Sun Grant Western Regional Center
2011 Competitive Grants Program

Funded by Department of Transportation &
US Department of Agriculture

Deadlines:

Letter of Intent:    December 24, 2010 (5pm Pacific) 
   Application:           January 31, 2011 (5pm Pacific)

The Sun Grant Western Regional Center (WRC) announces the availability of funds through its Competitive Grants Program to support research, education and outreach projects in three strategic program areas:

USDA Strategic Program Areas

1. Decentralized and Distributed Energy Systems
2. Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainability

DOT Strategic Program Areas

1. Biofuels Feedstocks Development and Production (starchy, cellulosic and fatty acid biomass)
2. Biofuels Conversion Processes and Technologies
3. Bioproducts Development (biologically-based products) that reduce or replace petroleum use
4. Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainability of the Biofuel Supply Chain

The mission of the Sun Grant Western Regional Center is to focus the abilities of the region’s land grant institutions in partnership with the private sector and federal laboratories to enhance national energy security and independence through the development, distribution and implementation of bio-based energy technologies, to promote bio-based diversification and environmental sustainability of the region’s agriculture, and to promote opportunities for bio-based economic diversification in rural communities.

WRC expects to award up to $1.8 million in competitive grants and seeks proposals from qualified institutions and investigators that address the stated regional programmatic priorities. Cost share of 20% is required and indirect is limited by the funding souce to 25% of direct costs. Integration, economics, marketing, policy, education or a combination of these overarching activities may be incorporated in any proposal. Two types of applications are being sought:

Collaborative Proposals:   Grants up to $300,000 will be provided per year (maximum total of $699,000) will be provided to multi-Land Grant institutional and multi-functional (research, education and outreach) projects that address the Sun Grant mission and regional priorities. Proposals of 1-3 years in duration will be considered but preference will be given to two year projects. No more than two of these large projects will be funded in any grant year unless additional funding is available.

Single Institution Proposals:  Grants up to $100,000 per year for projects of one to three years will be provided to single Land Grant Instution proposals by individual investigators or small teams from that address the Sun Grant mission and WRC regional priorities. Other types of collaborations may be included.

In order to submit a proposal, a Letter of Intent must be submitted by December 24, 2010. Full applications are due by January 31, 2011. All application materials must be submitted through an online proposal system located at http://webnibus.org/sungrant/western.

The remainer of this document contains details on submission guidelines, timetables, and other application information. In addition, details are available on the above listed website.

2007-2009 Grants Awarded

Request for Applications & Grant Application Guidelines