The ABA Access to Justice Expansion Project has announced the availability of its mini-grants.  Due August 17 are applications for the first round of grants that are to be focused on staring new Commissions or jump starting stalled Commission processes.

I think this a very important moment. It provides an opportunity for those interested in access to focus their efforts on a very concrete step that will bring resources.

Obviously, existing Commissions should be planning for possible Phase Two grants, focused on expanding the work of such existing Commissions, and there will be more information about that next month.

Here is the key language:

ABA Access to Justice Commission Expansion Project

With funding from the Public Welfare Foundation, the ABA Access to Justice Commission Expansion Project is making grants to strengthen the Access to Justice commission movement nationally by facilitating development of new Access to Justice commissions and expanding agendas and promoting innovative initiatives in existing commissions.

The grants will be awarded in three phases. Applications are currently being sought for Phase I grants only. Phase I grants are likely to be in the $8,000 to $20,000 range. Grants exceeding $20,000 may be made if warranted under the circumstances. It is unlikely that any state/jurisdiction will be awarded more than one grant during the current cycle (Phase I-III).

Phase I: For efforts to create a new state-level Access to Justice Commission or to support emerging Access to Justice Commissions. Aimed at states/jurisdictions without an Access to Justice Commission, brand-new Commissions, and Commissions that need a “jump-start” because they have not fully launched or have become stalled. Application date: August 17, 2012. Grants will be made on or around October 1, 2012.

Phase II: To promote innovation and to enable existing Access to Justice Commissions to expand the scope of their activities and undertake initiatives in new areas beyond existing work. Targeted to existing, active Access to Justice Commissions. Application date: September 30, 2012. Grants will be made on or around January 15, 2013. Further information will be available in August 2012.

Phase III: For efforts to create a new state-level Access to Justice Commission or support emerging Access to Justice Commissions. Aimed at states/jurisdictions in these categories that were not ready to apply for Phase I. Application date: January 15, 2013. Grants will be made on or around March 15, 2013. Further information will be available in October 2012.
Phase I grant application process Eligibility, examples, decision-making process and additional information. (Note: the application template will be posted soon on the ABA site.)

The grants will be administered through the ABA Resource Center for Access to Justice Initiatives, a project of the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants (SCLAID).

Background information:
Announcement of Public Welfare Foundation grant

For further information and assistance contact Bob Ecols (Robert.Echols(at)comcast.net), State Support Consultant, ABA Resource Center for Access to Justice Initiatives.