Wisconsin should receive its fair share of federal dollars. That is why I have made it a priority to assist my constituents in identifying the many opportunities for receiving federal small business assistance, gaining federal contracts, and competing for federal grants.
There are numerous federal funding programs authorized for a variety of important research projects that help to advance our national knowledge base. In other instances, federal grant programs are authorized for national objectives such as improving health care access, modernizing our transportation and communication infrastructures, providing care for the disabled, and many other worthwhile objectives.
In general, federal grants are given to state and local governments and other organizations that are pursuing activities that have national relevance. However, grants continue to be one of the most widely misunderstood sources of federal funding.
Federal Assistance for Small Businesses
There are dozens of federal programs to assist small businesses. Some are designed to improve the capacity of small businesses to grow and expand. Others offer low-interest or guaranteed loans, advice, counseling, and mentoriship.
For small business information and assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA), visit the SBA's website, at www.sba.gov.
The SBA Regional Office in Madison frequently offers seminars and information sessions on a variety of topics. Contact them directly at 740 Regent St., Suite 100, in Madison, or call (608) 264-5261 [TTY: (608) 264-5333].
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also offers a useful, free CD-ROM filled with resources for small business entitled, Small Business Resource Guide.
The IRS small business website is located at http://www.irs.gov/smallbiz.
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Business Contracting with the Federal Government
The federal government contracts with private businesses for purchases of equipment, materials, and services. This contracting presents an extraordinary variety of opportunities for Wisconsin businesses. Office equipment, furnishings, and supplies are all purchased by contract with federal agencies. Other contracting opportunities are more specialized, and cover a wide range of activities, services, and products, from laser production to management seminars to food services.
The information resources below are related to business contracting with the federal government. Feel free to contact my office for further assistance.
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Federal Grants
Click on the following link for more information
about:
The Federal Grant Process. Most federal grant programs are highly competitive and winning approval for these grants is extraordinarily difficult. The application procedures are often complicated with many requirements designed to ensure accountability. Application approval processes are typically long in duration, and federal monitoring of federally funded programs is frequently extensive.
Despite these hurdles, each year local programs that meet all the many requirements are approved for funding. I hope to help in this competitive arena in a variety of ways, as detailed in the information provided here and contained in the comprehensive "InfoPacks" available for download below.
The federal grant process is fairly complex. Most grant programs are authorized by Congress. Some are reauthorized each year, while grant programs are approved for longer periods before they must be reauthorized. A few grant programs are created under the discretionary authority of federal agencies, and are only indirectly overseen by Congress.
Once authorized, a grant program must receive funding through annual appropriations by Congress. This is part of the annual federal budget process.
Once the grant programs have been funded, the federal agencies responsible for their administration design procedures for application, judging the proposals, funding, and grant monitoring in accordance with other laws and regulations. The availability of a federal grant is then announced in the Federal Register, and may also be advertised in other media, including the agency's website.
All federal assistance programs are listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). The CFDA includes grants and loan programs, direct payment programs (e.g., Social Security, veterans disability compensation), technical assistance programs, and many other types of assistance programs.
It is important to note that the CFDA only lists programs authorized, and the listing of a program in the CFDA doesn't necessarily mean that the program is currently being funded. Many new grant programs and federal agency discretionary programs are also not listed in the CFDA.
If accessed on the internet, the CFDA can be searched in numerous ways, including by keyword. In order to search the CFDA online, go to http://www.CFDA.gov.
New grant programs are announced in the Federal Register at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html. Searching the Federal Register
on a daily basis can be a daunting task, even by keyword. The Grantsmanship Center, a private but widely recognized foundation provides a listing of all federal grant announcements culled daily from the Federal Register. Search TGCI's Federal Register Archives, at http://www.tgci.com/funding/fedTodayAR.asp.
Finding Grants. For more detailed information on how to find and apply for federal and other grants, the following InfoPacks created by my office are available for download:
Grant Pre-Application Assistance. Once you have obtained information regarding a federal grant, you may have questions while developing your proposal or application. You should contact the responsible federal agency directly. Contact information is usually listed in the federal agency's grant announcement in the Federal Register and elsewhere.
After carefully searching the original grant announcement and the federal agency's website, then you may contact my office for assistance in finding a contact within the granting agency.
I have provided a helpful, "how-to" guide to the federal grant application process. You can download this useful InfoPack below.
Congressional Letter of Support. Should you decide to apply for a federal grant, you may wish to contact me to request a Congressional Letter of Support. I have provided guidelines for requesting such a letter below.
Grant Award/Denial Notification. Federal agencies notify each potential grantee of the decision on their grant application. Sometimes this approval can be delayed, or even lost in the mail. My office can provide assistance in these cases. Simply call my office and request to speak with my grants coordinator.
Frequently, federal agencies will let us know if a grant has been approved prior to public announcement. If you have been working with my office on your grant application, we will let you know as soon as we do, which could be as much as 3-4 weeks earlier than the formal agency notification.
If your application has been denied, you should obtain detailed information on why it was denied in order to make your application more likely to gain approval the next time you apply. My office can provide advocacy with federal agencies to help you learn reasons for the denial, if you are unable to get this information directly from the federal agency involved.
Grantee Assistance. Once a federal grant has been awarded, there are frequently a number of formalities that must be completed in order to actually begin and continue to receive grant funds disbursements.
Occasionally, problems develop in this process, and if you are unable to resolve these difficulties with the granting agency directly, you may contact my office for assistance in getting the problem resolved.
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