Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Promise Neighborhoods Program Implementation Grant Competition CFDA Number 84.215N | Apply Online

Promise Neighborhoods Implementation Grants (CFDA 84.215N) - FAQs

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Promise Neighborhoods Program Implementation Grant Competition (CFDA 84.215N), a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant opportunity created under the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) and authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Title V, Part D, Subpart 1 (sections 5411 through 5413).

2) What is the purpose of the Promise Neighborhoods program?

The competition supports place-based, neighborhood-level work in some of the most distressed communities. The goal is to measurably improve child and youth outcomes and use education as the hub for broader community transformation by strengthening local capacity and implementing coordinated supports that follow children from early childhood through college and into careers.

3) What does "Implementation Grant" mean in this competition?

This opportunity is specifically for Implementation Grants under CFDA 84.215N. Based on the description provided, it is intended to put an established plan into action at meaningful scale, rather than supporting early-stage planning only.

4) What kinds of strategies or activities does the program expect?

The model emphasizes building a complete cradle-to-college-to-career continuum of solutions. This includes strong educational programming along with family and community supports that make educational success more likely, with great schools positioned as the anchor.

5) What does the program mean by a "cradle-to-college-to-career" continuum?

It refers to a coordinated set of supports and services designed to help children succeed from early childhood through K-12, into postsecondary education, and ultimately into careers, rather than treating each stage as a separate, disconnected effort.

6) Are services required to be accessible to specific student populations?

Yes. The notice emphasizes that the full continuum must be accessible to children with disabilities and to English learners, which means applicants are expected to plan for inclusive delivery of services and supports rather than treating accessibility as an add-on.

7) What does the competition mean by "breaking down silos"?

The program specifically calls for integration across partners so that services are implemented effectively and efficiently, rather than operating as disconnected programs across separate agencies or organizations.

8) Does the program focus only on delivering services, or also on building long-term capacity?

It includes both. Beyond implementing services, the Department expects Promise Neighborhoods sites to develop durable local infrastructure, systems, and resources that can sustain successful strategies over time and support scaling proven approaches beyond the initial neighborhood into the broader region.

9) Is evaluation or accountability part of the grant expectations?

Yes. The competition highlights learning and accountability by requiring attention to overall impact and encouraging rigorous evaluation that can link particular strategies to student outcomes.

10) How much funding is available in total?

The total estimated funding listed is $23,450,000.

11) What is the maximum award amount per grant?

The award ceiling is $6,000,000 per grant.

12) Approximately how many awards did the Department anticipate making?

The Department anticipated making about 4 awards.

13) Is there a matching requirement or cost share?

Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants are expected to contribute matching funds or resources as defined in the official Federal Register notice.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to entities that meet the program's definition of an "eligible organization." The detailed definition is contained in the official application notice referenced in the synopsis.

15) What is the eligibility consideration for Tribal communities (Absolute Priority 3)?

For Absolute Priority 3, Promise Neighborhoods in Tribal Communities, the synopsis states that an eligible applicant is an eligible organization that partners with an Indian tribe, or an Indian tribe that itself meets the definition of an eligible organization.

16) Where do applicants confirm official eligibility, priorities, and definitions?

The synopsis indicates it is not the authoritative source. The controlling details for priorities, application requirements, performance measures, and definitions are contained in the Federal Register notice inviting applications for new awards for FY 2011.

17) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable package associated with CFDA 84.215 (without the "N" suffix when searching). The Department did not allow submission by emailing an application directly.

18) What CFDA number should applicants use when searching on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to use CFDA 84.215 (without the "N" suffix) when searching on Grants.gov to find the correct downloadable application package.

19) What was the application deadline?

The opportunity originally listed an application deadline of September 6, 2011, but the transmittal deadline was later extended to September 13, 2011 due to Hurricane Irene.

20) Was a Notice of Intent to Apply required?

No. The Department strongly encouraged prospective applicants to submit a non-mandatory Notice of Intent to Apply by July 22, 2011 via an online web form. Applicants who did not submit the notice were still allowed to apply.

21) Why did the Department request a Notice of Intent to Apply?

The notice of intent was primarily to help the agency plan for the expected volume of applications.

22) Were there pre-application webinars?

Yes. The Department scheduled pre-application webinars, including implementation-focused sessions on July 19 and July 28, 2011. Additional planning-application webinar dates were also listed, with details hosted on the Department's Promise Neighborhoods program webpage.

23) Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov submission issues?

The synopsis lists a Grants.gov systems contact: Julius Cotton (for technical submission issues).

24) Who should applicants contact for programmatic questions?

The synopsis lists a program contact: Jane Hodgdon (for programmatic questions).

25) Is there an official email address provided for questions?

Yes. The synopsis lists PN2011faq@ed.gov as a program email contact.

26) Is the synopsis itself the official source for requirements and rules?

No. The synopsis states that it is not the authoritative source and that the Federal Register notice controls the official details for the competition.