REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)
FOR
FACULTY ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHAMPION
MINI-GRANTS
INTRODUCTION
Solano College as host for the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce
Development (EWD) Program Small Business Sector Navigator grant is seeking
applications for Faculty Entrepreneurship Champion mini -grant projects.
NOTICE
IS
GIVEN:
That SOLANO COLLEGE, will receive applications from Community College Districts as
outlined in this RFA at the address listed below or via email to charles.eason@solano.edu:
SUBMITTAL DUE: 5:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, October 5,
2015
Charles Eason
Small Business Sector Navigator
Solano Community College
360 Campus Lane, Suite 203
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 863-7846
charles.eason@solano.edu
Background
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has selected Solano
Community College to host the Small Business Sector Navigator grant which is a
statewide leadership position that will be working with the small business programs of
all 112 community colleges across the state. The Sector Navigators are part of the new
“Doing What Matters for Jobs and the Economy” framework that the Chancellor’s Office
implemented in FY 2013-2014. Working with ten Small Business Deputy Sector
Navigators (DSNs) across the state, the Small Business Sector Navigator provides
technical assistance to colleges developing credit, non-credit, and not-for-credit
programs in the area of small business and entrepreneurship.
Under this RFA, a total of ten Faculty Entrepreneurship Champion Mini-grants will be
funded. Each mini-grant will be for not more than $7,500 (no matching funds are
required). The intention is to fund one mini-grant for each of the Small Business Deputy
Sector Navigator regions. Preference will be given to applicants who align their grant
work plans with the in-region grants of their Small Business Deputy Sector Navigator.
As such, applicants are encouraged to coordinate with their Deputy Sector Navigators
and Regional Consortia. To find the Deputy Sector Navigator and Consortia contacts for
your region visit http://www.doingwhatmatters.cccco.edu/ResourceMap.aspx.
Eligibility
The Project Director for the mini-grant must be a full-time or adjunct faculty member at
one of the 112 Community College in California. The project can include work
conducted by multiple districts, but one district must be the lead applicant and fiscal
agent on the grant.
Scope of Work
Faculty Entrepreneurship Champion mini-grant projects should be focused on one or
more of the following activities:
A. Embedding/Infusing small business/entrepreneurship curriculum into existing
Career Technical Education (CTE) classes and programs.
B. Creation of credit or non-credit small business/entrepreneurship courses and
submitting them for approval through the curriculum development process. This
can also include taking existing third-party developed small
business/entrepreneurship curriculum and shepherding it through the
curriculum approval process.
C. Creation of stackable certificates/badges related to the small business sector.
D. Creation of low-unit certificates, certificates of achievement or AA/AS/AA-T/AST degrees in Entrepreneurship tied to CTE programs on campus.
E. Creation of entrepreneurship pathways from middle school, high school,
community college, four year universities and development of articulation
agreements associated with these pathways.
F. Small business and entrepreneurship related experiential learning opportunities
such as setting up campus student run businesses, business incubators,
accelerators, makerspaces, internship programs, and class projects working
with businesses.
G. The organization and execution of regional business model, plan, or pitch
competitions.
Payment for Services
Solano Community College will issue a $7,500 contract and purchase order with the
selected awardees. The grantee district fiscal agent will invoice Solano Community
College for reimbursement of expenditures (can be monthly, quarterly basis, or lump
sum at the end of the grant period). Final invoices must be submitted by July 15 th, 2016
along with the final report narrative (Exhibit C).
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FORMAT
In responding to this request for applications, please include the items in the check list
below:
Submittal Check List
A. One page cover letter signed by supervising Dean describing proposed grant project.
B. Work Plan using the Exhibit A template describing the proposed activities and
outcomes.
C. Budget not to exceed $7,500 using the Exhibit B template.
D. Resume of the faculty lead on the project (can be full-time or adjunct).
Please mail or email (Microsoft Office or PDF format) one copy of
applications to:
Charles Eason
Small Business Sector Navigator
Solano Community College
360 Campus Lane, Suite 203
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 863-7846
charles.eason@solano.edu
All documents required by this RFA must be received NO LATER THAN 5:00
P.M. Pacific Standard Time, October 5, 2015.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR SELECTION PROCESS
RFA Published
August 24, 2015
Applications due no later than 5:00 P.M.
October 5,
2015
Notification of Awards
Grant Start Date (Contracts/Purchase Orders Issued)
October 9, 2015
October
22, 2015
Grant Completion Date
June 30, 2016
Note: Dates are tentative and subject to change at the sole discretion of
Solano College and the Small Business Sector Navigator.