Here’s an example of a company that “gets it”! An article in the Kansas City Business Journal caught my eye. Suzanna Stagemeyer headlined her article as follows: “Businesses aim talent at stimulus”. After reading the entire article, I would have to say that ICOP is truly being proactive and realizes that there is a small window of opportunity to capitalize on part of the millions of dollars in stimulus funding for law enforcement agencies.

ICOP provides “innovative, mission-critical security, surveillance and communication solutions” to both the private and public sector. As soon as the stimulus package was passed, the ICOP team was busy identifying grant opportunities contained within the legislation. They followed up their research by helping their customers and prospects understand how to utilize the funding to purchase ICOP products.

ICOP understands that taking advantage of funding opportunities could mean the difference between a so-so year and a great year.

Ms. Stagemeyer also visited with Eco-Fit Lighting – LED streetlight replacement funds and Rhythm Engineering, traffic control systems that use artificial intelligence. Both are Kansas City area start-up companies that are positioning themselves appropriately.

So what have you been doing? We’d love to hear your stories about how you’re positioning your company to take advantage of stimulus funding opportunities. Post a comment today!

The current thinking on the stimulus program is clearly to provide insititutions with a huge amount of new funding to spend with American businesses. The highlights of last week’s House version of the bill points this out. We’ve grouped the major funding amounts below according to their institutional areas.

This list of funding possibilities is not complete; there will be changes to the legislation. It’s being debated in the Senate now and then must return to be reconciled with the House version. We’ll continue to track these funds, and drill deeper beneath the strings that will be attached to them in future posts.

House Appropriations Committee Stimulus Proposal
Most funds to be released over a two-year period

Local Government

• $32 billion to transform energy transmission, distribution and production
• $16 billion to repair public housing and improve energy efficiency
• $6 billion to expand broadband internet to rural and underserved areas
• $19 billion for clean water, flood control, etc.
• $10 billion for transit and rail systems
• $3.1 billion for improvements to infrastructure on public land including parks.
• $100 million to remove lead paint hazards In public housing

Police, Sheriff, Fire

• $4.1 billion for state and local law enforcement funding
• $25 billion in aid to states for “other high priority needs such as public safety
• $550 million for state and local volunteer programs related to wildfire control

K-12 Education

• $14 billion for renovation and modernization of facilities
• $1 billion for education technology
• $13 billion for IDEA special education
• $13 billion for Title I
• $250 million for states to develop data systems that track student achievement
• $726 million for after school meal programs

Early Childhood

• $2 billion child care development block grant for low-income families
• $2.1 billion for Head Start programs
• $600 million for early childhood IDEA special education
• $360 million for new child development centers in the Department of Defense

Healthcare

• $20 billion for health information technology
• $4.1 billion for preventative care (public health)
• $3.75 billion for the construction of new hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in the Department of Defense
• $950 million for improvements to Veterans Affairs medical facilities
• $1.5 billion for Primary Care programs

Social Services

• $66 million for programs for homeless child and youth
• $500 million for construction of rehabilitation centers
• $1.5 billion for homeless shelters
• $200 million for senior nutrition programs
• $200 million for independent living services for disabled