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Funding and Federal Programs
IT GRANTS
DOF Creations (DOF) specializes in building holistic IT solutions, covering everything from cybersecurity and software to the grant funding that can pay for these projects.
We’ve worked to help school districts take advantage of the federal dollars available to them that fund technology improvements (including E-Rate and grants).
Funding in Education (ESSER II Deadline Sept. 30th, 2023)
Colleges across the country lost out on almost $2 billion dollars that were clawed back by the federal government. Many believed that "allocating" the dollars to projects and purchases was enough to ensure that they could hold onto those funds.
In K-12, many schools are at risk of losing their COVID funding and facing a federal claw back similar to what occurred with HEERF dollars recently. These funds can be used for a variety of educational projects and tasks. As schools face constant strain on their budgets, these funds can push new projects forward or complete existing ones.
Another issue effecting school funding reports is that ESSER funding was released in 3 "buckets". While many schools try to spend these dollars "bucket-by-bucket", ESSER expenditures may be attributed incorrectly as an ESSER III expenditure instead of ESSER II. This is important because each "bucket" of funding has a separate spending deadline with ESSER II funding being clawed back sooner than ESSER III.
Many schools began spending ESSER III dollars before spending down all of their ESSER II dollars. This is often done accidentally. With federal databases showing records of school expenditures differently than the schools might, there is potential risk to schools of losing money because of an accident.
Let DOF help you take advantage of these ESSER dollars and ensure that you don't lose any of the dollars available to you. Don't reinvent the wheel, let's discuss what other school leaders are doing to use ESSER dollars to help their schools and students.
See recently updated chart of Funding - Federal ESSER Dollars
https://covid-relief-data.ed.gov/
Funding from ESSER can be used on:
Technology and Connectivity: ESSER funds can be used to purchase devices (such as laptops or tablets) and provide internet connectivity for students and staff to support remote and hybrid learning, including:
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- Devices for Students and Staff: ESSER funds can be used to purchase laptops, tablets, Chromebooks, or other computing devices for students and staff members. These devices enable remote learning, online instruction, and educational activities that require technology.
- Internet Connectivity: ESSER funds can be used to provide internet connectivity solutions for students who lack access to high-speed internet at home. This may include purchasing Wi-Fi hotspots or supporting initiatives to expand broadband access.
- Technology Infrastructure: Funds can be allocated to upgrade and expand technology infrastructure within schools. This may involve improving Wi-Fi networks, increasing bandwidth, and enhancing network security to support digital learning.
- Digital Content and Educational Resources: Schools can purchase digital textbooks, e-books, multimedia content, and online resources to enhance the educational experience for students. These resources can supplement traditional textbooks and materials.
- Cybersecurity Measures: Given the increased reliance on technology, funds can be used to strengthen cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive student and staff data from cyber threats.
- Interactive Whiteboards and Classroom Technology: Schools can invest in interactive whiteboards, projectors, and other classroom technology tools that support both in-person and remote learning experiences.
- Distance Learning Resources: Schools can invest in solutions to keep teachers and students connected, including softphones and VOIP solutions; alerting solutions to keep parents, students, and teachers, connected; LMS platforms; etc.
ESSER funding
As educational challenges continue to evolve, we’ve helped our schools manage problems from school connectivity and communications solutions for distance learning to digital teaching resources for the classroom, and IT support across campus when short-staffed.
At DOF, we build a custom solution for each district they support. Some require help to find and manage federal funding, while others need them to work side by side on a unique technology problem. We are always willing to adjust as your needs and challenges do.
We’ve become that grant resource. Through our many grant partnerships, we help our customers simplify the grant process from start to finish and take away the time draining, painful efforts that make most potential applicants shy away from the grant altogether. Because of this, millions of dollars a year are left unspent and un-won. Instead of saying “uncle” and walking away from funding that can support vital and transformative projects for you and your organization, let us help you.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Campus Cyberinfrastructure Grant
"Advancing Campus Cyberinfrastructure: Empowering Science and Research in STEM Education," co-hosted by DOF Creations and Extreme Networks.
The Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC*) program, a visionary initiative that seeks to revolutionize cyberinfrastructure at the campus level to support scientific applications and distributed research projects. Emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, the program addresses learning and workforce development (LWD) in cyberinfrastructure while striving to bridge the digital divide across various geographic locations.
DOF Creations and Extreme Networks explore the seven program areas and shed light on the funding opportunities that could help fuel the next wave of innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education.
DEADLINE: September 11, 2023
Campus Cyberinfrastructure Grant
"Advancing Campus Cyberinfrastructure: Empowering Science and Research in STEM Education," co-hosted by DOF Creations and Extreme Networks.
The Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC*) program, a visionary initiative that seeks to revolutionize cyberinfrastructure at the campus level to support scientific applications and distributed research projects. Emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, the program addresses learning and workforce development (LWD) in cyberinfrastructure while striving to bridge the digital divide across various geographic locations.
DOF Creations and Extreme Networks explore the seven program areas and shed light on the funding opportunities that could help fuel the next wave of innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education.
DEADLINE: September 11, 2023
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program, with $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The SS4A program supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Roadway Safety Strategy and our goal of zero roadway deaths.
FY23 Funding Announcements Expected in Fall/Winter 2023
The fiscal year (FY) 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Safe Streets and Roads for All grants closed on July 10, 2023. Planning and Demonstration Grant award decisions are expected to be announced in October 2023 and Implementation Grant award decisions are expected to be announced in December 2023.
The FY24 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for SS4A is expected to open in Spring 2024.
Who Is Eligible for Grant Funding?
The following groups of applicants are eligible for the SS4A grant program:
• Counties, cities, towns, transit agencies, and other special districts that are political subdivisions of a State.
• Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).
• Federally recognized Tribal governments.
