Town Hall meetings for state agencies to provide the public with information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the impact it will have on Arkansas. Presentations will be followed by a Question and Answer session.

Presenters include representatives from the Office of the Governor, Department of Human Services, Department of Workforce Services, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Department of Education, Arkansas Natural Resource Commission and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Thursday, June 4, 2009
10:00 am
Pine Bluff Convention Center
Banquet Hall #1
500 E. 8th Ave
Pine Bluff, AR 71601

Hot Springs, Arkansas
Thursday, June 4, 2009
3:00 pm
Hot Springs Convention Center
Room 104-105
2134 Convention Blvd
Hot Springs, AR 71901

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
9:00 am
Iberville Building
627 North 4th Street
Room 1-129
Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Austin, Texas
Thursday, June 11, 2009
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Rusk State Office Building
Room 227
200 E. 10th Street
Austin, TX 78701

-To provide homelessness prevention assistance to households who would otherwise become homeless;
-To provide assistance to rapidly re-house persons who are homeless;
-To make assistance available throughout New Mexico, to residents of all counties; and
-To make assistance available to all populations in need of assistance.

Proposals should be mailed to:

Proposal to Furnish Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing
New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority
344 4th Street SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
*Note - For specific guidelines, visit the MFA website .

Solicits applications from existing federally funded Head Start agencies to compete for funds, including training and technical assistance funds that are available to provide services to children and families residing in the Federally approved service areas or nearby areas that are currently not receiving program benefits.

-To expand enrollment by approximately 14,100 low-income children and their families;
-To reach groups, communities and neighborhoods that have not been served in the past, including homeless families, recent immigrant families, families who speak languages other than English, and families involved in the child welfare system; and
-To utilize collaborative planning processes with local pre-kindergarten, community childcare and early childhood programs and providers.

Eligibility is limited to currently Federally-funded Head Start agencies.

To request an application, contact:
Office of Head Start
c/o ACYF Operations Center
118 Q Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (866) 796-1591
Email: OHS@dixongroup.com
*Note - For specific guidelines, visit the DHS website.

Solicits applications from public or private non-profit organizations, including faith-based organizations or for-profit organizations that wish to compete for funds that are available to provide Early Head Start services to pregnant women, infants and toddlers, and their families.

-To increase the number of pregnant women, infants and toddlers served in Early Head Start;
-To expand services to communities who are not currently receiving benefits; and
-To provide early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services.

To request an application, contact:

Office of Head Start
c/o ACYF Operations Center
118 Q Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (866) 796-1591
Email: OHS@dixongroup.com
*Note - For specific guidelines, visit the Early Childhood Leaning and Knowledge Center website.

Applications will be accepted for new cooperative agreements to experienced organizations to provide nonprofit organizations serving as project partners, with capacity building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance.

-To provide funding for lead organizations in well-defined geographic communities with a proven track record of community involvement and experience in providing training and technical assistance to smaller grassroots organizations;
-To stimulate grassroots organizations, whether secular or faith based, to maximize their social impact as they provide services to address economic recovery issues present in their communities; and
-To help low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits.

Eligible applicants include: state governments, county governments, city or township governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, Indian/Native American Tribal governments, nonprofits with or without 501(c) (3) IRS Status, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations, small businesses and special district governments.

To request an application, contact:

Eduardo Hernandez
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Community Services Operation Center
Strengthening Communities Fund Nonprofit Capacity Building
1515 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (800) 877-8339
Email: OCS@lcgnet.com
*Note - For specific guidelines, visit the DHS website.

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Thursday, June 11, 2009
8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Embassy Suites Albuquerque
1000 Woodward Pl. N.E. – Sandi Ballroom
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Friday, June 12, 2009
Technical Colleges in Albany, Hinesville and Warner Robins
9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Technical Colleges in Atlanta, Athens and Calhoun
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Check here for the detailed information and directions.

