Disaster Grants Available For Literacy Programs

Aggie Hotline, November 04, 2008

The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy and the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) in the College of Education and Human Development will  offer disaster recovery grants for Texas adult and family literacy programs adversely affected by Hurricane Ike and the Rio Grande flooding in September 2008.

"Even though the actual storm has passed, the effects are still being felt across Texas,” said former first lady Barbara Bush.

"Many literacy programs in the state have lost their buildings, supplies and in some places, their students. Workers have been displaced by the hurricane and must learn new trades. The grants will supply immediate and direct relief to alleviate damages caused by the storm, as well as help provide countless people with the knowledge and reading skills to succeed in the years to come.”

The short-term grant program will award up to 15 in-state literacy programs one-time recovery grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 to cover specific, identified costs related to Hurricane Ike or the Rio Grande flooding. These costs might include replacement of lost furnishings; equipment or instructional materials not covered by insurance; out-of-pocket expenses to repair buildings; rental of temporary classroom space; outreach and recruitment expenditures to rebuild program enrollment; and temporary additional personnel costs.

Programs requesting recovery grants will need to complete an application process. The recovery grant application, eligibility criteria and more information about the application process will be available at www-tcall.tamu.edu. The application deadline is Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.

Grant award decisions will be announced Monday, Dec. 1.

For more information, email Federico Salas-Isnardi at fsalas-isnardi@tamu.edu or contact Harriet Vardiman Smith at 800-441-7323.

Writer: Kara Sutton-Jones, 979.845.1823, kara.sutton@tamu.edu

Contact: Harriet Vardiman Smith, 979.862.6518, hsmith@tamu.edu