“The objective [is] to develop stronger rebate programs to address this energy-intensive business sector across the state and to encourage adoption and implementation of sustainable best practices among small businesses,” Green Institute engineer Nancy Kelly said.

Excerpted from startribune.com by Neal St. Anthony.

While tough economic times continue to force nonprofits to tighten their belts and compete for funds, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) has organizations abuzz about the opportunities available. However, if you’re like many others, you may feel overwhelmed just keeping track of the funding opportunities, not to mention the rules, regulations, forms, budgets, statements, and other hoops you and your organization must jump through just to apply for these grants and contracts.

Fox Consulting is here to guide you through the process of applying for federal funds, from planning a strategic and competitive approach, to articulating your case for support, to building a budget and work plan, to submitting a polished final project. Read more

When Scott Fletcher, director of the Aviation Maintenance program at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, called Fox Consulting last September and asked for immediate help applying for a federal grant, Kevin Fox didn’t hesitate. “Even though the deadline was less than two weeks away, we believed in the program and in the opportunities it would create for education, and ultimately jobs, in Northwestern Minnesota,” said Kevin, President of Fox Consulting.

The staff of Northland College and Fox Consulting worked nonstop to ensure that the best possible proposal was sent to the federal government on deadline.

Northland College received word in late February that the college has been awarded a three-year American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant for $4,996,844, which will be used to establish an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Maintenance Training Center in the college’s Aviation Maintenance Department. “This grant will position Northland Community and Technical College to be at the forefront of this developing industry along with our partners at the University of North Dakota and the Grand Forks Air Force Base,” said Dr. Anne Temte, president of NCTC.

Scott Fletcher, director of NCTC’s Aviation Maintenance Program, was thrilled with the news. “We are overwhelmed by the excellent opportunity ahead of us. The importance of this program, both to our region and our community, is immeasurable.

Fletcher said the grant application was completed by Fox Consulting of Minneapolis in just eight days in October 2009. “They really picked up the pace for us,” Fletcher said.” Read more

Sara is currently working as a program officer with the Northwest Area Foundation. She has also served as director of development and communications for NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center in Minneapolis and as a program officer for Family Philanthropy Advisors. Sara worked as a consultant for the Minneapolis Department of Planning and Economic Development and a senior project consultant for the Minnesota Department of Finance. A graduate of Skidmore College, Sara is a public policy fellow at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota.

Sara will join Fox Consulting on January 25, 2010. We are pleased to welcome Sara to the Fox Consulting team.