Grant proposals for next round of ARC Flex-E-Grant funding in McCreary County
The Center for Rural Development and Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College are accepting grant proposals from McCreary County for the next cycle of funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Flex-E-Grant program.
The Flex-E-Grant (FEG) program, designed by the ARC, provides small investments in short-term projects that build community capacity to mobilize local resources, gain leadership experience, and strengthen community institutions and networks.
Grants are subject to approval for up to $10,000, require a 20 percent match of total project costs, and are to be completed within a six-month timeframe. FEG funds are made available on a reimbursement basis only.
All Kentucky counties designated by the ARC as distressed for fiscal years 2013-2014 are eligible to apply. Competitive grants are available for nonprofit entities or units of government in 40 Kentucky counties that are interested in developing projects that build community capacity.
The FEG program was generated from the ARC’s initiative to enhance assistance to distressed counties, and each approved project must demonstrate beneficiaries in a distressed Kentucky county.
Although the primary intent is to support efforts that help develop local capacity, eligible activities may also include collaboration among communities in support of existing and emerging regional development efforts, such as Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), Promise Zone, and other regional capacity building initiatives.
Flex-E-Grants may be awarded for a variety of capacity building projects, including strategic planning and management processes for communities or nonprofit groups; implementation of projects from a community-based strategic plan; training for citizen leaders, local officials, management and staff from nonprofit community agencies as well as boards or commissions; support for initiatives that enhance leadership, planning and management capacity for distressed counties, such as initiatives to increase collaboration, interaction and access to information; and use of professional services to assess a project’s feasibility, to offer consulting advice on a strategy, and to support application development.
The Center, through its Developing and Implementing Community Strategies program, and Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College administer program funds in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Local Government and the ARC.
Proposals are due by 5 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 23, 2015. Digital files are preferred and may be emailed to arc@centertech.com. The period of performance for these grants is from April 1-September 30, 2015.
For more information, contact Patti Simpson at The Center for Rural Development, 606-677-6000, psimpson@centertech.com or Rodney Wolfenbarger at Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College, 859-985-3859, or email wolfenbargerr@berea.edu.
Kentucky counties eligible to apply for the 2015 Flex-E-Grant program include: Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe.
