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In line with a goal to double federal funding for biking and walking, Advocacy Advance is awarding more than $100,000 in direct grants to four organizations.

Using the grants to tap into federal funding streams and build their political influence, recipients will work to triple bicycle mode share in Atlanta, Ga., dramatically improve infrastructure in Pittsburgh, Pa., empower Latino cyclists in Los Angeles, Calif., and create a new model to win state dollars in Delaware.

Since 2009, Advocacy Advance—a partnership of the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the League of American Bicyclists—has awarded more than $500,000 in direct grants to 25 state and local advocacy organizations. This year, more than 60 applications with proposals totaling more than $1.3 million were received in the two grant categories: Model Grants and Capacity Building Grants.

Model Grants provide multi-year support for efforts that significantly increase federal investment for biking and walking. Capacity Building Grants catalyze the growth of advocacy organizations. Based on the organizations’ successful track records and innovative strategies, 2011 grants will be awarded to Bike Delaware, Bike Pittsburgh, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

“We are excited to support these grantees, as they help lead the way towards a more equitable and rational use of limited federal transportation funds, especially as the lessons we learn will be applicable to accessing state and local funds,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists.

“Receiving this Model Grant is a testament to the decade of work we’ve poured into building strong relationships with key city, county, regional, and state transportation officials - and winning the cultural battle that bikes belong in the transportation mix,” Scott Bricker, Executive Director of Bike Pittsburgh, said. “Now it’s time to identify and fund specific projects that will keep bike riders safer and result in more people bicycling.”

Advocacy Advance Grants are made possible thanks to generous funding from SRAM and Planet Bike.

2011 Model Grants

Bike Pittsburgh
Receiving the largest grant ever awarded through the Advocacy Advance program, Bike Pittsburgh will use $40,000 per year, for three years, to leverage partnerships, identify key bicycle and pedestrian projects and get them funded. Advocates will work closely with the City of Pittsburgh on MOVEPGH - Pittsburgh’s first comprehensive transportation plan - to ensure the plan includes recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects that are eligible for federal funding. Advocates will also work with county officials to get projects in surrounding municipalities in the queue for federal funding.

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (ABC) will receive $35,000 per year, for three years, to double federal spending on bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs in the Atlanta region, and triple the bicycle mode share from 1 to 3 percent. To meet these ambitious goals, ABC will hire additional staff and work with the local metropolitan planning organizations, and the Georgia Department of Transportation, to tap into two federal funding streams currently underutilized for bicycle and pedestrian projects - the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program.

2011 Capacity Building Grants

Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) will receive a $15,000 matching grant to hire a dedicated bilingual education/outreach staff member to empower Spanish-speaking residents who lack access to bike safety and advocacy tools, and build political power for improved bicycling in L.A. by better including populations of color.

Bike Delaware
Bike Delaware advocates recently won $5 million in new dedicated funding for bicycling in Delaware in 2012 - more money than the state has ever allocated in the past. A $10,000 matching grant will help Bike Delaware create a national model to increase state bicycle and pedestrian funding by creating an action plan for state bicyclists, advocating legislation, monitoring and communicating with DelDOT, and tracking progress.

In addition, Advocacy Advance will grant $25,000 in Rapid Response Grants throughout the year to help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking.

Learn more about Advocacy Advance at AdvocacyAdvance.org.

The deadline for Advocacy Advance grants is coming up quick. Inquiry proposals for Model and Capacity Building Grants are due Monday, April 25.

This year, $125,000 of awards will go to organizations with campaigns aimed at maximizing transportation spending on biking and walking at the state, regional, and local levels.

Get all the details and important contact info on the Advocacy Advance blog.

On March 29 and April 7, the Alliance hosted question-and-answer calls for advocates and organizations interested in applying for 2011 Advocacy Advance Grants.  A recording of the calls can be found in the Alliance Member Resources Library.

Refer to the Advocacy Advance Grants FAQs for a summary of the questions asked during both sessions as well as additional information on the grants and application process.

Advocacy Advance is a partnership between the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists.  This year, a total of $125,000 in awards will go to organizations applying for Model, Rapid Response, and Capacity Building Grants.  Learn more about our three types of grants and download Inquiry Proposal Forms on the Advocacy Advance website.  Inquiry Proposals for Model and Capacity Building Grants are due Friday, April 29.

If you have any additional questions, contact Brighid O’Keane at Brighid@AdvocacyAdvance.org.

Join us this Thursday, April 7th at 3 p.m. Eastern for a question-and-answer call for prospective applicants for Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grants. Click here to register for the call.

Capacity Building Grants support the development and professionalization of state and local advocacy organizations to increase rates of biking and walking. Click here for a detailed outline, including guidelines, criteria and other requirements.

Advocacy Advance is a partnership of the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists. This year, a total of $125,000 in awards will go to organizations applying for Model, Rapid Response, and Capacity Building Grants. Visit the new Advocacy Advance website, to learn more about our three types of grants.

If you have any questions, contact Brighid at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If you can’t make it, a recording of the call will be posted early next week. If you missed last week’s Q&A call on Model Grants, click here for the recording.

Last week, Advocacy Advance – a partnership between the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists – announced the opening of the 2011 grant cycle. This year, a total of $125,000 in awards will go to organizations with campaigns aimed at maximizing transportation spending on biking and walking at the state, regional, and local levels.  Learn more about our three types of grants at www.AdvocacyAdvance.org/grants.

Join us today, March 29th at 3 p.m. EST, for a question-and-answer session for prospective applicants for Model Grants. Model Grants provide multi-year support to state and local advocacy organizations with efforts to significantly increase federal investment at state, regional, and/or local levels for biking and walking infrastructure and programs. Click here for a detailed outline, including guidelines, criteria and other requirements.

Contact Brighid at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for the conference call number and access code. A second question-and-answer call about Capacity Building Grants will be held on April 7th. Stay tuned for the details.

By Brighid O’Keane, Advocacy Advance Program Manager

Advocacy Advance is pleased to announce that the 2011 grant cycle is now open.

This partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking, funded by SRAM, has awarded more than $500,000 in grants and scholarships to Alliance member organizations since 2009. In addition to grants, the Advocacy Advance team provides necessary resources, technical assistance, coaching, and training to bike/ped advocacy organizations around the country.

The third year of Advocacy Advance brings a new focus to the grant program. A total of $125,000 in awards will go towards organizations with campaigns aimed at maximizing federal transportation spending on biking and walking at the state, regional, and local levels.

Inquiry forms are now accepted for the Model and Capacity Building Grants. In addition, Rapid Response Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis for organizations met with unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. Visit our website to learn more about the grant goals, timeline, and application process.

If you have any questions about the Advocacy Advance partnership or the 2011 grants, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and we will happily assist you in your application.