A free presentation entitled, “California Health Care and the Stimulus: The Promises, Possibilities and Pitfalls,” featuring a panel of experts to discuss the potential plan for California’s health-care system as well as what goals the stimulus may put within reach.

San Francisco, California
Friday, June 19, 2009
11:30 am check in, noon program
The Commonwealth Club
Blue Room, 2nd Floor
595 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Funding is available for low-income families to weatherize their homes by installing measures that cut energy costs. Measures may include: adding thermal insulation to the residential building envelope; shading sun-exposed windows; implementing air leak control measures to reduce excessive infiltration of outside air; testing, tuning and maintaining heating and cooling equipment; reducing duct leakage where heating and central refrigerated air is distributed by a forced air system; installing low-flow showerheads and other general energy and water efficiency measures; and /or other energy conservation improvements as identified by the home energy auditor.

Individuals and families making up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or about $44,100 a year for a family of four are eligible for this program.

If you are eligible, fill out an application with the organization that serves your county. Find a list of supporting organizations here.

Free weatherization services are available to eligible applicants to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Energy saving services include measures such as attic insulation, caulking, water heater blanket, heating/cooling system repair, and other conservation measures.

Low-income property owners and renters who meet the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program income guidelines are eligible for weatherization services.

If you are eligible, fill out an application with the organization that serves your county. Find a list of supporting organizations here. Or, call the CSD toll-free phone center at 1-866-675-6623.

Free weatherization services are available to eligible applicants to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Energy saving services may include the following measures: weather stripping, caulking, minor repairs to walls, ceilings, floors, window and door replacement; installation of attic and floor insulation; installation of attic ventilation; application of solar reflective coating to manufactured homes; installation of solar screens; repair or replacement of inefficient heating and cooling units; and/or replacement of water heaters.

Individuals and families making up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or about $44,100 a year for a family of four are eligible for this program.

If you are eligible, fill out an application with the organization that serves your county. Find a list of supporting organizations here.

Funding is available for low-income families to weatherize their homes by installing measures that cut energy costs. Georgia’s Program uses Whole House Weatherization. The Whole House approach treats the house as a single energy-consuming system, rather than as a loose collection of unrelated pieces of equipment.

To find out if you are eligible for this program, contact the local service agency for your county. You can find a list of agencies here. If you qualify, the local service agency will arrange for a weatherization technician to visit your home.

Free weatherization services are available to eligible applicants to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Weatherization services may include the installing attic, wall, floor, duct, and pipe insulation; installing low-flow showerheads; cleaning air conditioners; installing sunscreens; installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, improving clothes dryer operation; applying cool-roof reflective coating to metal roofs, and/or replacing old refrigerators.

Eligibility is based on household income and dwelling unit eligibility. Check here for eligibility guidelines.

If you are eligible, fill out an application with the organization that serves your county. Find a list of supporting organizations here.

Organized approximately 300 people on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 to march past Louisiana Governor’s Mansion to the Capitol to protest Governor Bobby Jindal’s rejection of the $98 million in federal stimulus dollars that would expand unemployment benefits.

“We have a governor who doesn’t seem to care about the people who elected him to office. The poor are suffering,” said Ronald Darby, a Vermilion Parish police juror who brought his grandsons to the march.

“It’s important that we as a community unite to send a message to Governor Jindal that Louisianans are tired of being on the bottom of the totem pole in just about every indicator,” said Shacara Lewis, State Director for Every Child Matters in Louisiana and Coalition organizer.

Released a quarterly report to the President detailing progress in implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

To inform the President and the country of early progress of the Act in providing immediate financial relief for American families and jump-starting billions of dollars in job-creating projects in the first quarter, with both the pace of spending and job creation expected to accelerate in the coming months.

Released publication: “Recovery Report: 100 Days 100 Projects” to highlight the ongoing progress of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In the first 100 days since President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, more than $112 billion has been obligated, over 150,000 jobs have been created, and communi¬ties and tribes in every state and territory have been helped. This report was created to highlight various success stories across the United States.