Local Employment Labor and Training Grants

This grant provides funding for individual artists, arts organizations, and small businesses in Chula Vista to create free cultural events and projects that promote community engagement and inclusivity in various artistic disciplines.

This funding is designed to support local organizations in Beltrami County that implement community-based programs and outreach initiatives aimed at preventing child abuse and promoting family well-being.

Aitkin County has been awarded a grant from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The Aitkin County Board of Commissioners, have approved this grant funding to be used to directly impact the Community of Aitkin County by establishing the Aitkin County Childcare Acceleration Grant Program. The purpose of this grant fund is to help support community members who aspire start their career in childcare and become childcare providers in Aitkin County in an effort to drive economic growth.  The funding will help support fees associated with new licensing and training needed to open a childcare center or at home facility, general remodeling costs to meet licensing standards and/or funding support to add additional employees to new and existing childcare businesses.

The Fayette County Tourism Grant Program, administered by GO Laurel Highlands, offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit or for-profit businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, for marketing, tourism enhancement, operational expenses, and visitor center operations, with the aim of boosting tourism and economic activity in the region.

The GO Laurel Highlands is offering a tourism grant ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for marketing, enhancement of attractions, and special events aimed at increasing visitation and economic activity in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with applications to be submitted by October 4, 2024.

This funding opportunity is designed for organizations in York County that provide programs in financial literacy, workforce development, and economic and family support to help families achieve financial stability.

The Movember Indigenous Men’s Wellbeing Innovation Initiative is a grant funding and capacity building program aimed at empowering Indigenous-led organizations. This initiative supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative programs and interventions to enhance Indigenous men's social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB). As one of four initiatives under Movember’s new Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing Portfolio, it aligns with Movember's broader mission to build voice, capability, and power among Indigenous boys and men to design, lead, implement, and sustain SEWB in their communities, and to strengthen knowledge of effective SEWB strategies. The grant specifically targets Indigenous boys and men across all life stages in the United States. The program's core focus is on delivering innovative new programming or strengthening existing promising approaches that demonstrate improvements in SEWB. Movember aims to foster cultural connection and pride, embrace cultural knowledge, elevate overall social, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing, strengthen resilience, enhance health literacy, and improve access to culturally appropriate spaces and services that support SEWB. These priorities are central to achieving the desired impact of improved holistic wellbeing within Indigenous communities. Eligible applicants must be Indigenous owned/managed/led organizations based in the United States, legally able to accept grant funds, and either implementing an existing SEWB program with promising evidence or proposing a new program aligned with the funding goals. This ensures that the initiatives are culturally relevant and community-driven. Movember’s strategic priorities reflect a commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination and strengthening community-based solutions. The initiative provides annual funding of up to USD $250,000 per applicant for three years. The expected outcomes include a significant improvement in SEWB among Indigenous boys and men in the USA, measurable through indicators such as increased connection to culture and community, enhanced resilience, improved health literacy, and better access to culturally appropriate support services. This investment reflects Movember’s theory of change, which posits that by empowering Indigenous-led organizations and fostering innovative, culturally relevant programs, lasting positive impacts on Indigenous men's wellbeing can be achieved.

This initiative provides financial and technical support to small businesses in Detroit that have been operating for 30 years or more, recognizing their cultural and economic contributions to the community.

