$4.8 Million Grant Awarded To Santa Monica College

SANTA MONICA—Santa Monica College, along with 40 community colleges and organizations nationwide, were chosen for a sum of $125 million in grants. Santa Monica College was awarded a $4.87 million grant specifically for job training in the fields of recycling and resource management.

Energize Missouri Renewable Energy Biogas Grants Awarded

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources today announced it has selected five projects for subgrant awards totaling $2.25 million to develop farm and landfill biogas projects in the state.

Jefferson City, Mo - infoZine - The department has made the Energize Missouri Renewable Energy Biogas Grants available through funding received from the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The subgrant funds will support agricultural and industrial projects that use anaerobic digestion-to-energy systems and landfill biogas-to-energy projects to produce biopower, bioheat or other forms of bioenergy.

Solar energy grants awarded to high schools, fire hall

ENTERPRISE — A variety of energy efficiency projects are slated for installation in Enterprise and Joseph with the support of the Oregon Department of Energy’s State Energy Program.

"Wallowa County is in the lead by a large degree in the renewable energy field," said Louis Perry of LD Perry Inc. of Joseph.

Joseph and Enterprise high schools and the Joseph Fire Department received three of the six solar project grants awarded by the state.

Perry said Renewable Energy Solutions of Enterprise, a for-profit subsidiary of Wallowa Resources, applied for the grants. Perry assisted with some of the technical aspects of the application. The high school projects will cost $295,000 each, Perry said. The Department of Energy grants total $73,928 for solar panels to be installed over the multi-purpose room at Joseph High School and $73,920 for Enterprise’s solar project to be constructed in the southwest parking lot.

Community groups get $750,000 government grants to provide loans

Four community organizations in the District last week received grants from a Treasury Department fund intended to make credit and financial services more available to underserved populations. The awards were part of $104.8 million in grants for 179 groups in 44 states and D.C., the largest single round of awards in the history of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. In the District, Building Hope, the Housing Assistance Council, the Latino Economic Development Corp. and Partners for the Common Good were selected for $750,000 awards.

9 States Win $3.5B in Education Grants, Federal Pell Grants Awarded to Nine States Plus D.C. For Reforms

CBS News was at Washington D.C.'s E.L. Haynes Charter School got the good news, reports CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes. "The good news is that D.C. won the big grant called Race to the Top," Jennie Niles, head of E.L. Haynes Charter School, told CBS News. The reform proposal she helped author had garnered her city $75 million. That's one tenth of D.C.'s entire annual public school budget.

Auburn University - more BP oil spill remediation grants

Auburn University received the following grants from the National Science Foundation on August 23, 210. Benedict Okeke (Associate Professor of Biology at Auburn University at Montgomery) received $40,000 for a one year collaborative study assessing the effects of gulf oil spill on mobility of toxic metals and microbial activities in Alabama coastal wetlands. Ming-Kuo Lee (Professor Physical Geology and Environmental Geology at Auburn University) and James Saunders (Professor aqueous and environmental geochemistry, general geochemistry, and economic geology) received $34,083 for a one year collaborative study assessing the effects of gulf oil spill on mobility of toxic metals and microbial activities in Alabama coastal wetlands.

City Hall expands key small-biz loan program

The city of Chicago is expanding its Small Business Development Loan Program, providing more than $2 million in grants to five new lending partners and lowering its minimum loan limit. "This is an overlooked segment of the market, and we want to make sure that small businesses have access to affordable capital just like bigger companies," says City Treasurer Stephanie Neely.

$65 Million To Support Community Development in Indian Country

SIOUX FALLS, SD – (LoanSafe.org) – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan traveled to a Native American community in South Dakota today to announce $65 million in available funding to support a variety of community development and affordable housing production in Indian country throughout the U.S. Donovan made the announcement following a tour of the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota with Senator Tim Johnson.

Green Mountain Economic Development Corp gets $43,000 in grants for local business

As the economic downturn continues to take its toll on entrepreneurs nationwide, six small businesses in the Upper Valley region of Vermont are pushing ahead with plans to expand their business prospects using technical assistance grants secured by the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). The six businesses, located in five towns of the GMEDC’s 30-town region, are leveraging the money to explore new markets, focus on financial controls, enhance visibility, and ultimately to expand and add jobs.

