Rural Innovation and Pivoting Hackathon NOFO | S DR860 NOFO 20 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for S DR860 NOFO 20 006

The Rural Innovation and Pivoting Hackathon NOFO is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo. It funds a virtual hackathon-style program focused on helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural parts of the Dominican Republic respond to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19. The central idea is to convene entrepreneurs, students, and academic partners in an online setting where they can learn practical innovation and business "pivoting" skills, then collaborate in teams to design technology-based solutions that strengthen rural businesses and local economic resilience.

The program is structured as a hands-on, team-based innovation experience. Applicants are expected to propose a format that creates space for participants to connect, share ideas, and work remotely in teams while receiving guidance on rural business development, innovation methods, and strategies for adapting business models during crises. The NOFO emphasizes that the hackathon should not only generate ideas, but also support participants in developing workable, tech-enabled concepts that can realistically be tested or launched to create new opportunities for growth in rural communities. Another explicit component is public health: the program should help promote COVID-19 health and safety measures alongside business recovery and adaptation.

A key requirement is the integration and promotion of Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) resources. Proposals should incorporate YLAI assets such as its online courses, its online network, and the involvement of YLAI fellows. In practice, this means the program design should actively leverage those tools for training content, mentoring, participant networking, or recruitment and engagement, rather than treating YLAI as a minor reference.

The NOFO also makes clear that the event should culminate in a pitching phase. At the end of the program, teams are expected to present their solutions to a panel that includes facilitators and mentors, U.S. Embassy representatives, and business leaders. This pitch event is tied to seed funding intended to help teams kickstart their projects. The seed funding is not optional: at least 10 percent of the total program budget must be dedicated to these small awards, and the funds may be split across more than one team or proposal. Applications must therefore include a clear selection and distribution plan explaining how seed funding recipients will be chosen and how the awards will be allocated.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility includes organized American and/or Dominican civil-society organizations, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and similar entities. The notice also indicates the Embassy is seeking proposals from U.S. and/or Dominican-based higher education institutions that meet the stated eligibility requirements, reinforcing the expectation that universities or comparable academic organizations may be strong implementers for this type of training-and-innovation program.

The total funding available is listed as $25,000, with an award ceiling of $25,000, and the notice references an expectation of multiple awards (noted as 8 in the source data). The assistance listing is CFDA 19.040 (General Department of State Assistance), and the activity category is education, reflecting the training and capacity-building emphasis of the hackathon model.

Applications are required to be submitted electronically by email to SantoDomingoGrants@state.gov. The NOFO includes multiple date references: it opened in late July 2020, with a closing date shown as August 24, 2020 in the source data, while the narrative text also references an August 30, 2020 submission time of 11:59 p.m. Applicants would need to confirm the controlling deadline from the official notice or guidance, but the submission method and point of contact are clearly specified as the Embassy grants email address.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Innovation and Pivoting Hackathon NOFO" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 24, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for S DR860 NOFO 20 006

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