Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism announces the 2009 Citizen Corps Emergency Preparedness Grant Competition.
DC Citizen Corps (DCCC) is a component of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative designed to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility and to help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism is the designated coordinator of the DC Citizen Corps for the District of Columbia. DC Citizen Corps creates opportunities for individuals to help their communities prepare for and respond to emergencies. It brings together local leaders, citizen volunteers and the network of first responder organizations, such as fire departments, police departments and emergency medical personnel. The mission of the DC Citizen Corps is to have all citizens participate in making their communities safer, stronger and better prepared to prevent and handle threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds.
Awards will be made to organizations in the District of Columbia to incorporate emergency preparedness activities, exercises, and trainings for potential volunteers in various DC communities. This initiative will support a wide range of program activities that emphasize readiness in the event of natural and man-made disasters in the District of Columbia. Additionally, applicants must propose to coordinate with and aid Serve DC in Emergency Support Function #16 - Volunteer and Donation Management, outlined in the District Response Plan. Prior knowledge and/or experience with Emergency Support Function #16 is preferred but not required. However, a willingness to be trained in details surrounding the Support Function is mandatory.
Criteria for eligible applicants: Eligible applicants are organizations currently operating emergency preparedness programs within the District of Columbia.
An organization described in Section 501 (c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501 (c) (4), that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply or act in any type of supervisory role in the program. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
All eligible applicants must meet all of the applicable requirements contained in the application guidelines and instructions. The Request for Application (RFA) will be released on March 27, 2009 at 9 am. The deadline for submission is May 11, 2009 at 5 pm.
Technical assistance sessions schedule is as follows: April 15, 2009 and April 30, 2009 at 441 4th Street NW, Washington, DC, 11th Floor, South. All interested applicants must register and attend the technical assistance session. Please email Regina Moran to RSVP for a training session. Technical Assistance sessions will be posted on Serve DC's website.
Serve DC anticipates awarding up to $330,000 in DC Citizen Corps Emergency Preparedness grants, not to exceed $75,000 per grant. The actual number and dollar amount of the awards will depend on the number of approved applications received.
Applications can also be obtained from 441 4th Street NW, Suite 1140N, Washington, DC 20001 or Serve DC's website. For additional information, please email the Director of the DC Citizen Corps, Regina Moran.