Here’s an update on some funding opportunities for intergovernmental cooperation projects:
- Allegheny County Authority to Improve Municipalities (AIM) Municipal Government Efficiency Services Grant (MGES ). New in April 2011, the Municipal Government Efficiency Services grant assists municipalities who are planning to share services for their citizens’ benefit. Examples of projects include water/sewer consolidation, regional police departments, and shared technology initiatives.
o Deadline: June 1
o For more information, click here.
- DCED MAP grant (proposed). As part of the Corbett administration’s proposed budget, Pennsylvania is to offer this grant to foster increased efficiency and effectiveness. Funds go to projects with high impact and regional significance, and which can demonstrate strong local commitment and long-term sustainability. This will replace the current LUPTAP and SMS grants.
o Available after July 1 (projected).
- Multi-Municipal & Community Sustainability grant. The Local Government Academy provides funding for municipalities engaged in cooperative land use development. The goal is to engage in a community vision that looks forward to future growth. This can be combined with grants from DCED or AIM.
o Deadline: May 1, November 1
o To learn more, click here.
- ICCRP technical assistance. The Local Government Academy also provides technical assistance for conflict resolution at low or no-cost. Municipalities entering into an intergovernmental agreement can use LGA’s trained staff to build conflict resolution provisions into an agreement right from the start. The program is funded by a state grant that has already been procured.
o Deadline: none
o To learn more, click here.
How to boost your application
To improve your intergovernmental project chances for getting funded, it’s important to look at what each grant is looking for. Paying careful attention to these details will help you to design a successful proposal.
- Show cost savings. All of the grants are intended to promote cooperation in order to save costs and improve services. Be sure your project isn’t just intended to create cost savings; promote those projects which build on existing savings or collaboration. Provide concrete explanations of the savings to give a boost to your chances for funding. The MGES grant explicitly requires documentation on this, and the MAP and MMCS give preference to it.
- Show community support. This is important because it shows how likely the program is to succeed, and how long it is likely to last. Demonstrating community support significantly improves the chance of being awarded the MGES grant, the MAP grant, and LGA’s Multi-Municipal Community Sustainability grant.
- Show long-term commitment. This can be done by submitting an intergovernmental cooperation agreement (ICA). The AIM MGES program and the Local Government Academy MM&CS grants require the existence of an ICA before funds will distributed , although you can still apply before one is secured. The MAP grant gives preference to it. Remember, LGA’s ICCRP program can help you through the process of getting that agreement written down.
- Show sustainability. This relates to the multiple and equally valued criteria of creating lasting social, economic (including the long-term financial viability of the project) and environmental improvement. While your project may deliver results in one criterion more than the others, make a case about how each priority is addressed. The MGES and MMCS grants explicitly give priority to projects that demonstrates sustainability, and the MAP grant will give preference to it.
To Learn More
- The Local Government Academy
- Intergovernmental success stories
- Multi-municipal planning information
- Allegheny County’s funding program
Written by:
Neil Bakshi
Intern, Intergovernmental Conflict & Consensus Resolution Program
Local Government Academy
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