Martin O'Malley
Governor
Anthony G. Brown
Lt. Governor
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Governor's Grants Office News
Summer 2009
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Lots to report in this issue of Governor's Grants News. The Governor's Grants Office staff have been concentrating our efforts for several months now on activities related to the American and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). We oversee the opportunities section of Governor Martin O'Malley's Recovery site and have conducted four regional trainings throughout Maryland on how non profits and local governments can find, win and manage ARRA grants, loans and procurement opportunities.
We are grateful to our many partners at the various locales, at institutions of
higher learning, namely, The College of Southern Maryland, Frostburg State University, Chesapeake College, and Montgomery College, who helped make these workshops the successful, as well as the talented subject matter experts who participated at the lectern. Montgomery College in Rockville professionally taped our last session this summer. For those of you who couldn't make a session, you can view the sessions online at www.grants.maryland.gov. Look in the What's New box.
I thank Merril Oliver, GGO's deputy director, for her leadership in grants management.
It is a difficult subject that she is able to distill for our constituents throughout the State. Merril was just elected as the new president of the National Grants Management Association (a rarity for a state government employee) and this summer also was awarded the Partnership Leadership Award by the Association of Government Accountants for her "superb leadership provided to the A-87 Work Group which exemplified the best in intergovernmental cooperation."
The Governor's Grants Office itself recently was awarded "The Collaboration Award,"
by the Washington D.C. Mayor's Office of Partnerships and Grants Services, at their annual meeting. We are honored to receive this by our friends and partners in Mayor Fenty's Office, with whom we have partnered on many occasions.
We currently are working on the 2009 annual report of federal funds to state agencies, a more complicated process this year because of ARRA. We hope to have the report published online by the end of the month. We'll shoot you an email when it's posted.
Eric Brenner
Director
Governor's Grants Office
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GOVERNOR'S GRANTS OFFICE SPONSORED 
ARRA WORKSHOPS FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND THROUGHOUT MARYLAND
The Governor's Grants Office greatly appreciates our numerous partners throughout Maryland for their help with the regional Technical Workshops for staff of local governments and registered 501(c)3 non profit organizations on how to manage the lifecycle of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant.
Thanks to:
College of Southern Maryland, Frostburg State University, Chesapeake College, and Montgomery College.
The regional workshops took place throughout the Spring, ending on
June 16 in Rockville. You can view a Governor's Grants Office RECOVERY ACT workshop here (in 5 session parts) thanks to Montgomery College Television. The workshop will be aired on the County's local public television station on a continuous schedule for about a year.
We thank the numerous speakers from the grants community who participated in the workshops, giving their time and sharing their expertise with thousands of
Marylanders, so we may maximize the benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA.) 
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GGO's Own Deputy Merril Oliver Elected President of National Grants Management Association
 Merril Oliver, deputy director of the Governor's Grants Office is the newly elected President of the National Grants Management Association (NGMA).
NGMA is the professional association for grants and program management professionals to collaborate, network and share insight on the practice of full lifecycle grants management. NGMA connects professionals in the grants field to improve and unify the grants delivery process and is committed to strengthening the relationship between grant-making agencies and grant recipients. Collectively, NGMA members are responsible for the management of billions of dollars in grants.
As an active member since 2002, Oliver has served the Association as a Director and Vice President on the NGMA Board of Directors, participated as an NGMA Conference speaker and moderator, and recently completed her service as NGMA Board Liaison to the Education Committee. In her new role Oliver's responsibility will be to lead and optimize the Association's efforts to achieve its goals and fulfill its mission.
"I am looking forward to bringing grants professionals together as we implement the landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and respond to our constituents' needs. This is a challenging and exciting time as ARRA pushes grants into the forefront of contemporary American life, said Oliver. "NGMA has been a great resource for me over the years, and I am honored to serve as President."
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On February 27, 2009, Governor Martin O'Malley unveiled a performance-measurement tool using his innovative StateStat Program, officially launching Maryland's Recovery and Reinvestment Website, unique in the country. Governor O'Malley testified and exhibited Maryland's Recovery Web tools before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform On July 8, in Washington, D.C.
www.recovery.maryland.gov is a tool Marylanders can use to track recovery projects in the State of Maryland that will be used to create or save thousands of jobs in Maryland.
Susan Casey, Research and Communications Manager of the Governor's Grants Office, posts ARRA grant, procurement and loan opportunities daily to the site; we hope you will bookmark the site to frequently visit www.recovery.maryland.gov opportunities.
The Maryland Recovery website also contains a detailed map of Maryland spending which recently has undergone a series of changes based on feedback from the public and elected officials. The information on this interactive map can be accessed in a variety of ways and includes information that will be part of the required quarterly reports that must be submitted by Maryland to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. If you have not visited this website recently the changes are dramatic and make it easier for everyone to see how ARRA dollars are being allocated and spent in Maryland.
The other website that recently has been greatly changed is USASpending.gov which provides
information on the entities in Maryland that have received ARRA grants, (you will have to chose "Maryland" in the drop down menu on this page) and the Maryland contractors (or their parent companies) that have received ARRA contracts (again, you must choose "Maryland" as place of performance) directly from the federal government.
