State funding for FIRST teams

[Rosiebotboss]

Ladies and gentlemen,

I find myself in a pretty daunting (and exciting) position up here in Massachusetts. Through a course of events largely orchestrated by the (retiring) Tech Ed teacher and Rosie co-founder and mentor at Agawam HS, John Burns, I find myself in a position to help a large number of teams, rookie and veteran, through a grant program I am developing along with Per Christiansen at the Commonwealth of Mass. Dept of Ed. (Baker and Kressly met him in ATL, some of you others may have also, Per was all over the place soaking it all up and getting a real flavor of FIRST)

Our conversations have centered around writing a grant program in which teams could apply for state money to help fund their team. ($10-15K for starters) One of the more important questions that the Board will ask is, "What are other states doing to support FIRST monetarily?" It's one thing to give a proclamation stating that such and such a day is Team xxx day, it's another thing that the state actually "pony up" $4M to help fund a great number of teams within their jurisdiction.

So, my question to this distinguished body of mentors is: "What is YOUR state doing to fund teams in your state?"

Please give specifics:
1. How much money is in "the pool" and available for all to draw from?
2. How much is given out to individual teams? Is there a monetary distinction between rookie and veteran teams?
3. What form is it dispensed? Is it in a grant the team has to apply for? Is it in a plain brown envelope that is just dropped off in the school district office? (Oh, by the way, your school now has a FIRST team. Here's some money, go build a robot.) What are the criteria the team has to meet to get the full amount?
4. Is there more money availalbe to veterans that have shown growth in other FIRST areas? ex. sponsor a FLL tournament? sponsor a FVC team?
5. Which FIRST program is the money availalble for? FRC, FVC, FLL?

Please include links to online documents supporting those specifics, contact information for verification purposes, and any other pertinent supporting data.

I realize this is asking a lot of information to go look up, but if this is done right, and is successful, I will publish the work for your use to go to your state boards of education to get similar funding options.

I have brought it up to some folks at FIRST and have not gotten a lot of info back. Maybe I should tickle them again.

I am not on a collision course with a deadline, but if we are to put in a pilot program for September, I do need this info as soon as I can get it. (I would like a big chunck of it by 6 June. I have a meeting with Per the next day.)

Thank you for your support. You are what makes FIRST look good.