KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Community groups interested in obtaining funding for special projects have a month to submit their applications to the Kalamazoo County board.
It’s the second year for the Community Grants Program, established by county commissioners to fund special projects that meet their specific priorities.
This year they plan to do it differently, with more coordination provided by staff to streamline the process, learning lessons from last year’s grants.
Interim Administrator Terrell Cole says the board has set specific limits on grants this year with a minimum at $25,000 and a maximum at $100,000.
“That allows for different levels and types of organizations to apply so you have the engagement of community at different levels.”
One problem last year was administering a number of micro-grants that weren’t that impactful.
“For us, in what makes it sustainable to manage, but then also looking at the amount of impact you can have on an organization in community, sometimes larger awards are a little bit better,” says Cole.
Board vice chair John Taylor agrees, saying “a bunch of $5,000, $6,000 grants, that’s a nightmare for administration, in reporting and everything else. But having a floor and having a ceiling makes sense.”
They have around $400,000 to award this year to the groups with the best proposals.
Last year they received 61 applications, totaling over $7-million, over 17 times what they had available to allocate.
They are seeking proposals that focus on community outreach and equitable problem-solving, public health, public safety, justice, civic participation, and community revitalization.
Applications are due on October 28th, exactly one month from today.
They will pick the winners in November, for programs scheduled to start January 1st.
For questions about the application process, applicants can contact Chief of Staff Dina Sutton at dina.sutton@kalcounty.gov.
To learn more and apply, visit https://www.kalcounty.gov/1337/Apply-for-County-Funding.
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