The City of Newport News is offering a Gun Violence Intervention Grant to fund or enhance evidence-based strategies and projects that reduce gun violence within the city. This grant program aligns with the city's commitment to partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) to interrupt cycles of violence and support those at the highest risk. The program represents the third and final year of the GVIP cohort that began in FY 2023, with an allocation of $1,000,000 in the City Manager’s recommended operating budget for FY 2025. Organizations may be eligible for future funding through the annual City of Newport News Community Support Agency Grant program, which opens in October 2024. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are children, youth, young adults, and families residing in Newport News. The impact goal is to significantly reduce gun violence by implementing or enhancing effective, evidence-based strategies. Proposals are expected to demonstrate the utilization of such strategies and have a clear sustainability plan that includes sources of funding beyond the City of Newport News. Applicants for continuation funding must show progress and success from their FY 2024 projects. The grant prioritizes efforts around seven critical areas: Effective Conflict Resolution, Healthy Family Functioning, Economic Prosperity, Gun Control & Safety, A Caring Community, Mental Wellness & Healing, and Effective Deterrence & Adjudication. Projects eligible for continuation funding must address one or more of these critical areas, or focus on concentrated poverty, access to guns, desensitized communities, the judicial system, mental health/unaddressed trauma, family dysfunction, or poor conflict resolution. Additionally, projects relating to youth violence prevention or early intervention should align with CDC guidelines on individual, family, community, peer, and social risk factors. Collaboration among organizations is strongly encouraged. Expected outcomes include a reduction in gun violence within Newport News through community-based and evidence-based prevention and intervention projects. Measurable results will stem from addressing the identified critical areas and risk factors. The city's strategic priorities are to support CBOs in their violence reduction efforts using best practices. The theory of change is that by funding and partnering with these organizations to implement targeted, evidence-based interventions in critical areas, cycles of violence can be interrupted, and the well-being of those most at risk can be improved, leading to a safer community. The grant period is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

The Waukesha County Community Foundation (WCCF) Community Grants aim to address ongoing and evolving community needs within Waukesha County, Wisconsin. This program aligns with the WCCF's mission to support various critical areas, ensuring a comprehensive approach to community well-being. The grants are designed to be flexible, supporting a wide range of initiatives that strengthen the county's social fabric and improve residents' quality of life. These grants target a broad spectrum of beneficiaries across several key program areas, including Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services, Community Development, Education, Environment & Conservation, and Historical Preservation. Additionally, specific Field of Interest Funds are available for Literacy, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and LGBTQ+ Causes, indicating a commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and addressing pressing social issues. The overarching impact goal is to foster a more resilient and thriving Waukesha County by investing in projects that create positive, lasting change. The WCCF prioritizes proposals that demonstrate collaboration among organizations serving similar clients, aiming to maximize collective impact and avoid duplication of efforts. Strengthening the internal operations of organizations is another key focus, recognizing that robust organizational capacity is essential for effective service delivery. Special consideration is also given to proposals that align with WCCF’s flagship issue of safe and affordable housing, highlighting a strategic priority to address this fundamental need within the community. The expected outcomes include enhanced community services, improved access to resources, and progress on specific community challenges. While not explicitly detailing measurable results, the emphasis on strengthening internal operations and impacting outcomes on a community basis implies a focus on demonstrating tangible improvements. The WCCF's strategic priorities are clearly centered on collaboration, organizational effectiveness, and addressing critical community needs like housing, reflecting a theory of change that values partnerships and sustainable solutions for community-wide benefit.

The Rapides Foundation's Workforce Opportunity Grant Program aims to address the critical need for increased household income levels in Central Louisiana, aligning directly with the foundation's overarching mission to improve the health status of the region. The program operates under the belief that economic prosperity, characterized by low unemployment and higher-wage jobs, directly correlates with improved healthcare access, better health choices, and healthier lifestyles for all income levels. This grant initiative is a strategic effort to uplift the standard of living by fostering economic opportunity and family income, which are core tenets of the foundation's "Healthy Communities" strategic area. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are potential and existing employees within The Rapides Foundation's nine-parish service area, which includes Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn parishes. Additionally, businesses and industry partners located within these parishes will benefit from the increased skill and knowledge of their workforce. The impact goals are two-fold: to enhance the skills and knowledge of the workforce, leading to higher wages for employees, and to simultaneously boost the production capacity of participating businesses and industries. This directly supports the foundation's "Education" strategic area by increasing educational attainment and achievement as a path to improved economic and social status. The program prioritizes accredited, nonprofit, postsecondary institutions as eligible grant recipients, ensuring that the training provided is of high quality and meets recognized educational standards. The focus is on trainings that directly benefit the local workforce and businesses, addressing specific skill gaps or enhancing existing capabilities to meet industry demands. The grant provides up to $75,000 for a period of up to 12 months, indicating a commitment to substantial and sustained impact. The expected outcomes of the Workforce Opportunity Grant Program include a more highly skilled and better-compensated workforce, leading to an increase in household income levels across the targeted parishes. This, in turn, is expected to result in improved health outcomes due to greater financial stability and access to healthcare. By increasing the production capacity of businesses, the program also aims to strengthen the local economy, creating a virtuous cycle of economic growth and improved community well-being. This comprehensive approach reflects The Rapides Foundation's "Healthy People" strategic area by indirectly promoting healthy behaviors and improving access to healthcare through economic empowerment.

