Ripple Effect

FUNDING TO PROVIDE LOANS TO PARTICIPATING SMALL BUSINESSES TO CREATE FULL-TIME JOBS FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY - RIPPLE EFFECT ENTREPRENEURS FUND (REEF) WILL USE $800,000 IN CED FUNDING TO EXTEND INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO THREE BUSINESSES IN OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. A SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER, WILL USE THE CED LOAN TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL SCHOOL BUSES, SUPPORT CDL TRAINING, AND EXPAND ITS TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS. A PRESCHOOL WILL FURNISH AND EQUIP CLASSROOM SPACE, CONDUCT OUTREACH, AND COVER INITIAL PAYROLL FOR A NEW LICENSED DAYCARE PROGRAM. AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROVIDER, WILL PURCHASE COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE, ADVERTISE ITS SERVICES, AND EXPAND ITS OUTSOURCED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OPERATIONS. THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE 30 NEW, PERMANENT FULL-TIME JOBS. THESE JOBS WILL INCLUDE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, FLEET AND OFFICE STAFF, DAYCARE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES. REEF WILL CONNECT EMPLOYEES TO ITS INTERNAL SUPPORT SERVICE NETWORK WHICH OFFERS FINANCIAL LITERACY, CAREER SERVICES, MENTORSHIP, CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES.

CDFI RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM AWARD

PURPOSE: TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INVESTMENT IN AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFIS). PLANNED ACTIVITIES: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE USED FOR FINANCIAL PRODUCTS, FINANCIAL SERVICES (REGULATED INSTITUTIONS ONLY), DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, LOAN LOSS RESERVES, AND CAPITAL RESERVES (REGULATED INSTITUTIONS ONLY), IN AN ELIGIBLE MARKET OR THE RECIPIENT’S APPROVED TARGET MARKET. END GOALS: THE GOAL OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS FOR CDFIS TO BUILD THEIR FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO LEND TO ELIGIBLE MARKETS AND/OR THEIR TARGET MARKETS, IN ORDER TO SERVE RURAL AND URBAN LOW INCOME PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT LACK ADEQUATE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. BENEFICIARIES: PROFIT ORGANIZATION, PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION, OTHER PRIVATE INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION INVESTMENT AREAS AND TARGETED POPULATIONS, AS DEFINED IN 12 C.F.R. 1805. SUBRECIPIENTS: THERE ARE NO SUBRECIPIENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD. REASON/PURPOSE OF MODIFICATION: THE RIEGLE ACT (P.L. 103 325), THE STATUTE WHICH AUTHORIZES THE CDFI PROGRAM, REQUIRES THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS, INCLUDING BASE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (BASE FA), DISABILITY FUNDS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (DF FA), AND PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTIES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (PPC FA), BE MATCHED WITH FUNDS FROM NON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES AND COMPARABLE IN FORM AND VALUE TO THE FA AWARD. MODIFICATIONS WOULD BE REQUIRED IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE FORM AND/OR AMOUNT ORIGINALLY OBLIGATED FOR THE AWARD, BASED ON APPROVED MATCHING FUNDS. NOTE: MATCHING FUNDS ARE REQUIRED ONLY FOR ORGANIZATIONS APPLYING AS CATEGORY II/CORE FA APPLICANTS UNDER THE CDFI PROGRAM. MATCHING FUNDS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR ANY NATIVE CDFI APPLICANTS OR HOUSING PRODUCTION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS (HP FA). ADDITIONALLY, MATCHING FUNDS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR SMALL AND EMERGING CDFI ASSISTANCE (SECA) FA APPLICANTS AND HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVES (HFFI) FA APPLICANTS, PENDING FINAL FY 2025 APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE.

