Grant preparation: Retain a writer and consider your supporters
- Hannah Hammond
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By John Kelley & Roy Anderson, The Beck Group Consulting
Service Spotlight: Grant Writing
Results of the 2024 US Forest Service Grant application season are in. We at The Beck Group Consulting are proud to report that all seven of our clients’ received at least one grant application award, totaling over $4.6 million. We are confident that our clients will put those funds to good use finding more efficient ways to process forest treatment timber and other renewable forest products, especially in the rural areas that are so pivotal to the mission of timberland stewardship.
We would very much like to be able to say that there will be a 2025 grant season, and all signs are indicating there will be, but we do not yet know for sure. Our best guess is that at least two of the three types of USDA grants (Wood Innovation, Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance, and Community Wood Energy) will be on offer. Assuming that's the case, perhaps you’d like support from a seasoned grant writing partner? With a great track record and positive relations with USFS staff who know exactly what the Federal government wants to see people doing, The Beck Group consultants are ready to discuss your initial project idea, consider the type of grant best to apply for, and reserve you a grant writer.
Now to empower you with a preparation step you can take immediately... One essential part of the application is that every Federal grant involves support letters. These show the USFS that the community will know of, benefit from, and appreciate the applicant firm’s success. Bankers, officeholders, vendors, customers, service providers, and local stakeholders — these are your best advocates as you tell your project story in grant format and these folks nearly all have a few things in common:
· Being busy. It’s involved to take time out to write a letter of support, even if just adapting the custom templates that The Beck Group Consulting crafts and shares to make their tasks easier. More lead time is better.
· Desire to help. The people you do business with mostly do so because they prefer to deal with you. Most would like to be remembered for stepping up. This is the harvest of years of doing good business, and it’s very appropriate to reap it.
· Enlightened self-interest. Do your customers want you to stick around and expand your offerings? We would bet they do. Would your vendors like to see you increase your orders? Check. Does your banker want you parking money with her institution? Yes. Do your county council folks want the jobs and revenue your enterprise brings to the region? Do you see the pattern yet?
In order to tap into this well of support, and reap the rewards of years spent doing good business, the time to plan is now. We suggest that you start by making a simple table of approximately 6-12 business contacts. Include the following details: name, institution, relationship and email address.
EXAMPLE: Table of Supporters
Armed with that information, when you are ready to apply for your grant(s), letters of support will be a simple clerical task. You’ll be able to send us the table and we'll provide appropriate templates, help keep track of the responses in all their various forms, organize them, and incorporate them into the application packet. You’ll be able to re-read them when you review the application before it goes out, and enjoy knowing how many people are wishing you success.
Lastly, we can’t overstate the importance of planning for the application process now. One of the saddest things we had to do in late Fall 2024 was turn people away. They called in at the last minute and it was essential that we stick to completing the work asked of us by people who had booked our services well in advance. All seven of the early planners are now busy calling their equipment vendors, contractors, and engineers to carry out improvements that will move them forward. Next year, you could be doing that.
If you’re interested, reach out by email to info@beckgroupconsulting.com. If you’d rather have some assurance that you can talk to real people now and at crunch time, feel free to call (503)684-3406. Once you commit, we’ll make sure we do our part. And if you’ve never before applied for a Federal grant, take comfort in knowing that you’re working with pros who will support your efforts and proactively advise you how to present a promising face to the USFS reviewers.
The Beck Group, Inc.
Forest Products Planning and Consulting Services
Telephone (503) 684-3406
Email: info@beckgroupconsulting.com