Building Community

Collaboration, especially in rural communities with limited resources, is a vital component of community development.  No one can do it on their own.  This report from last fall describes that importance and has a great example of a successful collaboration to develop a rural health network.  We believe that economic/community development and health care are closely integrated, or should be, in rural communities.  The resources below are generally related to community development.   Community development can mean more than attracting new business; it can also mean developing and supporting the resources you already have, and some of the programs address that.  I encourage you to look into them.

Multiplan’s Rural Health Outreach Program awards grants to rural hospitals to develop community outreach programs that improve health care access.  They will award grants up to $3,000 to eligible hospitals; requirements include that the applicant be an acute care facility in a rural area.  They previously awarded grants for skin cancer awareness, weight loss and car seat inspection programs.  The deadline is June 30.

The Home Depot Foundation sponsors the Building Healthy Communities grant program.  They award grants up to $2,500, in the form of Home Depot gift cards, to community improvement projects completed by volunteers.  Eligible projects include public landscaping, developing green space, community facility improvement and renovation.  Complete the online application by July 1.

Two organizations are sponsoring grants to community programs that provide respite to family members of dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.   The Brookdale Foundation’s National Group Respite Program awards funding to programs that provide relief and support to family members and programming for patients.  They have awarded several grants to Wisconsin organizations in the past.  Apply by July 1.  The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America also awards funds for family programs through its Family Respite Care grants.  You may use funds for in-home care, adult day programs or other types of respite.  The next deadline is November 1.

Ameriprise Financial’s Community Relations program is dedicated to using “resources and talents to improve the lives of individuals and build strong communities.”  They award grants in several categories, including Community Development, Cultural Enrichment and Civic Leadership, that build strong communities by creating economic vitality and cultural enrichment.  Apply by September 1.

Under the federal Department of Education’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, eligible employees of public organizations can have their federal education loans forgiven.  Eligible organizations include government agencies including schools and universities, EMS, law enforcement, non-profit hospitals and clinics and others.  You are eligible after making 120 payments while employed full time.  There is no deadline.

The Community Transportation Association sponsors a low interest loan program for public and non-profit organizations.  The Community Development Transportation Lending Service makes loans as low as $2,000 for a variety of transit-related projects.  They have funded a community health center’s building renovation and a vehicle maintenance facility for a community day activity center.  There is no deadline.

June 17, 2010 · KJacobson · 2 Comments
Tags: , , ,  · Posted in: Grant Advice, Reports and Studies

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