COMMUNITY DEVELOPMET PRIMER

Part IV: “Opportunities Abound...Stimulus, Budget Dollars and More”
By: Stan Foster, PARC Resources President

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I intended my topic for this month be “focusing on implementing your plan.” While the title of this piece is directed to the continued availability of significant resources under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the current budget and the proposed FY 09-10 budget, this is consistent with this theme. Plan implementation requires that you stay aware of opportunities and continually adapt to the conditions on the ground. This is just such a time, as opportunities are so numerous you need to check federal resources weekly.

Many folks have been confused by the flurry of apparent activity surrounding stimulus dollars and more than one person has assumed that they have missed these opportunities. The fact of the matter is, that there remains a significant amount of stimulus resources. Many federal agencies are only now trying to get their FY 08-09 budget dollars obligated. However, as most of you know, the federal fiscal year ends on September 30, 2009, so the time frame for successfully obligating current budget resources is very narrow. This makes it imperative that you stay focused on programs, initiatives and opportunities which could support your efforts. For the first time in many years, funding opportunities are going to continue to present themselves, making the current funding environment run almost concurrently into the next year’s budget.

Be a strong advocate for your cause. Our Congressional representatives will have a summer recess sometime later this summer; make sure that you invite your Congressional representative to visit your project. When they visit with you, explain how federal support can help you move this project forward. Put people to work and ask them to advise you on federal resources that they feel you should seek to fulfill your project objectives. This is more important than ever, because under the current funding climate, there will be a large amount of federal resources which will be unallocated near the end of the fiscal year and this will create opportunities for discretionary funding under a wide number of programs.

As baseball legend, Yogi Berra stated, “it’s not over till its over”. This fits with the current funding climate, so don’t miss an opportunity, by assuming that you have missed your chance. Opportunities will continue to abound for the next 18-24 months, and those of you who stay focused on your plan and getting your project complete will reap the benefits of these opportunities. The federal government website at first.gov will give you a link to all federal agencies, and all of them have a site dedicated to the stimulus dollars and regular budget resources on their home pages. Check this out regularly and make sure that you take every advantage available. As always if PARC can assist you in seeking these funds, building a successful strategy or simply deciding whether you have a viable project, give us a call or email today.

Next month I will focus on “staying the course” even in times of disappointment or setbacks.