Successful grant writer shares winning tips

REDINGTON SHORES – Grants have become a lifeblood for many communities, making projects possible that would otherwise have been unaffordable. Grants are an attractive source of financing because the money is essentially “free.”

The funds come from outside sources, mainly the county or state, not local budgets, though most grants do require some sort of matching commitment.

The Pinellas Planning Council’s Linda Fisher’s reputation as a successful grant writer has made her a sought after resource.

Madeira Beach City Manager Shane Crawford has credited Fisher with helping that city land millions of dollars in grants.

“She helps us write grants we really want to land,” he said at a recent commission meeting. “She knows the rules of the grant game, and writes them in a fashion that we’re going to score high.”

Fisher shared some of the keys to winning grant money at the Aug. 26 Redington Shores commission workshop.

Fisher offers local communities assistance in finding, applying for and landing grants.

The levels of assistance the PPC offers ranges from researching grant possibilities and help in writing a grant application to doing a total grant package.

There is no charge for minor research or application help, as it is included in the basic interlocal agreement.

Grant research involves looking for grants that are a good fit. “You tell us what type of project you are interested in, and I’ll tell you what is available,” Fisher said.

Fisher also will provide examples of successful grant applications to use as a model, and review an application draft at no charge.

Fisher’s most used service is creating a total grant package.

That involves doing everything needed to apply for, and hopefully win, a grant.

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“We do everything, the whole package, start to finish,” she said, including “doing research, writing the application, putting together maps, pictures and support documents, guiding you through what needs to be done, and putting the package in the mail to get there on time.”

The typical cost of a grant application package is about $5,000, based on an hourly rate, Fisher said. Doing two related grants at a time costs less per application, she said.

Though Fisher said she cannot promise every grant application will be successful, “I do promise to provide the most competitive grant application we can possibly give you. There is a lot of competition for scarce grant dollars,” she said. “I want to maximize your chances of success.”

Tips for winning grant money

Fisher shared some insights to winning grants based on her 15 years of experience as a successful grant writer.

She said, “These are things you can do as a community to make your grant application stronger.”

Planning ahead is very important, she said. Successful grants often result from projects that have been talked about for a long time, projects the community has put a lot of thought into.

Involve your residents, Fisher stressed. Winning grants have strong community support which can be documented in the application.

Do a recreation survey or hold visioning sessions. Getting as many letters of support as possible from local residents and businesses is very important, she said.

Show a need for a particular project. “It’s very helpful to get as many details as you can on the project,” Fisher said.

The majority of successful grant programs show some type of professional concept plan, including cost estimates, from an engineering consultant.

Set money aside. Most grants require matching funds of some type, Fisher said, and extra points are often given if applicants are willing to put in more money.

Fisher told the commission her job is to help communities write successful grant applications. “I am very invested in seeing you win,” she said.

Mayor Bert Adams commented to Fisher, “You are very much in demand.”

Adams said the town would be providing her information on needed grants for parks, playground equipment, bus shelters, hurricane shutters for town hall and a charging station for electric vehicles, plus sewer system improvements.

Urban design guidelines get another look

Nearly 10 years ago, the town adopted a set of guidelines for new developments and major renovations. Included were requirements for a Spanish Mediterranean look, setbacks and parking that Adams said were expensive or difficult to comply with and out of step with current development trends.

He said the parking requirements, which call for pull-in rather than parallel parking on Gulf Boulevard, would never be accepted by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Also, the idea of designating parking places on Gulf Boulevard for specific businesses, which is included in the guidelines, could not be done because it is a state road.

“This puts us between a rock and a hard place,” said Adams. “It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Town Building Official Steve Andrews said the guidelines require “spending a lot of money when rebuilding to follow the requirements.”

City staff and the commissioners will be reviewing the existing Urban Design Guidelines. Adams said, “We should work through this and remove things that should be removed.”

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