[Federal Register: September 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 189)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56269-56270]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30se03-50]                         

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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

 
Notice of Technical Assistance Teleconferences for Organizations 
Interested in Applying for a 2004 Learn and Serve America Program Grant

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of technical assistance conference calls.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the `Corporation') will be providing six teleconferences 
for potential applicants for a Learn and Serve America School-based 
grant competition (The official Notice of Funds Availability will be 
published on or about November 14, 2003). Approximately $3.5 million 
will be available for grants to be awarded to state education agencies; 
or nonprofit organizations with programs in two or more states. Funds 
for this grant competition are FY 2003 funds available under authority 
provided by Pub. L. 108-7. Participation in these calls is optional.
    The technical assistance teleconferences are designed to support 
potential applicants in preparing high quality proposals. 
Teleconferences scheduled in October 2003 will focus on:
    (1) Developing innovative collaborations between schools and other 
community organizations;
    (2) Designing impact evaluation strategies as an integral part of 
application development; and,
    (3) Creating programs that are designed to be replicated and/or 
increased in scale. Teleconferences scheduled in February 2004 will 
focus on clarification of the grant application guidelines and an 
introduction to eGrants, the Corporation's Web-based grant management 
system.

[[Page 56270]]

    The Corporation expects to make awards to applicants proposing 
innovative service-learning initiatives in two program areas of high 
importance to the Corporation: (1) Homeland Security through creation 
of programs that engage schools, students, their families, with 
community-based organizations in activities to minimize the damage or 
speed the recovery from disasters and emergencies (Schools often serve 
as the locus of a community's response to disasters by storing supplies 
and providing shelter and housing for victims and responders to any 
local emergency); (2) Bridging the Digital Divide through programs that 
reduce inequality in technological literacy, access to technology, or 
address underutilization of available technology and its applications. 
In both program areas the Corporation strongly encourages incorporation 
of adult, especially senior, volunteers. Applicants may also address 
both issues areas within a single program design.

DATES: Teleconference Dates: The first three calls, focused on 
developing high-quality programs, will take place on Wednesday, October 
29, 2003, from 2-3:30 p.m. e.s.t., on Thursday, October 30, 2003, from 
4-5:30 p.m. e.s.t., and on Tuesday, November 4, 2003, from 1-2:30 p.m. 
e.s.t. The second round of calls, to clarify program guidance, will 
take place on Friday, February 6, 2004, from 1-2:30 p.m. e.s.t., on 
Thursday, February 12 from 3-4:30 p.m. e.s.t., and on Tuesday, February 
17, 2004, from 4-5:30 p.m. e.s.t. Please register for these calls by 
telephoning Juanita Peoples at (202) 606-5000 x117. The Corporation 
strongly encourages potential applicants to participate in both calls. 
Availability is limited to the first 30 registrants per call.

ADDRESSES: Corporation for National and Community Service, Learn and 
Serve America, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Abbott, Learn and Serve America, mabbott@cns.gov, 202-606-5000 x120.

    Dated: September 24, 2003.
Amy B. Cohen,
Director, Learn and Serve America.
[FR Doc. 03-24729 Filed 9-29-03; 8:45 am]