The Center for People in Need is presenting the Grantsmanship Centers Competing for Federal Grants workshop in Lincoln through Friday, May 28.

The purpose of this training is to empower local nonprofit organizations and local government agencies to compete more effectively for federal funding. The May workshop is the only one scheduled for the Midwest this year.

This training could not be more timely, said Beatty Brasch, CFPINs Executive Director. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) is releasing billions of dollars in new grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations, counties, and municipalities. But ARRA grants are only one part of the federal funding picture - more than $300 billion in federal grants are awarded every year.

The five-day Competing for Federal Grants workshop ends at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 28. It will be held in the Centers new Conference and Training Center, 3901 N. 27th St., Unit 1. During the training, participants will practice reading and interpreting application guidelines; assessing whether it makes sense to enter a particular competition; assembling a work-plan for proposal development; developing effective, well-documented arguments; following a funders guidelines; and responding to the funders requirements. The tuition for this workshop is $1,195.