What Kinds of Activities are Funded?
Labor-management committees funded under this program are not limited to any particular activity. In the past, grants have been awarded in a variety of areas. They include: improving communication between labor and management, innovative joint approaches to improve organizational effectiveness, increasing productivity and competitiveness, employment opportunity and job security, resolving problems of mutual concern outside the collective bargaining process, improving the economic development of the area, enhancing workers’ involvement in the decisions that affect their everyday working lives, establishing methods of communication for free collective bargaining, and many others ways to improve working relationships between workers and managers.

What is the Application Review Process?
Initial scoring is completed by one or more Grant Review Boards made up of three members of the labor-management community and FMCS mediators who rank each application in a particular category. The board will recommend selected applications for rejection or further funding considerations to the Director of the Grants Program. In general, at least two applications per category will be selected for funding. 

The Application Submission Process?

How May I receive an Application Kit?
You may request an application kit from our Grants Office at (202) 606-8181 or through a local mediator or download an application on our website.

What Does the Application Kit Consist of?
The Application Kit consists of the following: 2007 Kit Application Letter; 2007 Application Solicitation; 2007 Financial and Administrative Grants Manual; Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424); A copy of the law authorizing our grants program; Drug-Free Workplace Certification and the DUNS Number Information. 

Do We Need Help Filling Out the Application?
No, A professional grant writer is not necessary to complete the application. A federal mediator may not help you with your application. Nor can an independent consultant who plans to be paid by grant funds work on the application. Simply follow the instructions in the Application Solicitation.  If you have any procedural questions, contact us.

The Budget Section of the Application
All applicants must submit a detailed budget narrative based on applicant's proposal as outlined in the policies and procedures contained in 2007 Financial and Administrative Grants Manual. A sample budget is available in that manual.

Cost Allowability
Budget categories include: personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, and “other”. Funding requests from existing committees should focus entirely on the costs associated with the expansion effort, i.e., the purpose of the grant. Similarly, you may not claim all or any portion of existing staff as any part of the grant budget.

Use of Funds and Compensation for Committee Members
Labor-management committee members are not entitled to be compensated out of the grant funds for time spent at committee meetings or time spent in committee training sessions. Additionally, indirect or overhead costs are disallowed. Grants funds may not be used to supplant private or local/state government funds currently spent for committee purposes.

Cash Match Requirements
Applicants are required to provide at least 10% of the total allowable project costs in cash. Matching funds may come from state or local government sources or private sector contributions, but may generally not include other Federal Funds. Funds generated by grant-supported efforts are considered “project income”, and may not be used for matching purposes.