This site still does not contain information on sub-contracts or sub-grants (e.g. a contractor
working on a road project funded by ARRA that first goes to MDOT does not yet show up on these lists) and there clearly are gaps where we know ARRA grant funds have been received by state agencies that do not show up on this website, but there is still some useful information already posted here and this is the place where all federal spending related to ARRA will eventually come together in one location. As with so many things related to ARRA, the expectation is that things will change rapidly throughout the summer on the USASpending.gov website.
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OMB ANNOUNCES SERIES OF RECOVERY ACT GUIDANCE WEBINARS THIS MONTH
 The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Recovery, Accountability, and Transparency Board have announced that Webinars will be held the week of July 20, 2009, to provide information on implementing the guidance set forth in OMB Memorandum M-09-21, Implementing Guidance for the Reports on Use of Funds Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, released on June 22, 2009. If you are unable to participate in the sessions listed below, the Webinars will be posted on the Recovery.gov website to view at your convenience.
The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) encourages its grantees receiving funding under the Recovery Act to participate in these Webinars. Also, please note that DOJ/OJP is developing a Webinar scheduled to be held in August 2009 that will address agency-specific issues related to Recovery Act reporting requirements. Further details on the DOJ/OJP-sponsored Webinar will be provided to our grantees in the near future.
Each OMB Webinar will focus on a major section of the guidance and the technology solution for central reporting. To register for an OMB Webinar session, please visit the Recovery Act Web site. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance for the live sessions as space will be limited.
Webinar Schedule
July 20, 2009
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Section 1 - General Information
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Section 2 - Basic Principles and Requirements of Recovery Recipient Reporting
Section 5 - Reporting on Jobs Creation Estimates by Recipients
July 21, 2009
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Section 3 - Recipient Reporting Process
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Technology Solution from an Agency Perspective
July 22, 2009
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Technology Solution from a Prime Recipient Perspective
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Technology Solution from a Sub-Recipient Perspective
July 23, 2009
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Section 4 - Data Quality Requirements
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GOVERNOR O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES ARRA GRANTS AWARDED TO 29 MARYLAND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
Maryland State Arts Council Grants $306,050 to Preserve Jobs in Nonprofit Arts Sector
Governor Martin O'Malley announced on July 14 that 29 Maryland arts organizations have been awarded $306,050 in Maryland Arts Employment Stabilization Program grants by the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), an agency of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). The funds are being used to help preserve arts jobs that have been threatened during the economic downturn. In addition, the federal government awarded $600,000 in ARRA grants directly to 10 Maryland arts organizations that will preserve additional jobs in the arts.
"These funds are critical to sustaining Maryland's creative economy during this time of unprecedented fiscal challenges," said Governor O'Malley. "Through the Maryland Arts Employment Stabilization program, 40 jobs in Maryland's arts community will be saved or retained, ensuring that our valued arts organizations have the support and resources they
need for continued growth."
Arts organizations that received funds in the council's fiscal year 2009 Grants for Organizations, Community Arts Development, and ARTvantage programs were eligible to apply for the Maryland Arts Employment Stabilization Program grants. In total, 95 applicants representing 20 counties requested a total of $1.6 million.
The Maryland State Arts Council, an agency of the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts, is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. In FY 2008, the Maryland arts industry contributed $1.2 billion to the State's economy and provided 15,000 jobs to Maryland residents. For more information about the Maryland State Arts Council, and to view the list of grantees, visit www.msac.org or call 410-767-6555 or TDD/TTY 800-735-2258.
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| MD Commission on Health Resources and its Partners Make Inroads to Reducing Infant Mortality
Under the direction of Governor Martin O'Malley, the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission awarded competitively bid grants to five Maryland health services organizations who are working toward reducing Infant Mortality, Pre-Term Births, Low Birth-Weight Babies and Teenage Pregnancy in our State.
Congratulations to:
Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Institute
Lanham, MD
Grant Award: $100,000, with potential for an additional $100,000 in each of two following years Grant Award Period: 7/2009-12/31/2010
Project Title: Bright Beginnings
Baltimore County Health Department
Baltimore, MD
Grant Award: $293,758.51
Grant Award Period: 7/2009 - 6/30/2012
Project Title: Prenatal Enrichment Program (PEP)
Baltimore Medical System, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
Grant Award: $300,000 Grant Project Period: 7/2009-12/31/2011 Project Title: Better Birth Outcomes for Baltimore
Garrett County Health Department
Oakland, MD
Grant Award: $298,288 Grant Project Period: 7/2009- 6/30/2012 Project Title: Garrett County - Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
Pregnancy Aid Centers, Inc.
College Park, MD
Grant Award: $300,000 Grant Award Period: 7/2009 - 6/30/2012 Project Title: Closing the Gap: Improving Birth Outcomes in Minority Woman and Lowering Teen Pregnancy Rates
Total Grant Awards: $1,292,047
"I am really happy the Governor is addressing the crisis of infant mortality in our State. It is such a good thing to do," said Pregnancy Aid Center, Inc. Director Mary Jelacic.
