Maryland Governor’s Grants Office (created February 1, 2004)

Mission:  

Assist the state in finding, winning, and managing federal grants that are consistent with the state’s policy goals.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate state agency activity to identify and win competitive federal grants consistent with the policy goals of the Governor’s Office.
2. Assist local governments and community-based organizations in identifying federal grant opportunities while also making these groups aware of assistance that may be available through the state or private foundations, including non-monetary assistance.
3. Provide training and technical assistance on finding, winning, and managing grants to state agency staff as well as local governments and non-profit organizations.
4. Measure and track all federal funding data, including but not limited to federal grants.
5. Review federal grant formulae at the time of Congressional reauthorization to ensure that Maryland receives an appropriate share of funding.
6. Assist state legislators, members of Congress, local elected officials, and members of the Governor’s staff in responding to constituent requests.

Top Accomplishments:

• Developed a system to measure federal funds received by state agencies. After one year, the number of active federal grants increased from 472 to 502.  The dollar total of federal grants received by state agencies increased from $6.5 billion (State FY05) to $7.0 billion (State FY06), and is expected to increase beyond $7.3 billion in State FY07.
• Reduced new audit findings from state agencies related to federal grants from 44 during the previous year to 25, as reported in the most recent “State of Maryland Single Audit.”
• Maryland realized the single largest increase of any state in “return on federal taxes” during the most recent reporting year on both a dollar and percentage basis.  In FFY 03, $1.34 in federal spending was received per capita for every $1 paid in federal taxes. In FFY 04 this increased to $1.44. 
• Grants Office was twice recognized as a “best practice” by the National Governors Association; presentations made at the Center for Best Practices’ Annual Conference (Policy Directors) and to the Washington, D.C. Governor’s Office Directors.
• Grants Office received the 2006 Special Achievement Award from the National Grants Management Association.
• Maryland was the only state government asked to testify on S. 2590, the Federal Accountability and Transparency Act, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.  The Director was a Co-panelist (7/18/06) with Senators Obama (D-IL) and McCain (R-AZ) and the bill became law on 9/26/06. 

Activities:

Website: www.gov.state.md.us/grants/ Consolidates information on new federal grant opportunities, state grants, foundation grants, grant training, federal procurement, and state agency grants personnel.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

State Agency Grants Team:

• Cabinet Secretaries designate primary points-of-contacts for the Grants Office. Names are listed on http://www.gov.state.md.us/grants/grants_contact.html. 
• Points-of-contact participate in bi-monthly Grants Team meetings and undergo intensive training during these regular meetings.  Points of contact serve as subject experts and entry points for all grants questions from constituents.  They work together on multi-agency issues and grant applications, review grant formula issues, and assist the Governor’s Washington, D.C. office in maintaining relationships with federal decision-makers on grants issues.  They also assist in reviewing requests for “letters of support” submitted to the Governor from outside organizations.                   

Local Government Grants Team: 

• After serving on steering committees to plan for the first two Local Government Grants Conferences, and facilitating presentations at MACO and MML, the number of local government grants experts grew to warrant the creation of a Local Government Grants Team.  Many counties and municipalities now have Grants Offices or Grants Points of Contact modeled after the state system.  This group now meets in conjunction with the State Grants Team and assists in planning training activities, along with working together on grant related issues of mutual interest.

Publications: 

• Maryland Governor’s Grants Office Annual Report: Federal Funds to State Agencies, FY 05 – FY 07.  Detailed listing of 499 federal grants ($7.0 billion) received by MD state agencies. Also comparisons of grant funds by county and by state, along with a section on Maryland foundations. Three different editions have been published.
• Federal Procurement in Maryland.  Information on the companies, localities, and federal agencies responsible for $20.8 billion in federal procurement (20% increases during each of the last two fiscal years).  Two different editions have been published.
• The Red Book: Maryland’s Complete Source of State Assistance Programs.  Information on over 800 state programs (grants, loans, technical assistance).  In conjunction with the Maryland Department of Planning, two different editions have been published and updates are regularly posted on the website.
• E-newsletter.  The Grants Office sends an electronic newsletter to over 900 Maryland state and local government officials and non-profit staff.  Most have attended past Grants Office training sessions and all maintain an interest in grants and grants management issues.

