WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt, along with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, will sponsor a public forum this month on how local communities and non-profit organizations can access federal funding programs and navigate the federal grants process through www.Grants.gov.

The workshop, intended to brief local officials on how to apply for and receive federal grants from a variety of agencies and programs, is scheduled for 10am on Wednesday, October 24 at the Otto Fehlow Room of the Plymouth Public Library at 132 South Street, Plymouth. On hand will be representatives of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

“With local towns and cities facing unprecedented financial pressures, every dollar counts,” Delahunt said. “Allowing federal grant applicants to apply for and manage grant funds online through a central website will simplify grant management and make it possible for local taxpayers to save tens of thousands of dollars.”

Grants.gov was established as a governmental resource named the E-Grants Initiative, part of the President's 2002 Fiscal Year Management Agenda to improve government services to the public.

The concept has its origins in the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, also known as Public Law 106-107. P.L. 106-107 was enacted in November of that year to: improve the effectiveness and performance of federal financial assistance programs and simplify federal assistance application and reporting requirements, while enhancing the delivery of services to the public.

Today, Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards. By registering once on this site, an organization can apply for grants from the 26 federal grant-making agencies

Rep. Delahunt has worked closely with and advocated for many local municipalities and organizations who have applied for federal aid, from fire departments seeking funds through the Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to human service agencies trying to access homelessness funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Further details are available by calling Rep. Delahunt’s office toll-free at 1-800-794-9911.

 

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