The Western New York Foundation’s Impact Capacity Assessment Program Core (iCAP Core) is a tailored program specifically designed for emerging and smaller nonprofits in the region. Its primary objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of capacity building and its influence on both internal and external facets of these organizations. This aligns directly with the foundation's mission to foster effective organizations, which are defined as those that fulfill their mission through sound management, strong governance, and a persistent rededication to assessing and achieving results. The iCAP Core program is a 6-month initiative aimed at addressing the complexities of capacity-related opportunities and challenges, reflecting the foundation's strategic priority to invest in organizational development. The target beneficiaries of the iCAP Core program are non-profit organizations that have obtained tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) or are fiscally sponsored, have been in operation for at least two years with at least $50,000 in annual revenue, and are specifically food system, arts and culture, or rural organizations. These organizations must be headquartered within the seven counties of Western New York: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Wyoming. The impact goals are to strengthen leadership, enhance board effectiveness, improve overall organizational development, and create a sustainable capacity-building plan. The program prioritizes several key elements. A significant focus is placed on leadership, specifically the relationship between the Executive Director and Board Chair, providing one-on-one consultation and coaching to strengthen their skills and vision. Board training is another core priority, equipping members with knowledge for effective governance, strategic decision-making, and resource mobilization. Comprehensive organizational development covers a wide array of areas including leadership structure, financial management, fundraising, communications, marketing, and IT systems. Expected outcomes include enhanced leadership skills, a more informed and skilled board, improved organizational infrastructure across various functions, and the creation of a detailed 1 to 2-year organizational capacity-building plan with actionable goals and progress measurements. Measurable results will be derived from the implementation and assessment of this capacity-building plan, which will also inform future foundation investment in the organizations' capacity development. A $10,000 stipend is provided to offset administrative expenses during iCAP, further supporting the participating nonprofits in achieving these outcomes.

This program provides financial support to property owners and long-term leaseholders in downtown Decorah for exterior building renovations and the conversion of upper-story spaces into residential units, promoting economic growth and community vibrancy.

The BLOOM Grant Program, initiated in 2018 by the BLOOM Business Empowerment Center through the York County Economic Alliance (YCEA), aims to empower small businesses in York County. This initiative aligns with the YCEA's mission to foster economic growth and stability within the region by providing crucial financial support to businesses with tangible needs. The program's core objective is to help businesses improve productivity, expand services, or achieve the next level of growth, thereby contributing to the overall economic vitality of York County. Since its inception, the BLOOM Grant Program has demonstrated significant impact, distributing 235 grants totaling $480,000 to various small businesses and organizations. The program specifically targets small businesses in York County, including those in Downtown York and York County Trail Towns communities, with a particular focus on women-owned businesses, start-up entrepreneurs, and graduates of BLOOM classes. This broad reach reflects a commitment to inclusive economic development, ensuring that a diverse range of businesses can access vital resources for growth. Priority consideration for funding is given to businesses that have not previously received BLOOM grant funding, promoting equitable access and supporting a wider array of enterprises. The program also prioritizes businesses owned by Women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and Veterans, aiming to address historical disparities and promote economic empowerment within these communities. Furthermore, businesses that commit to using local businesses for grant implementation are favored, reinforcing local economic cycles and fostering community collaboration. The program awards grants ranging from $500 to $1,500, with amounts determined by need and potential impact. These grants are intended to fund projects that demonstrably improve productivity, expand services, or facilitate business growth. Examples of previously funded projects include improving signage, physical improvements to business locations, marketing initiatives, training and certification for new services, and the purchase of new equipment. The expected outcome is a measurable increase in the operational efficiency, market reach, and overall growth of recipient businesses, contributing to job creation and sustained economic development within York County. This strategic approach reflects the YCEA's theory of change, which posits that targeted financial investment in small businesses, especially those in underrepresented groups, can lead to significant and sustainable regional economic benefits.

