Recommend This StoryTown considers buying $33,000 grant software
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By Kim Walter -- kwalter@nvdaily.com
FRONT ROYAL -- Town staff has recommended that Town Council approve the purchase of eCIVIS, a grant management software which would help alert the town of available grants based on specific areas of financial need.
Planning and Zoning Director Jeremy Camp and Director of Finance Kim Gilkey-Breeden gave a presentation to council members last week on the software as well as what surrounding communities had to say about their involvement with the program.
Founded in 2000, eCIVIS offers grant management software and support to local jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations and health care companies.
"They've had over 30,000 success stories," Camp said of the company.
He described the three different packages that are offered: a research module that includes a search engine for grants and a notification system; a knowledge base module that trains participants on how to look for the best grants possible; and a tracking and reporting module which takes care of all the administrative work like filling out grant applications.
Each module has a separate cost that covers five licenses each, meaning that five different users could access each module.
Camp and Gilkey-Breeden suggested that the town purchase all three modules with a three- year commitment. The total cost for the package would come to a little over $33,000.
The town's current budget could handle the cost, according to Gilkey-Breeden.
"In today's economy, localities need to look at more funding options than just tax dollars," Gilkey-Breeden said. "If [eCIVIS] is used correctly, it could more than pay for itself."
Camp said that the new software could be used by existing staff and be shared with town citizens "looking for grants for private individuals."
Gilkey-Breeden said that surrounding counties -- Rappahannock, Culpeper, Loudoun and Fauquier, among others -- have purchased the system and already have seen positive results.
Culpeper has been using the software for over five years now, Gilkey-Breeden said.
"Their first award was for $235,000, and last year they received a grant for $440,000," she said. "The awards more than paid for the product."
eCIVIS also claims that "two out of three grant applications applied for by their clients is approved," Camp said. He added that it would save a great deal of staff time.
Town Council will take a role call vote on the purchase at its March 26 meeting.
Really?
I'm confused. No, wait. Maybe I'm not.
The "eCIVIS" computer program cost $33,000.00.
The "eCIVIS" program finds grants.
The "eCIVIS" program finds grants for $33,000.00 that could be turned over to fund the cost of the computer program, hence it paid for itself?
How, exactly, did that work?
Or am I going blind because the wool is being pulled?
$33,000 that doesn't seem to be available for any other reason, such a vital services......
I thought there were already people being paid to do this in their job?
Let's do some research to see where these grants come from and what they are used for:
http://www.ecivis.com/client-success/ecivis-funded-projects.html
http://www.ecivis.com/client-success/ecivis-funded-projects/Page-2.html
Wow... Someone has access to The Google.
Miraculous software? Deja vu all over again.
Does Vicente believe his referral straight to the software company's website will give an biased source without any hoopla, propaganda, smoke and mirrors? Yes, that will do the trick. Lets ask the fox about his sincere interest in the longevity of the chickens.
Say, Vicente, on a different note, when are you going to answer that other guy's question about the absolute separation of church and state? Not afraid of a few words, are you?
Back to the task at hand.... Every so often magical computer programs appear whose owner proclaims wondrous and magical performances, making the wheel rounder, the flavor better, the sky bluer. The last appearance of this magical mystery tour came in the form of EZ Filer, a savior for DSS record processing, touted by a former Department Head of Warren County government who became the head cheerleader to spend the money and duplicate the walking on water feat.
Turns out the cheerleader had a financial interest with the distributor who wanted to use the Department Head as his shill to other jurisdictions to buy it while the iron was hot.
Turns out the software was woefully obsolete in the commercial market and soon to become incompatible with future statewide DSS software upgrades. Because it was obsolete, certain licensing rights were purchased for a song then repackaged in a nice, easy-to-swallow presentation package that was all shiny and glittered in the sun when held just so.
This house of cards got shakier and shakier as the copyright holder claimed the distributor didn't have the proper rights to be doing what he was doing, his attorneys began writing letters, and the next thing we know the distributor decided to meet his maker. I understand a gun barrel was placed in a vulnerable position as the trigger was pulled. And Warren County lost only a couple hundred thousand dollars with nothing to show for it.... except faces glowing bright red.
eCivis didn't just "appear." They have been around since 2000 and they have an impressive client list to prove it.
Just take a look at the numerous case studies and quotes straight from clients.
"The City of Santa Clarita regularly utilizes eCivis and over the last three years, we have successfully garnered over $55 million in grant funding that has resulted in many projects for our community."
–Ken Pulskamp, City Manager
"If it weren't for eCivis, we wouldn't have any new grant money coming in. It simply wouldn't be possible for us to do the research. The search feature and summaries save 90% of the time we used to spend going through each grant."
-Janeen Gaskins from Avondale, AZ
P.S. Can anyone find relevant information on Google nowadays? Doubt it.
Ok, so you have a computer program that searches for grants. You have "testimonials" from locations who have successfully used it. Now the real hidden questions.......once the grant was "found", who wrote it, who tracked it, who administered it, who kept an accurate accounting of it? Computer programs for this issue may be great, but the grant monies don't magically appear because they were "found" and they don't administer themselves. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Pam, you are asking way too much. To many people like to throw rocks and then run and hide. Sad. Yes, it would be better if some people took the time to research issues before ranting or posting, but that would take the fun out of their laziness.
The software doesn't just find grants, it also manages them. You can import documents, set alerts for deadlines, assign tasks, and run reports. Departments involved can see the progression every step of the way.
The idea is to save the time it takes to look for grants/ manage grants and invest it into writing better application, and more of them.
I typed 'relevant information' in the google search engine and found ALL kinds of things.
Wasn't that hard for me!!!
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