Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program (84.345)

 

Program

84.345 Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program

 

Federal Agency

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

Authorization

Higher Education Act; as amended; Title VIII, Part H, Public Law 105-244.

 

Program Number

84.345

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

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.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

In accordance with eligibility requirements.

 

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). 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.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Contact the program office for application information. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

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

Not applicable.

Deadlines

Deadlines will be published in the Federal Register; contact the Program Office for more information.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Dependent upon the availability of appropriations.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and 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.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

One year.

 

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.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Not applicable.

 

Program Accomplishments

Three awards were made in fiscal year 2002.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $2,000,000; FY 03 est $2,235,000; and FY 04 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The average award in 2002 was $666,000.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

34 CFR, Part 75; published in Federal Register in March 1999.

 

Related Programs

None.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Jay Donahue. Telephone: (202) 502-7507.

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/programs/tech.html

 

Examples of Funded Projects

No examples are available.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Contact the Program Office for information.