Reminder that NASA grants are due Monday, Nov 2 at 8:59 p.m. PST http://robotics.nasa.gov/
All teams are eligible under the following:
Program Growth Grants: Program Growth Grants are being offered to teams in their first two years of participation in the FRC competition. These sponsorships are not tied to any particular competition event. The grants will provide funding to cover the registration costs for the team to attend their first Regional Competition event. All funding will be sent directly to FIRST, and FIRST will credit the accounts of teams selected to receive a NASA Program Growth Grant.
Second-year teams: Priority will be given to second-year teams that received a NASA Program Growth Grant as a rookie during the 2009 season. Based on their successful participation in the 2009 season, and their continued participation in the FRC program, any of these teams may apply for a second year of sponsorship for the 2010 season.
Rookie teams: After the second-year teams are selected, any remaining resources may be applied to applications received from teams that will be rookies during the 2010 competition season (as defined by FIRST at http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=6632). Depending upon the availability of Congressionally appropriated funding, rookie teams that successfully participate in the program in 2010 may apply for a second year of sponsorship for the 2011 season.
Veteran teams: Except as noted above, these NASA sponsorship programs are primarily intended to provide support for rookie teams that are just entering the FRC program. The intent of Program Growth Grants is to assist in the formation of new teams. However, it may not be possible to award all available sponsorships to qualified second-year or rookie teams. In this event, qualified veteran teams that have applied for sponsorship may be selected. Applications for Program Growth Grants from veteran teams will be considered after all rookie team and second-year team applications have been evaluated.
NEW this YEAR: Sustaining Grants: It is recognized that this is an extraordinarily difficult year for many teams due to the national economic situation. Due to the extreme circumstances, many long-term teams have lost significant corporate sponsorship and are on the brink of ceasing operations. It is our intent to provide short-term assistance to those teams to allow them to continue productive participation in the program while they identify and acquire new long-term sponsorship. Toward that end, NASA will accept applications for “Sustaining Grants” to provide a $5,000 grant to provide first-event funding for qualified veteran teams. Sustaining Grants are intended to help teams on the verge of dissolution, and are not intended funding for participation in second or third competition events.
Good luck!
Deb
