We should be cooking but instead, we celebrate! A few days ago we learned that we have been able to get funding for one full time educator along with some improvement money from the San Francisco Unified School District (that's what the acronyms above spell out). While it is not quite finalized, and this is a thin sliver of the pie needed, it is a golden sliver. All I need to do is find the rest of the money. So we re-angle to proposal to allow for people to see the money needed and who and what funds are being commited and we can build it.
The timing for the stimulus money is perfect, but looks very complicated and competitive. There are lofty Federal guidelines, but the state is not ready to get specific yet. Oddly, the situation creates a better funding structure for us than regular governmental funding. Usually government funds present themselves as an increasing trickle but the stimulus funds are tied to immediate use and will be pulled within 2 years. This heavy up front style is much more like a classic business model and mirrors exactly what we want to do. But the acronyms are multiplying. ARRA, TANF, OEWD, ITA, TAA,WIA, WISF, CBDG and more. In these technical planning meetings you get wrapped up in wondering about how to show your program in the best light... a cohort training model?... an onramp bridge program? new collaborations? or just put yourself out there as we all rush to Super RFP 107?
It feels like I am taking the test before going to school, but wait a minute, am I the one becoming an educator? It is a truly strange time. Time to go cook something.
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