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In addition, there were


approximately a dozen more required “check-the- box” items that took a considerable amount of time to prepare.


I initiated


many of these items a full year in advance of the application deadline — and I still felt rushed leading up to submittal! For example, I


detailed cost estimates from multiple contractors and suppliers in order to furnish a comprehensive and accurate project budget. My completed application was approximately 175 pages in length to properly fulfill all of the necessary requirements.


By starting the application


process far in advance and setting aside time weekly to work on it, you can create a document that will separate you from the pack. Application information for substantial grants cannot be put together in a few weeks or even a few months. Professionals will see the gaps immediately, and your application will end up in the “no” pile on initial review.


3


SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS


The best way to stand out from other grant applicants is to show the review board how important your facility is to the community. Remember, grant money is


either tax supplemented or part of an endowment, and in both cases the entity that is providing the money will want recognition. The individuals who make the decisions on which projects get funded want


to know had to solicit


that a broad population will benefit, and in turn, acknowledge the funding provider. Be sure to create supporting documentation that illustrates all of the user groups your facility serves and supports. For example, provide a list of community events that you host annually and the number of people who attend. Include written testimonials by organizations that


have


hosted fundraisers at your facility. Provide an anticipatory press release, thanking the funding entity for the grant. Typically, grants do not specifically require these types of documents, but they go a long way toward demonstrating the added value facilities bring to their communities. It’s also important to realize how the average person views an ice rink. Many perceive hockey and figure skating as elitist and catering only to doctors, lawyers and business owners’ children. We need to do our best to prove that we serve a broad population through entry-level programs, public sessions, skating shows, adult leagues and community events.


Debunking the elitist myth should be a common thread throughout your applica- tion and supporting documentation.


4 REMAIN IN CONTROL


Let’s assume you put together a good application and your facility is now in the design build phase. Large dollar grants will almost always require a fully engineered and stamped set of drawings prior to construction. Design professionals have a level of expertise and knowledge that many of us can never hope to achieve, but at the same time they do not fully understand


our buildings. An engineer or architect typically views our facilities like others they have worked on; they see numbers, load-bearing structures and mechanical systems as plug-and-play solutions but often fail to understand the intricacies of our industry. For example, an engineer may not have experience with low- emissivity (Low-E) ceilings or a contractor may not know a dehumidifier should not vent near an evaporative condenser. It is our responsibility to guide the design and construction of our facilities despite our lack of skills to build them ourselves. You worked hard to win a highly competitive application process, so don’t make the mistake of handing off your project to someone who does not understand exactly how your building operates.


SPRING 2020


17


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