Michael Paddock Funding Wireless Subscribe to Newsletter Tell a Friend Print this Page 02/07/2008 Shift in Political Winds Brings Flurry of Funding in Early '08 Funding for wireless tends to come in the form of programmatic grants that fund applications that can use the wireless infrastructure as well as the infrastructure itself. The Department of Justice’s Weed and Seed program is a good example. Providing funding to “weed” out crime in high-crime areas, the program often supports video surveillance and advanced training (which can be delivered virtually) as well as wireless data access in identified areas. The wireless data access, enabling officers to interact with criminal history databases and networked video systems in real time, is pure infrastructure. But networking of the video surveillance and training applications can also be accomplished wirelessly, and the grant can help pay for a portion of the infrastructure that these applications use as well. While Illinois and Georgia have state-driven, pure wireless grant programs, most of the funding for wireless is coming through programs like Weed and Seed, Homeland Security grant programs, and similar programs for education and healthcare. Fortunately, for most community planners, these grants come out at various times throughout the year, the grantwriting effort is paced, and the resources required to pursue the opportunities are measured. Unfortunately, this year, that’s not the case. Since the passage of the federal budget last month, grants have been coming out much earlier than in previous years, a result of the impending change in administrations and a drive to get the funding awarded and in place before the heat of the election consumes everyone’s attention and those with appointments (senior officials) in the 26 federal grantmaking agencies start looking for new jobs. Homeland Security, Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services have all released a flurry of opportunities with deadlines from February through May, and most of these programs can support wirelessly enabled applications. Here are a few examples: Public Safety Urban Area Security Initiative (now 60 urban areas) – Due May 1 Transit Security Grants Program – Due March 17 Port Security Grants Program – Due March 17 Education Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools – Due February 19 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants – Due April 14 Smaller Learning Communities – Due February 12 Healthcare Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement – Due March 20 Electronic Health Record Implementation Initiative – Due March 21 Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program – Due March 18 These and other opportunities can provide significant funding for wireless initiatives, but coordination of grantseeking activities across the community will be a necessity, especially this year. Coordination happens in a couple of ways: Coordination of existing funding sources ensures that all the money already flowing into the community is being used to advance a shared vision –—no standalone technologies that don’t integrate with and support the community’s overall objectives. Coordination of new funding ensures that the community – government, nonprofit, and private sector – are maximizing the funding opportunities that are available from a range of sources. Leadership helps develop and articulate this vision, and tracking tools like those available from GrantsOffice.com can help organize the effort. But ultimately, maximizing the available grant funding out there right now will require a commitment at the agency director level and from and key nonprofit executives – in a hurry! If there is a particular grant program you feel has helped you build your wireless community or you would like to see a specific topic covered, just add a comment or e-mail me with “Funding Wireless” in the subject line. back Related Items: • Beaverton, OR • W2i Finalizes Program Agenda for Digital Cities Convention in Washington, DC • Bowling Green (KY) Launches Public Safety Wi-Fi • Interoperability Grants — An Opportunity for Tomorrow, If You Know Where to Look Today! • Government Processes Reengineering Roundtable: Summary • WEBINAR: Wireless Video Surveillance at the DNC and RNC Conventions Comments No records were found. Post new comment: Only registered users can add comments. Please Log-in

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