The 2008 Safe Routes to School Grant schedule has been announced. Please distribute this information to your local schools, school districts, non-profit organizations, and government officials or staff who may be interested in apply for Safe Routes to Schools grants.
* Non-profit organizations and government entities may partner with local schools or school districts to apply for the grants.
* Grants are to target K-8 students, helping more of them to walk and bicycle to school more often and more safely.
* Grants are given in two different categories:
- Infrastructure: Sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, bicycle racks, traffic calming, intersection improvements, etc. - Non-infrastructure: Education, encouragement, enforcement programs, etc. - Many applicants apply for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure grants as the two activities reinforce each other.
* Applications will be accepted February 1st through March 31st, 2008.
Memo from MoDOT with details about the upcoming grant cycle:
To: Safe Routes to School Applicants
From: Todd Messenger, Safe Routes To School Coordinator
Date: November 16, 2007
Subject: 2008 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program Grant Cycle
The Highway Safety Division has scheduled Regional SRTS Grant Application Meetings for eligible applicants (public schools, non-public schools, state agencies, regional agencies, local agencies, law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations).
The program targets children in K-8 for the following purposes - (1) to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school;(2) to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and (3) to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
If your school/agency is interested in applying for funding, a Regional SRTS Grant Application Meeting will be held in each of the ten MoDOT districts (see enclosed registration form for locations). You can register for a meeting by completing the enclosed registration form and mailing or faxing the form to the Highway Safety Division. To ensure we have enough handouts at the meetings, the deadline for registration is December 14, 2007. Grant applications must be submitted online beginning February 1st, 2008, with a deadline of March 31, 2008. One hard copy original signed application must be returned to this office, postmarked by April 4, 2008.
Due to the complexity of federal laws, some schools may need a partner to help them apply for infrastructure projects or the non-infrastructure activities. Therefore, it is suggested that school’s contact the agency/organization they will partner with to attend the meetings also.
The targeted audience expected for the meetings are school representatives and/or state agencies, local agencies, regional agencies, law enforcement agencies or nonprofit organizations that will partner with the schools to apply for grants.
If you are unable to attend a Grant Application Meeting, applications and procedures may be acquired after February 1st, 2008, on the Missouri Department of Transportation website, www.modot.mo.gov . From the website, go to the Safety tab, Highway Safety, click on Safe Routes to School, then click on the Grant Opportunities link. A username and password will be required to apply. Eligible applicants may obtain a username and password by contacting April Miller at april.miller@modot.mo.gov or 800-800-BELT(2358). Note: all applicants must use the 2008 SRTS guidelines, documents and applications.
If you have any questions, contact me at todd.messenger@modot.mo.gov or 800-800-BELT.
The 2008 Safe Routes to School Grant schedule has been announced. Please distribute this information to your local schools, school districts, non-profit organizations, and government officials or staff who may be interested in apply for Safe Routes to Schools grants.