AUTHORIZATION:

Higher Education Amendments of 1998;, Executive Order Title VIII, Part H.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide grants to nonprofit education organizations that are established to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the underground railroad.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

In accordance with eligibility requirements. Organizations receiving funds must: demonstrate substantial private support through a public-private partnership; create an endowment that provides for the operations of the facility; and establish a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to help disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   An application submitted for funding under this program must include:

(1) The name, address, and web site address, if any, of the nonprofit educational institution seeking to participate, and the name, title, mailing and e-mail address, and telephone number of a contact person for the institution.

(2) A description of the facility that will be used to house the artifacts related to the history of the Underground Railroad and to make the interpretive efforts available to institutions of higher education that award a baccalaureate or graduate degree.

(3) A description of the substantial private support for the facility through the implementation of a public private partnership between a State or local public entity and a private entity. for the support of the facility as required in section 841 (b) (2) of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. An agreement documenting the commitment of the private entity to provide matching funds for the support of the facility in an amount equal to 4 times the amount of the contribution of the State or local public entity.

(4) An explanation of the proposed contribution of the State or local public entity and documentation showing that not more than 20 percent of the matching funds will be provided by the Federal government.

(5) A description of how the endowment will be created to fund any and all shortfalls in the costs of the on-going operations of the facility and expected sources of these funds.

(6) A statement as to whether the applicant institution intends to establish a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to help disseminate information regarding the underground railroad. If the applicants institution does intend to establish a network, documentation showing how the satellite centers will raise 80 percent of the funds required from nonfederal public and private sources.

(7) A detailed description of how the applicant intends to electronically link the facility with other local and regional facilities that have collections and programs which interpret the history of the underground railroad, including a listing of the facilities the applicant intends to include.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Nonprofit educational organizations that are established to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the underground railroad.

Credentials/Documentation:   Nonprofit certification including a description of the purpose for which the organization was established. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. All applications should clearly designate a contact person, telephone number, and the e-mail address of the contact person. Applicants should submit the original application. Copies are not necessary. Applications must be postmarked on or before June 30.

Award Procedure:   Awards are reviewed by outside reviewers.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

One month.

Appeals:   

Not Applicable.

Renewals:   

Dependent upon the availability of appropriations.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: An agreement documenting the commitment of the private entity to provide matching funds for the support of the facility in an amount equal to 4 times the amount of the contribution of the State or local public entity is required. An explanation of the proposed contribution of the State or local public entity and documentation showing that not more than 20 percent of the matching funds will be provided by the Federal government is also required. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

One year. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   For each fiscal year for which the organization receives funding under this section, a report must be submitted to the Secretary of Education that contains a description of the programs and activities supported by the funding, the audited financial statement of the organization for the preceding fiscal year, and a plan for the programs and activities to be supported. The Secretary may require an evaluation of the programs and activities supported by the funding. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   No Data Available.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations:   (Project Grants) FY 08 $1,945,410; FY 09 est $1,945,000; FY 10 est $1,945,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

No Data Available.

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