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<br /> <br /> Proposal for Grant Writing Services | Santa Ana Public Works Agency Page 14 <br />1. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS <br /> <br />Ben Goldeen, Federal Advocacy Manager: Ben brings 12 years of <br />federal legislative, funding, and public policy experience. Ben has <br />experience managing legislative activity, including bill analysis, research, <br />and drafting particularly for federal funding opportunities. Ben has <br />expertise in several policy sectors including water resources, healthcare, <br />housing, environmental hazards, agriculture, foreign affairs, and resources <br />for veterans. <br /> <br />Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. <br />Federal Advocacy Manager 2021-Present <br /> <br />Since joining TPA, Ben keeps clients informed of significant actions and pertinent developments <br />in the federal government and strategizes on ways in which to influence and enact changes in <br />Washington, DC that have concrete results for clients. Some of Ben’s accomplishments include: <br /> <br />• Ben worked with Oakland City staff to develop, prepare, and execute a strategic plan to <br />support the City’s FY21 RAISE grant application. This highly competitive federal grant <br />opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation formed a key component <br />of the City’s TOWN For All initiative to reconnect the City’s waterfront neighborhoods. The <br />strategy entailed gathering support from key stakeholders in a way especially tailored to the <br />current Administration’s priorities, maximizing the application’s chances of success. In <br />addition to tailoring a message, TPA planned advocacy that leveraged the City’s strengths <br />during the grant review process. The culmination of this process was the award of more than <br />$14.5 million in federal RASIE funds for the City’s TOWN For All project. In the FY21 RAISE <br />cycle Oakland was one of only four jurisdictions in the State of California to receive a RAISE <br />grant. <br /> <br />• Ben’s nearly seven years working for members of California’s Congressional Delegation has <br />led to an extensive network of relationships both on Capitol Hill and within federal agencies. <br />His understanding of the regional and political dynamics of the California Congressional <br />delegation and their interactions with other members of the House and Senate are important <br />to successfully advocating for California-based clients. <br /> <br />• Ben has first-hand knowledge of the current federal appropriations process, including <br />community project funding requests. This process differs from the pre-2011 earmark process <br />and an understanding of the need to balance transparency and politics to submit a competitive <br />request is key. Ben has utilized his experience to successfully assist clients secure millions of <br />dollars’ worth of earmarks. <br /> <br />• Ben has identified new and previously-underutilized federal grants for the benefit of TPA <br />clients. He has leveraged his relationships with key grant officials at various federal agencies <br />to ascertain their specific priorities and buzz words required for successful grant applications. <br />Ben then leverages that information to help TPA federal clients develop and submit more <br />competitive federal grant applications and then provide more effective tailored advocacy to <br />secure funding awards. <br /> <br />Prior to joining TPA, Ben was a Legislative Director for Congressional Representative Jim Costa <br />and a Legislative Assistant for Representative Dennis Cardoza. He holds a Bachelor in Arts in <br />Political Science and Latin American Studies from Boston College and a Certificate in Community <br />Development and Growth from the University of Pennsylvania.