Answer by Researcher nancy on Tue 1 May 2007 - 12:57 am UTC:

Hello Alex, and welcome to Uclue!

I've listed my search strings (below) and I suggest you try repeating them
-- *adding your state to the strings* -- and repeat my searches for both
writers and grants, but especially for grants. You should be able to find
more resources searching at the state level.

I believe you'll also find that your best bet may be to go ahead and begin
contacting grant writers/consultants while you're still in the process of
exploring grant programs. Grant writers often know from experience which
programs are suitable for which industries and projects.

Furthermore, you can hire a grant writer not only to write your proposal,
but to assist you with researching appropriate grants, loans, and awards.

***************
FEDERAL GRANTS 
***************

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)

Here's one for small, rural businesses: the Renewable Energy Systems and
Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, which is under the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA):
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/

From page:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/what_is.html

"...The USDA anticipates that this program will help farmers, ranchers and
rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help the
nation meet its energy needs. . .

". . . Renewable energy grants can range from $2,500 to $500,000. Energy
efficiency grants can range from $1,500 to $250,000. 
Projects under $200,000 total project costs qualify for a simplified
application process. Loan guarantees can be for up to 50% of total eligible
project costs. Guarantees can range from $5,000 to $10,000,000 per project.
. ." 

"How Do I Apply?"
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/apply.html

---------------------------

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

Every branch of the Federal Government has its own Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) grant program.

Here's the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) programs:
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/

"An SBIR small business is defined as a for profit organization with no
more than 500 employees. In addition, the small business must be
independently owned and operated, at least 51 percent owned by U.S.
citizens or lawfully admitted resident aliens, not dominant in the field of
operation in which it is proposing, and have its principal place of
business in the United States. . ." 

Scroll down to:

"$3.2 Million in Small Business Grants for New Environmental Technologies
EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program announced the award
of more than $3 million under its SBIR Phase 2 program to 14 companies for
work in five key environmental areas: control and monitoring of air
emissions, pollution prevention . . ."

AND

"EPA Awards $2.6 Million in Small Business Innovation Research Contracts
EPA announced the award of more than $2.6 million to 34 small companies for
38 projects to develop new technologies, including nanotechnologies, to
control and monitor air pollution . . ."

Be sure to click the "Read More" links.

-----------------------------

You can contact regional, state, or local EPA offices and officials by
using the links at this page:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/whereyoulive.htm

-----------------------------

If you're on the West Coast and are working with diesel fuel, you may be
able to apply for this program, "U.S. EPA offers $3 million in grants for
innovative diesel emissions reduction projects":
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/95d71b3ccf75a946852571000070d4f9?OpenDocument

"For additional general information about this Request for Proposals
contact:

Peter Murchie (Region 10)
(206) 890_0196

For more information about the West Coast Collaborative Grants and
the application process you can go to the following website: 
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/airpage.nsf/grants/wcc+rfp"

-----------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

The DOE's SBIR
http://www.science.doe.gov/sbir/newweb/about_sbir.htm

"Introduction for Small Business":
http://www.science.doe.gov/sbir/NEWWEB/Introduction.htm
"How do these programs work at DOE?  Each year (typically around the
beginning of October), DOE issues a solicitation inviting small businesses
to apply for SBIR/STTR Phase I grants.  It contains technical topics in
such research areas as energy production (Fossil, Nuclear, Renewable, and
Fusion Energy), Energy Use (in buildings, vehicles, and industry),
fundamental energy sciences (materials, life, environmental, and
computational sciences . . . Grant applications submitted by small
businesses MUST respond to a specific topic and subtopic during an open
solicitation."

Here are more resources on the DOE's SBIRs:
http://www.science.doe.gov/sbir/

DOE Contact Information:
Phone:(301)-903-1414. E-mail: sbir-sttr@science.doe.gov

Grants from the Department of Energy (DOE):
http://www.federalgrantswire.com/department_of_energy_federal_grants.html

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach,
Training and Technical Analysis/assistance (81.117):
http://www.federalgrantswire.com/energy_efficiency_and_renewable_energy_information_dissemination_outreach_training_and_technical_analysisassistance.html

Conservation Research and Development (81.086)
http://www.federalgrantswire.com/conservation_research_and_development.html

Fossil Energy Research and Development (81.089)
http://www.federalgrantswire.com/fossil_energy_research_and_development.html

Also see the DOE Office of Procurement and Assistance Management homepage:
http://www.pr.doe.gov/

Click on "Click here if you would like to browse for existing Acquisition
and Financial Assistance opportunities" to bring up:
http://www.pr.doe.gov/doebiz.nsf/MAiips?OpenForm
Then scroll down to "Browse Financial Assistance Opportunities."