State gives $17M in energy grants to Wash. schools

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire says energy grants going to 29 public schools and colleges will save energy and create an estimated 600 jobs. The grants from the state Department of Commerce will total $17 million and help pay for lighting and heating upgrades, new electrical and hot water systems, and air conditioning improvements. Another $26 million for the projects is coming from local money, private dollars, debt financing, stimulus dollars from the federal government and incentives from local utilities.

Long Beach NSP2 First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program

CALIFORNIA(LoanSafe.org) – Through Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) funding , the City of Long Beach brings the community a new first-time homebuyer assistance program. This Program assists qualified buyers with a deferred payment second mortgage assistance loan up to$200,000 towards the purchase of a foreclosed single-family homes located within eligible qualified areas of Long Beach. The Program will also provide buyers with up to $30,000 in grant funds to bring the home up to local building standards. Buyers may also be eligible to receive a grant of up to $10,000 to assist with Closing Costs.

Grants Awarded to Aid Homeless Vets

SAN DIEGO - The federal government on Thursday announced $15 million in grants for five communities near military installations around the country, including San Diego, for programs that provide housing assistance and supportive services to prevent homelessness among veterans. Existing grantees and care organizations that serve Camp Pendleton, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, Fort Drum in Watertown, N.Y., and Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash., will receive $2 million for each military installation, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Texas State University and City of San Marcos win $1.85M research development grant

A partnership between Texas State University-San Marcos and the City of San Marcos has landed a $1.85 million award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration in support of the new Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) building. The grant funds the construction of a state-of-the-art research and commercialization center at Texas State through the Office of Commercialization and Industrial Relations. "We are thrilled that an important technology partnership between the City of San Marcos and Texas State University will take a major step forward with the award of a significant federal grant," said Mayor Susan Narvaiz. "This project will help us attract corporate research on alternative energy projects and establish San Marcos as a place for university graduates to find high tech careers."

Tennessee Solar Institute awards $4.5 million in grants

The Tennessee Solar Institute has issued its first round of grants. The awards announced Friday total $4.5 million and officials said they will result in 2.8 megawatts of new solar energy production in the state. The institute -- a partnership of the University of Tennessee and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory -- is aimed at speeding construction of renewable energy resources. It falls under Gov. Phil Bredesen's Volunteer State Solar Initiative and is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

NOAA Awards Grant to Investigate Impacts of Land Use and Climate Change on Hypoxia in Green Bay, Lake Michigan

Scientists researching the causes and effects of hypoxia in Green Bay, part of Lake Michigan, Wisc., have been awarded $348,037 for the first year of an anticipated four-year $1,367,300 project through NOAA’s Coastal Hypoxia Research Program. Hypoxia within Green Bay has been a problem for decades, and recent evidence suggests that it may be worsening, with the potential for "dead zones" and fish kills to become both more frequent and more extensive with a changing climate. Hypoxia is a condition in which dissolved oxygen levels in water become too low to support most life. While hypoxia can occur naturally, it is often caused by excess nutrients from human activities such as agriculture and urban stormwater runoff, which stimulate algal blooms. These blooms of algae decompose through the action of bacteria that deplete oxygen from the water, and in the process, negatively affect the growth, reproduction, and survival of organisms exposed to the low oxygen conditions.

Pacific University psychology professor wins National Institutes of Health grant

Pacific University School of Professional Psychology assistant professor Michael Christopher was awarded a $179,600 grant to find a better way to measure mindfulness, a key element in Buddhist meditation. Mindfulness is used in psychology to reduce stress, help prevent depressive relapse and in dealing with addiction, among other concerns, but Christopher said he believes Western science has not found an accurate way to measure mindfulness in people.

BHCC Receives Somerville Housing Authority Grant

BOSTON, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bunker Hill Community College received a $23,000 grant from the Somerville Housing Authority to support an innovative educational model targeting residents of Somerville's. For the SomerPromise Program, BHCC plans to work hand in hand with the Somerville Housing Authority and Somerville Public Schools. Students will receive faculty/staff and peer support in advancing their college education and supporting their children's/siblings' elementary school education, thereby developing a holistic, family-oriented approach to educational success. Mystic housing project who are currently attending BHCC. The project, funded by the Somerville Housing Authority, and known as SomerPromise will begin in the Fall 2010 semester.