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Maryland Department of Transportation Receives $1.6 Million ARRA Grant for Baltimore Inner Harbor Connector
An American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant recently awarded to the Maryland Department of Transportation will cover the cost of a new ferry boat and much-needed pier improvements at Key Highway for Inner Harbor Connector ferry service, to provide more efficient passenger and bicycle ferry service in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
The improvements will help the ferry service, or "water taxi," reduce downtown automobile congestion and accompanying pollution, take advantage of cheaper parking opportunities in downtown fringe areas, tie communities together, and provide an alternative mode of transportation for commuters.
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Contract Awarded to Maryland IT Company for Construction of
New Recovery.gov
In a major step toward developing a state-of-the-art Recovery.gov website, a contract was awarded this week to Smartronix, Inc., a Maryland information technology firm based in Hollywood, Maryland. The company will build the new website for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, an independent agency that manages Recovery.gov and monitors spending under the $787 billion Recovery program.
The initial outlay, $9,516,324, covers many facets: redesign and construction of a new website; installation of hardware and software infrastructure; hosting and operations for the website; more robust data storage; an enhanced content-management system; and contract labor support and other features. If the Recovery Board exercises options under the contract, the pay out could total $17,948,518 over a period ending in January 2014.
Smartronix describes itself on its website as "a global professional solutions provider specializing in NetOps, Cyber Security, Enterprise Software Solutions, Defense & Commercial Products, and Health IT.'' (By the way, there are several good jobs posted on Smartronix's website; look under "careers, current openings.")
"With the assistance of GSA,'' said Earl E. Devaney, the Recovery Board chairman, "we proceeded in a careful fashion to find the best value for the taxpayers' dollar. In the end, this website, above all else, must be user friendly and provide the public with the necessary information on how its money is being spent.''
Devaney explained that recipients of Recovery funds - perhaps 200,000 or more - will begin submitting reports to the Recovery Board in October. That information will be posted almost immediately on Recovery.gov, he said.
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MARYLAND-BASED WEINBERG FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW GRANTS CYCLE FOR NON PROFITS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, announced on July 16 its plans to distribute $100 million in each of the next two years to nonprofits in the United States and Israel.
The total for each of the next two years represents a slight decrease from the $106 million earmarked for fiscal year 2009, which ended Feb. 28. The foundation currently helps fund some 600 nonprofits, including 310 in Maryland. State nonprofits received $39.4 million for fiscal year 2009.
For qualified registered nonprofits and local governments in Maryland, the foundation has $21 million in uncommitted funds now available. Letters of inquiry will be accepted beginning August 3. For more information, visit the foundation's website at www.hjweinbergfoundation.org. |
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Tony Hawk Foundation Accepting Applications to Fund Public Skateparks
The primary mission of the Tony Hawk Foundation is to promote high-quality, public skateparks in low-income areas across the United States. The professional skateboarder-turned philanthropist says "skateboarding is a way to build a kid's confidence."
The applicant must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization or a state or local agency (including public school systems or public projects). Grants range from $1,000 to $25,000 each.
The foundation anticipates approving grant requests twice a year. The next deadline is October 1, 2009.  For the complete RFP, go to the foundation's website at http://tonyhawkfoundation.org.
Click on the Mr. Hawk's photo to link to an interesting Voice of America story about his foundation.
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THE RECOVERY ACT HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES, TOO.
CHECK OUT THE FACT SHEET AT
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 Congratulations to the following Marylanders
for recently passing the certification test to become a CERTIFIED GRANTS PROFESSIONAL!
Mary Beth Campbell, CGP, Bethesda, MD
Debbie L. DiVirgilio, CGP, Port Deposit, MD
Maggie L. Holmes, CGP, Upper Marlboro, MD
Marci Levin, CGP, Chevy Chase, MD
Loretto McNally, CGP, Hagerstown, MD
Eva I. Shaw-Taylor, CGP, Lanham, MD
Katherine "Kitty" Jenkins Wojcik, CGP, Bowie, MD
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JOBS BOARD
The USAJobs website lists Recovery-funded jobs. There are many listed there right now, based in Metro D.C. area. To view the announcements, Click here or go to www.recovery.maryland.gov and click on "ARRA job opportunities."
Maryland Higher Education Commission is looking for a DIRECTOR for its OFFICE OF GRANTS. The Closing date is July 31, 2009.
This position is responsible for the daily management of the Office of Grants, which administers 10 federal and state grant programs in excess of $15 million in FY 2009.
Maryland Energy Administration is accepting applications for a Solar Energy Program Manager. Visit http://energy.maryland.gov/about/jobs/index.asp.
Baltimore Community Foundation is recruiting for a Development Director.
Information can be found at www.bcf.org/.
The Baltimore Community Foundation seeks an experienced, energetic individual to lead BCF's effort to identify and cultivate prospective donors.
ITT Corporation, Washington, D.C. has a position open for DIRECTOR OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT.
Requirements: Master's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration or related field. 15 years work experience, some in Federal government, 10 years in management and grants management, including a technical program. Contact Katie Surguy, katie.surguy@itt.com
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410.974.5090