-----------------------

DOE CONTACT INFORMATION:
http://www.energy.gov/contact/index.htm


----------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF)

The NSF's SBIR program:
http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/

"Program Specifications":
http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/sbirspecs.jsp

------------------------

NSF's Small Business Grants:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13371&from=fund

Under "E" I found two programs that include "transport systems":

"Environmental Engineering and Sustainability," and clicking on it brought
up this page:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501033

I also found this "Environmental Engineering program:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501029

You'll see a contact name and phone number at the top of that page: Patrick
Brezonik; e-mail: pbrezoni@nsf.gov, Phone: (703) 292-8320 
 
----------------------

GENERAL CONTACT INFORMATION for the NSF:
http://www.nsf.gov/help/contact.jsp

*******************************
GENERAL FEES for GRANT WRITERS
*******************************

Nearly every service I found asked that you inquire about fees. You should
expect to pay in the four figures for a state or federal grant proposal. 

Here's a very general idea:

From Raise-Funds.com:
http://www.raise-funds.com/040202forum.html
"But from what I have seen, experienced and capable grant writers charge
about $60 per hour. I've seen some fees in the area of $100 per hour and
more, and then I have seen some very low fees --- well under $50. I believe
that the $60 to $70 per-hour range is usual, and with the right person, it
is fair and reasonable."

The Grantsmen Center survey found varying rates of $100 to $250 per day;
$75 per hour, and $4,000 per project:
http://www.tgci.com/magazine/Consulting%20Fees%20for%20Grant%20Proposal%20Writing.pdf

**************
GRANT WRITERS
**************

Grant writers in this field may well be aware of applicable federal and
state grants. Grant writers often research grants, as well as write the
proposals.

American Association of Grant Professionals
http://www.grantprofessionals.org/

Rosalie Williams:
http://www.completegrantwriting.com/index.html
Rates:
http://www.completegrantwriting.com/rates_info.html

Stellar Grants:
http://www.stellargrants.com/services.htm
Rates:
http://www.stellargrants.com/fees.htm

Grantwriting Solutions, Inc.
http://www.grant-writers.org
For a generalized idea of their fees, click topics in the menu at left:
http://www.grant-writers.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=29

Grantwriter.com:
http://www.grantwriter.com/

For $50 an hour, they will research grants and other funds. State and
Federal grant proposal development is $3,000-$8,000. You must contact them
for a quote re: fees for writing the proposal.

Resource Associates:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=L&ai=BxtZv7DA2Rq2FD56OwQLu0eSPBM7p8yKT7L4B2PmUB-DcKhACGAQoBTAAOABQkvWB3v7_____AWDJ_oKM0KT8EZgBr5wGqgEEMkdNTMgBAdkD98LNJodVF_DgAwg&num=4&q=http://www.grantwriters.net&usg=AFrqEzc2tohgBpghxV2UlaKHME-M-DZhPQ

Also see Michigan State University Libraries' Guide to Grant
Writing-Consultants:
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/fraisers.htm

------------------------

You can check writers' portfolios and let grant writers bid for your
project at Guru and Elance:

Guru.com
http://www.google.com/pagead/iclk?sa=l&ai=BxoTlujg2RoGzBaKchASMnPGbBJj5ryXErP-MAoSm-xmA6jAQAhgCKAgwADgAUJHPgOEEYMn-gozQpPwRkAEDmAGShwGgAbylsP8DqgEEMkdNTMgBAcgC-NJ_2QN5hUMV5ZQyauADCA&num=2&adurl=http://www.guru.com/category.cfm%3Fcid%3D504%26tc%3D23000%26kw%3Dgrant%2520writers

Elance:
http://www.google.com/pagead/iclk?sa=l&ai=BzzYoujg2RoGzBaKchASMnPGbBKLZiRfSl9PwBtj5lAfQrCAQBhgGKAgwADgBUOHzz-n-_____wFgyf6CjNCk_BGQAQOYAeeHAaAByPC5_wOqAQQyR01MyAEBgAIByAL27zXZA3mFQxXllDJq4AMQ&num=6&adurl=http://www.elance.com/p/writing/landing-pages/grant-writers.html%3FWT.srch%3D1%26rid%3DZYD6

-------------------------

You can also advertise for a grant writer through the National Writers
Union:
http://www.nwu.org/nwu/index.php?cmd=showPage&page_id=1.3.14.2

****************
OTHER RESOURCES
****************

Try going back to Grants.Gov and this time search by keyword:
http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do

For instance, searching with "fuel emissions reduction"

On the first page of results, see " Office of FreedomCar and Vehicle
Technologies" from the     	 National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Click on the "Opportunity Title" to bring up the precise homepage:

Office of FreedomCar and Vehicle Technologies
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=12295&mode=VIEW

--------------------

Of possible interest: From the EPA, "Tips On Writing a Grant Proposal":
http://www.epa.gov/ogd/recipient/tips.htm

My thanks to Uclue Researchers Byrd (who is a grant writer), and David
Sarokin (who works for the Federal Government), for their assistance in
answering this question.

Try Repeating my Search Strings, adding your state to the strings, as in
+Texas or +North Carolina.

Fuel Saving OR Emission Reduction +technology +grant
Fuel Saving OR Emission Reduction OR clean air +technology +grant
Small Business Innovation Research +DOE
Small Business Innovation Research +EPA
emission reductions +grants
grant writers +energy
energy OR environmental OR clean air +technology +grant writer
energy OR environmental OR technology +grant writer
fees OR rates +grant writers
grant writing rates

I hope my research is of help to you.

Best regards,
Nancy