Blue Springs will give out grants to select first-time home buyers

Blue Springs, MO —Thirteen lucky Blue Springs residents – perhaps more – will get help from federal loans to purchase a home in the city. City Council passed unanimously its annual Community Development Block Grant project list Wednesday night, which includes $39,000 for a First Time Home Buyers Program. The program would mirror what several communities, including Independence and Lee’s Summit, use to attract first-time buyers. The new program was part of $248,345 in CDBG money the city has to use for 2010 and 2011, an increase from last year by about $20,000. Awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, residents must qualify to receive a $3,000 grant that can be used for down payment assistance and/or closing costs or a combination of both.

Business Growth Grants Awarded to Iowa Communities

The Iowa Department of Economic Development awarded five Iowa companies, located in Coralville, Fort Madison, Iowa City, LeClaire and Sioux City, a Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program grant. The grants were awarded to support increased production and business growth in Iowa. Fort Madison Siemens Energy, Inc., in Fort Madison recieved $180,000 to support the extension of rail spur to service Siemens. This $1,350,000 project will extend an existing rail spur to provide capacity for an additional 15 rail cars. The improvement is anticipated to expand the number of blades Siemens could competitively produce by 660 annually and increase current competition distribution radius by 1,500 miles. LeClaire Mississippi River Distilling Company, in LeClaire, is a start-up company that plans to be the first micro distillery in Iowa to focus specifically on the production of small batch, handmade vodka, gin and bourbon manufactured from locally grown grains. The Board approved a $95,000 award from the value added agricultural component of the GIVFAP to assist with the costs related to the production of the liquors.

Grants awarded to biofuels projects

A state grant of more than $463,000 announced Wednesday will help train workers in northern Wisconsin for production of biofuels. The announcement was made by Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman during a visit to Flambeau River Papers in Park Falls. Flambeau announced plans earlier this year to open a $250 million biorefinery at its paper mill by 2013.

First BOOST grants awarded to companies in Happy Valley, Forest Grove

The Oregon Business Development Department has awarded it first grants under the BOOST program, created by the Legislature to help companies hire workers through loans and grants. It launched June 1. A pair of companies, Miles Fiberglass & Composites of Happy Valley and Lieb Foods of Forest Grove, will receive grant money to create a combined 30 new jobs.

$100 million in ConnectOregon grants awarded

Kulongoski. It's the third round of funding awarded under the program, which provides grants to non-highway projects across the state. ConnectOregon I in 2005 and II in 2007 each authorized $100 million in lottery-backed bonds for projects such as rail, marine/ports, aviation and public transit. ConnectOregon III has provided another $100 million.

Energize Missouri Renewable Energy Biogas Grants Awarded

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources today announced it has selected five projects for subgrant awards totaling $2.25 million to develop farm and landfill biogas projects in the state. Jefferson City, Mo - infoZine - The department has made the Energize Missouri Renewable Energy Biogas Grants available through funding received from the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The subgrant funds will support agricultural and industrial projects that use anaerobic digestion-to-energy systems and landfill biogas-to-energy projects to produce biopower, bioheat or other forms of bioenergy.

Mass. clean energy researchers awarded grants

Five Massachusetts clean energy researchers will share in an award of $200,000 from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, directed toward projects that aim to help demonstrate the commercial viability of clean technology.

The award comes through the Clean Energy Center’s new Catalyst Program, which gives grants of up to $40,000 to early-stage researchers. The researchers must use the funding to develop prototypes, gather proof-of-concept data or obtain data showing a technology’s competitive advantage and how it compares to existing technologies.

North Carolina awards $950,000 in ‘Green Business’ grants to 14 firms

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina awarded $950,000 in "Green Business Fund" grants to 14 companies Friday as Gov. Bev Perdue signed legislation that moved the State Energy Office to the Department of Commerce from the Department of Administration. Firms working on biofuel, battery solar energy and a variety of other so-called green technologies were selected. The biggest grant of $99,486 went to Semprius, a startup focused on solar cells. Semprius is based in Durham.

Housing Trust Fund Awarded $1.2 Million for Homebuyer Assistance

The Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development under the Local Housing Trust Fund Program. The grant will provide first-time homebuyer assistance to low- and moderate-income families as well as financial assistance to support the development of affordable rental projects. The Housing Trust Fund will use $840,000 of the funding to provide 30-year deferred-payment down-payment loans up to $45,000 per household to assist first-time low- to moderate-income homebuyers in purchasing a home in their community.