NCJA is working with Rulo Strategies on this project. This work group convening will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina and will include approximately 18-20 rural representatives from across the country representing elected officials, human service directors and law enforcement leaders. The group will convene to discuss how best to support rural areas in identifying and seeking funding. The tentative agenda for the day and half event is as follows:
Introductions: We will begin our day by allowing you all to introduce yourselves and share with the group the following:
• Top criminal justice issues/concerns in your rural community.
• Share your experience in seeking and/or receiving funding to address your community’s criminal justice needs.
Discussion Topic #1: What is Working in State/Federal Grants for Rural Communities?
• What makes rural unique? What works well because we are rural?
• What, if anything, is currently working for you about federal grant-making? Are there examples of solicitations or approaches you found to be helpful?
• What, if anything, is currently working for you about state grant-making? Are there examples of solicitations or approaches you found to be helpful?
Discussion Topic #2: Barriers to Applying for and Administering Funding
• What are the unique challenges of applying for federal or state grants as a rural community?
o If a federal or state agency wanted to redesign its grant-making to make it easier for rural communities to apply, what would they change?
o What types of programmatic needs do rural communities need/want? For example, do you need supplies? Do you want funding to pilot new ideas?
• What are the unique challenges of administering a grant as a rural community?
o If a federal or state agency wanted to redesign its grant-making to make it easier for rural communities to administer grants, what would they change?
Discussion Topic #3: Funding Structure
• When thinking about solicitations or RFPs you’ve seen, what do you like about them? What makes them challenging to respond to?
• What are ideal funding lengths?
• What are ideal funding levels?
Discussion Topic #4: Innovation
• We will share a few innovative examples of funding application approaches and ask for you to discuss what you think about this type of innovation:
o What other innovative approaches have you seen to make it easier for rural communities to apply for funding?
Discussion Topic #5: Technical Assistance
• What assistance could a state administering agency offer to you around grant-making?
• What support could the state provide you, beyond funding, that would meaningfully help your community address your criminal justice challenges?
• State’s Strategic Planning Efforts: What is the best way to engage rural communities (surveys, focus groups, etc.)? What is your preferred way to provide input?
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