The Road from the Indo-Pacific Business Forum Speakers Series | M NOFO 20 102

Opportunity Information: Apply for M NOFO 20 102

The Road from the Indo-Pacific Business Forum Speakers Series (Funding Opportunity Number M NOFO 20 102) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India, designed to shape India-focused business and policy conversations in ways that support open-market regulatory reforms aligned with U.S. economic interests. The central idea is to use credible, high-profile messengers, particularly successful U.S. business leaders and notable Indian-Americans, to speak directly with influential Indian trade and industry stakeholders. By putting respected private-sector voices in front of senior business leaders and members of local Chambers of Commerce, the program aims to make the case, through real-world anecdotes and supporting data, that regulatory liberalization and open-market reforms can produce significant economic benefits for Indian stakeholders.

The project goal is explicitly policy-oriented: encourage government and elected officials to publicly advocate for, and take steps toward, economic and regulatory reforms that are favorable to U.S. interests. Rather than focusing on broad public outreach, the approach targets decision-shaping circles, aiming to influence the influencers who can amplify messages and apply pressure where it matters. The intended pathway is that business and industry insiders, once persuaded, will carry these arguments into media discussions and private meetings with established policymakers, helping to create momentum for reform and shifting narratives around the U.S.-India trade relationship.

Operationally, the opportunity envisions a one-year speaker series with bi-monthly engagements (one event every two months), featuring expert speakers who can speak persuasively about the advantages of open markets and reform. The performance target is to reach at least 100 well-placed, highly influential trade and industry insiders over the course of the year. Success is framed not just as attendance, but as downstream impact: participants sharing key facts and stories across the media landscape, engaging in private advocacy with policymakers, and contributing to tangible signals of progress such as reforms favorable to U.S. industry, public expressions of openness to further negotiation on specific reforms, and a noticeable improvement in the tone of media coverage of the U.S.-India trade relationship, including outlets closely aligned with the ruling party.

The grant has an award ceiling of $50,000, with one expected award. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category). The opportunity falls under the Business and Commerce and Regional Development activity categories and is associated with CFDA number 19.040. The notice was created on March 20, 2020, with an original application deadline of May 19, 2020. For implementation specifics, required components, and evaluation criteria, applicants are directed to consult the full announcement materials referenced under the "related documents" section.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the business and commerce, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Road from the Indo-Pacific Business Forum Speakers Series" 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 Mar 20, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for M NOFO 20 102

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