Grant-Ready by Design: Turning Community Needs into Fundable Projects
State Budget Department�Grants Management Office
Mark Gordon, Governor | Kevin Hibbard, Director
Dru Palmer, Grants Integration Manager
Christine Emminger, Administrator for the Grants Management Office
Diana Cabriales, Deputy Administrator for the Grants Management Office
June 22, 2026
Session Objectives
Translate a community need into an investment-ready project concept
Define a credible project framework that demonstrates readiness and feasibility
Articulate a compelling value proposition that justifies public or private investment
From Community Need to Project Concept
What do Community Needs Look Like?
The parking lot outside of a municipal courthouse needs repair
The roof of a community health center is leaking
The HVAC system of a school is old and needs replacement
A local highway embankment is showing signs of erosion near an overpass
A small town would like to attract more tourism
The walking and bicycling route from a school to local housing has no sidewalks or bike lanes
What is a Fundable Community Need?
How can we describe our projects in a way that makes them investment ready – no matter the funding landscape?
Funders rarely support isolated solutions that maintain the status quo. Both public and private investment usually looks for an intervention or innovation that has a positive Return on Investment (ROI).
Aspiration ≠ Intervention
Maintenance ≠ Investment
Investors seek Impact, Innovation, and Model Interventions.
Core Components of a Project Plan
Developing a Project Concept
Turning a Need Into a Project Concept
Define the Problem
There is limited access to healthcare in our community. Average emergency response times exceed 18 minutes, and residents travel 30+ miles to reach the nearest full-service facility.
“My Community needs more healthcare solutions.”
Community Need
“We need more healthcare options in our community.”
Define Your Intervention
We want to develop a mobile health unit for this County that can support chronic condition care and emergency health needs.
Turning a Need Into a Project Concept
Identify Who Will Most Benefit
My community has a large number of seniors who have advanced healthcare needs and reduced mobility.
“My Community needs more healthcare solutions.”
Community Need
“We need more healthcare options in our community.”
Measurable Impact
If this project succeeds, we will be able to increase community access to healthcare services and reduce emergency room wait times
Case Study: Turning a Need Into a Complete Project Concept Statement
Following the exercise, the project manager transformed a community need into a clear, convincing Project Concept Statement:
From: We need more healthcare options in our community”
To: “The County seeks to establish a mobile health unit to address limited emergency and chronic care access, including for our growing population of older residents, which will increase community access to healthcare services and reduce emergency room wait times.”
Group Activity – Part 1
Over the course of this class, you’ll participate in three group activities that build toward developing investment-ready project concepts supported by clear, defensible frameworks.
Establishing a Credible Project Framework
What is a Credible Project Framework?
A project framework defines how the work will be carried out and demonstrates that it is realistic, organized, and achievable.
Without supporting details, a project is still an idea.
Funders lower the risk of investment by financing well-defined work with evidence supporting the approach
Funder Perspective
Feasible and Efficient
Can you demonstrate that your intervention will work and that your approach is efficient? Consider using the following:
Feasibility studies and scientific assessments (technical reports, site analyses)
Vendor quotes (cost estimates, time on task projections, equipment)
Case studies that reflect effectiveness of similar projects
Benefit/Cost Analysis
Pilot programs or phased implementation result
Regulatory review confirming compliance and viability
Phase of Work
Both private and public funders may choose to support projects in varying phases of completion.
What will you need to get started?
Successful managers look for opportunities to offset costs. A dollar saved on planning is another dollar available for construction.
Phase | Needs |
Planning | Assessment, feasibility, analysis, etc. |
Pre-Development | Design, permitting, cost refinement, etc. |
Implementation | Construction, purchase, deployment, etc. |
Group Activity – Part 2
Instructions: Return to your groups and develop an outline for a Project Framework for the Project Concept developed during the first activity.
Step 3: For each project, identify:
Crafting the Value Proposition
Design for Impact
Projects attract investment when they produce outcomes in the public interest.
Examples:
What condition improves if this project is successful?
Core
Question
Consider Potential Co-Benefits
Beyond the intended outcomes of your project, does you work contribute to other broader beneficial outcomes?
Industry | Core Question |
Economic Activity | Does this project generate local spending or stimulate growth? |
Workforce Development | Does this create jobs, training opportunities, or new skills? |
Public Safety | Does this reduce risk, hazards, or emergency strain? |
Infrastructure Resilience | Does this strengthen long-term durability or disaster readiness? |
Leverage Partners in Design
Strong projects are rarely developed in isolation.
Consider the following strategies to leverage partners:
Great things often happen behind the scenes when institutions are aware of your project.
Putting It all Together
Concept:
What are we trying to do?
Project Framework: What is our approach and why?
Value Proposition:
Why should it be funded?
Establish a mobile health unit to address limited care access among seniors, increasing reliable access to medication and ongoing clinical support.
Develop a plan for upgrades and conduct engagement to determine what will make the mobile unit of best use to area seniors. The renovation of an existing vehicle (oversized trailer) has been identified as $1.6M.
Expanded reliable healthcare access for seniors, reducing emergency utilization costs and supporting aging-in-place within the community.
Group Activity – Part 3
Instructions: Return to your groups and develop a Value Proposition.
Step 4: To develop a Value Proposition for your projects:
Remember: Think broadly about all of the ways your project activities may improve your community or meet funder priorities.
Project Inventory Recap
Project Concept = What are we trying to do?
Project Framework = What will it take to succeed?
Value Proposition = Why is it worth it?
Your Project Inventory
State Budget Department�Grants Management Office
Email: sbd-grants@wyo.gov
Website: https://sbd.wyo.gov/grants
Kevin Hibbard, Director, Wyoming State Budget Department
Christine Emminger, Administrator for the Grants Management Office
Diana Cabriales, Deputy Administrator for the Grants Management Office
Email: dru.palmer@wyo.gov
Dru Palmer, Grants Integration Manager
Governor’s Office�Grants Management Initiative
Hagerty Consulting, Inc