Grants Training:

• Highlights: During the most recent fiscal year, 19 separate training sessions and conferences were held, with over 2,100 people attending.  Topics ranged from finding and winning grants, to grant writing, grants budgeting, procurement, and post-award grants management. Five of the post-award trainings were co-sponsored with the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office of Partnerships and Grants Development.
• Local Government Grants Conference: Over 550 local elected officials and staff attended the 2006 conference, an increase from the 450 who attended the 2005 conference.  Representatives from all counties participated each year. 
• Local Government Technical Assistance: Technical assistance has been provided in many different local jurisdictions, in addition to co-hosting grants training sessions in Southern Maryland and a regional grants conference on the Lower Eastern Shore.
• Assistance to Firefighters Grant Workshops: A total of 15 grant writing workshops were delivered during the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program’s application period for 2005 and 2006.  289 representatives of 188 Maryland Fire Departments attended; direct editorial and review services were provided to 25 departments; 7 of those won awards totaling $2.9 million. 

 National Recognition:

• National Governors Association: The Grants Office has been recognized as a “best practice” by the National Governors Association. Presentations have been made at their Center for Best Practices Annual Conference, the Washington, D.C. Office Directors’ retreat, and at the National Academy of Public Administration.  Individual consultations have been held with state officials in more than 12 states who are either interested in learning about the Maryland Grants Office or in duplicating its structure. 
• National Grants Management Association: Recipient of 2006 Special Achievement award for  “technical assistance to Maryland State Agencies, local governments, and non-profit
  organizations, through proactive and aggressive coordination of all state funding activity;
  and for fast-tracking four cornerstones to build a state grants management foundation
  ensuring significant increases in future federal and foundation funding to Maryland.” Presentation on “best practices in grants accounting” made at the NGMA annual conference.
• National Grants Partnership: Steering committee member and active leader in representing the interests of all state governments before federal agencies.
• All Hazards Consortium & Forum:  Strategic steering committee member.  Created the Grants Management Track for the 2006 annual conference.  Presented sessions on Homeland Security Grants Management at annual conferences, 2004-2006.
• Pilot National Solutions Project: The Grants Office has organized meetings with staff from the Maryland Treasurer’s Office, as well as with federal grants officials, to improve the speed and accuracy with which the US Treasury allows the State of Maryland (and all other states) to electronically “draw down” and distribute federal grant funds.
• Other presentations to National Audiences: 
• Evaluator, US Department of Homeland Security Grants Management Training Program (three times).
• Moderator, panel on homeland security grants management, Third Annual All Hazards Forum.
• Panelist, grants and audits, Institute of Internal Auditors 25^th Annual Conference.
• Panelist, grants and procurement, National Grants Management Association Annual Conference.
• Speaker, grants and procurement, Kentucky Public Procurement Association Annual Conference.
• Speaker and panelist (two times), S. 2590, Federal Accountability and Transparency Act, Federal Grants Network.
• Boards and Professional Affiliations:
• National Grants Management Association, Board of Directors.
• National Grants Partnership, Co-Chair Steering Committee, Co-Chair DUNS/CCR Committee, Chair Electronic Grants Award Data Committee.
• The Thompson Publishing Group: Board of Editorial Advisors, Federal Grants Management Handbook; Single Audit Handbook; Federal Funding to States Handbook.
• Maryland State Firemen’s Association: Government Liaison, Grants Committee.
• All Hazards Consortium and Forum: Strategic Steering Committee member.

Foundations/Nonprofits: 

• Foundation Collaboration: The Grants Office has worked with Maryland foundations to improve collaboration between state agencies and grant makers. Out-of-state speaking engagement to leading national foundations on working with state governments; in-state speaking engagements to Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers membership.  
• Free Consulting Services: The Grants Office has provided consulting services to nonprofits large and small, providing information on grants and other assistance provided by state government.