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• Competitive Grants
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 The Northeast Sun Grant Initiative (NESGI) Competitive Grants Program announces the availability of funds and seeks proposals from qualified institutions that address the three strategic areas elucidated in the 2004 NE-SGI Roadmap, i.e., BioFuels, BioPower and BioProducts. In 2010, Northeast Sun Grant Initiative expects to award $1,050,000 and will seek proposals with emphasis on northeast region biofuels systems modeling, industrial ecology and environmental impact, and distributed scalable technologies.  In all proposals, applicants must describe how their new product, crop, technique or technology, if successful, will be integrated into a production system (identifying economic, certification, logistical and other barriers) toward full implementation.

The Sun Grant mission is to focus the intellectual capacity of the region's land grant universities in partnership with the private sector to enhance national energy security through the development, distribution and implementation of bio-based energy technologies, promote bio-based diversification and environmental sustainability of the region's agriculture, and promote opportunities for bio-based economic diversification in rural communities in assisting the region and the nation move toward greater energy independence.  For more information and to review the NE-SGI Roadmap or to view previously (2007-09) selected projects, please go to: http://www.nesungrant.cornell.edu  

In addition to requesting Sun Grant funds, all proposals must include an additional 25% (auditable) matching funds.  Two types of applications are being sought:  

Research Proposals: Grants that address the Northeast Sun Grant priorities will be provided to single investigators or small teams for up to $150,000 (total Sun Grant dollars) (1-3 years in duration). Single or multi-component (research and/or education and/or outreach) proposals are appropriate. (15 page proposal narrative limit.)  

Cooperative Extension, Education, and Rural Economic Development Mini-Grant Proposals: Education, outreach, and/or rural economic development proposals may seek up to $30,000 (total Sun Grant dollars over the duration of the project) (1-3 years in duration possible) in support of graduate students, cooperative extension educator training, outreach programs, or economic development projects. (10 page proposal narrative limit). 

  Previously-submitted proposals remain on record through 2011.  Resubmitted or revised proposals from past NESGI competitions must include an explanation, not to exceed one page, describing how the reviewers' comments have been addressed. Resubmission or invitation for resubmission do not preclude or guarantee selection for funding.  

Letters of Intent to apply are required for administrative purposes. Letters of Intent will NOT be reviewed.  Submission of a Letter of Intent by the deadline (November 13, 2009) automatically allows the Principal Investigator to submit a full proposal.  Letters of intent (2 page limit) and full proposals (15 page limit) should be addressed to Prof. Larry Walker and submitted through the online Webnibus System.  Letters of intent to apply are required by November 13, 2009. Full proposals are due by 5 PM Eastern, February 3, 2010. Full application guidelines.

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