PURPOSE: TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFIS) FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES 1) TO EXPAND LENDING, GRANT MAKING AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES IN LOW OR MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES AND TO BORROWERS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT UNMET CAPITAL AND FINANCIAL SERVICES NEEDS AND WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC; AND 2) TO ENABLE CDFIS TO BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AND ACQUIRE TECHNOLOGY, STAFF, AND OTHER TOOLS NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE ACTIVITIES UNDER A CDFI ERP AWARD. PLANNED ACTIVITIES: ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, GRANTS, LOAN LOSS RESERVES AND CAPITAL RESERVES THAT MAY BE USED TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON UNEMPLOYMENT, CHILDCARE, HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTHCARE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE, SMALL BUSINESS, SMALL FARMS, BROADBAND INTERNET, AND FOOD SUFFICIENCY. IN ADDITION, TO SUPPORT CDFIS IN BUILDING THEIR CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID 19, CDFI ERP AWARDS MAY BE USED FOR COMPENSATION PERSONAL SERVICES; COMPENSATION FRINGE BENEFITS; PROFESSIONAL SERVICE COSTS; TRAVEL COSTS; TRAINING AND EDUCATION COSTS; EQUIPMENT; SUPPLIES. END GOALS: EXPANDED FINANCING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT UNMET CAPITAL AND FINANCIAL SERVICES NEEDS AND WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC INCLUDING SPECIFIC DESIGNATED COVID IMPACTED CDFI ERP ELIGIBLE GEOGRAPHIES AS AREAS THAT MAY BENEFIT FROM CDFI ERP ASSISTANCE. BENEFICIARIES: CERTIFIED CDFIS WHICH MAY BE FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION, PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION, AND OTHER PRIVATE INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION, AS DEFINED IN 12 C.F.R. 1805, AND LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. SUBRECIPIENTS: THERE ARE NO SUBRECIPIENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD. REASON/PURPOSE OF MODIFICATION: NOT APPLICABLE.

THIS PROJECT PROPOSES AN EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MORE ROBUST SYSTEM-WIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EXISTING INITIATIVE CALLED PUDDLES TO FLOODS SUMMER INSTITUTE (P2F). WITH FUNDING FROM NOAA B-WET, WE WILL (1) EXTEND THE REACH OF P2F TO OFFER ALIGNED MWEE INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS THAT TAKE PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR (2) DESIGN AND ENACT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRAND FOR SCHOOL-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, AND (3) BUILD A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF, AND DISTRICT-WIDE INVESTMENT IN, A SOPHISTICATED INSTRUCTIONAL VISION FOR SCIENCE TEACHING. DELIVERY METHODS INCLUDE FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STUDENTS; SUMMER INSTITUTE IMMERSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REGULAR SCHOOLYEAR TEACHING; VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PRESENTATIONS TO SHARE AND DISCUSS PROGRAM EVALUATION RESULTS VIA WEBINAR AND IN PERSON.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: KNOWN RIVERS: CREATING JUSTICE-CENTERED WATER LITERACY ALONG THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER -MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCE THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION SUCH AS SINKING INFRASTRUCTURE, URBAN FLOODING, AND COASTAL LAND LOSS AS A RESULT OF LEGACIES OF SEGREGATION AND LACK OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES. TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN BLACK AND AFRO-INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, THE RESEARCH TEAM WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP AND ENACT A JUSTICE-CENTERED FRAMEWORK FOR WATER LITERACY THAT RESPONDS TO CHILDREN?S EXPERIENCES AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL WATER ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. THE PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW COMMUNITY-ENGAGED SCIENCE CURRICULUM AND TEACHING PROJECTS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS AND HOW STUDENTS AND TEACHERS GRAPPLE WITH THE JUSTICE DIMENSIONS OF ISSUES THAT HAVE DISCIPLINARY AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NETWORK OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, THE RESEARCH TEAM WILL ENGAGE IN FOUR YEARS OF DESIGN-BASED RESEARCH THAT CENTERS COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE AND LIVED EXPERIENCE. GUIDED BY A STEERING COMMITTEE OF LOCAL WATER-FOCUSED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, THE TEAM WILL WORK WITH APPROXIMATELY 16 TEACHERS AND 640 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3?8 TO DEVELOP AND STUDY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUSTICE-CENTERED WATER LITERACY CURRICULUM UNITS. ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS WILL INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOOLS DESIGNED TO AMPLIFY THE COMMUNITY?S EXPERIENTIAL AND HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AS CENTRAL TO SCIENCE LEARNING. THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE EDU RACIAL EQUITY IN STEM EDUCATION ACTIVITY, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE DIRECTORATE FOR STEM EDUCATION (EDU). THIS ACTIVITY SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND PRACTICE PROJECTS THAT INVESTIGATE HOW CONSIDERATIONS OF RACIAL EQUITY FACTOR INTO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE. PROGRAMS ACROSS EDU CONTRIBUTE FUNDS TO THE RACIAL EQUITY ACTIVITY IN RECOGNITION OF THE ALIGNMENT OF ITS PROJECTS WITH THE COLLECTIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THRUSTS OF THE FOUR DIVISIONS OF THE DIRECTORATE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.