NBForward! is a small business assistance program administered by the New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC). It aims to help businesses navigate the challenges of the pandemic recovery phase while preparing for future growth. The program offers grants of up to $20,000, which must be matched with an NBEDC loan ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 with deferred payments for three months. In addition to financial assistance, technical support such as business planning and resource guidance is provided. Eligible applicants are for-profit businesses that have a physical location in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and have been in operation since at least January 1, 2020. Businesses must demonstrate continued adverse effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chains, franchises, liquor stores, tobacco shops, pawn shops, adult entertainment establishments, passive real estate investments, and businesses not complying with all local, state, and federal laws are ineligible.

The Four County Community Foundation (4CCF) is launching its Spark Grant Program, designed to offer a more accessible and interactive grant application experience than traditional processes. This program aligns with the 4CCF's mission by focusing on funding innovative projects that address unmet community needs within its service area. The foundation aims to foster community development and empower local initiatives through this streamlined grant format, ensuring that vital projects receive the support they require to make a tangible difference. The Spark Grant Program targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including both individuals and nonprofit groups, who are actively working to meet community needs. The program's impact goal is to support truly innovative projects that can demonstrate a clear benefit to the local community. An example of a past successful project includes a partnership between a Shelby Township-based business and the Hispanic Service Center, offering reduced-cost Spanish-language food safety training, which met a critical need for local entrepreneurs. This illustrates the foundation's commitment to supporting diverse and impactful initiatives. The program prioritizes proposals that are innovative and seek to address an unmet community need within 4CCF’s service area. The selection process involves applicants presenting an in-person proposal to a panel of 4CCF committee members, followed by a five-minute question and answer session. This interactive approach emphasizes transparency and direct engagement, allowing the foundation to better understand the proposed projects and their potential impact. With a pool of $50,000 to award, the Spark Grant Program expects measurable outcomes in community development and the support of local entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented groups. The example of the Spanish-language food safety training highlights the potential for projects to address specific demographic needs and foster economic empowerment. The foundation's strategic priority is to identify and invest in initiatives that demonstrate creativity and a direct, positive impact on the well-being and growth of the four-county community, reflecting a theory of change that values accessible support for innovative local solutions.

This grant provides $10,000 to support impactful projects that benefit youth in the community, specifically targeting initiatives rather than general operating expenses.

This grant provides financial support to volunteer-driven nonprofit organizations that serve the residents of Monte Sereno through free community services and events.

The City of Goshen's Community Relations Commission (CRC) offers the Neighborhood Block Party Grant to foster community-building activities within Goshen city limits. This grant aligns with the CRC's mission to develop and maintain programs that build positive relations among the community and enhance problem-solving skills among residents. The program is designed to support one-time events such as block parties and special celebrations, aiming to strengthen neighborhood bonds and improve the overall quality of life. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are neighborhood-based organizations within Goshen, which are groups whose members primarily reside or do business in a recognized neighborhood and whose purpose is to improve the area's quality of life. The grant's impact goals include promoting neighborhood community-building, fostering positive relations, and enhancing residents' problem-solving skills. By supporting events that bring neighbors together, the CRC aims to create more cohesive and engaged communities. The grant prioritizes projects that demonstrate neighborhood benefit and support one-time events that facilitate community interaction. Funds can be used for supplies, print, and promotional materials, and activities for a neighborhood block party. The CRC's strategic priority is to build positive relationships within the community, and the Neighborhood Block Party Grant serves as a direct mechanism to achieve this by empowering local groups to organize unifying events. Expected outcomes include an increase in neighborhood engagement, improved social cohesion, and a greater sense of community ownership among residents. Measurable results would involve the number of block parties and community events hosted, the participation rates at these events, and qualitative feedback on improved neighborly relations. The theory of change is that by providing small grants for accessible community events, the CRC can directly facilitate positive interactions, leading to stronger, more resilient neighborhoods and enhanced problem-solving capabilities at a local level. The maximum annual grant total per neighborhood is $200, making it accessible for a wide range of neighborhood groups. Applicants must be neighborhood-based organizations within Goshen city limits, and groups can be formed specifically for the purpose of a grant-funded project. The application requires details such as the proposed event's date, location, and proof of property owner's permission, ensuring responsible and well-planned community activities.

The Animal Services Responsive Grant, offered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, aims to improve the quality of life for all animals, educate the community on responsible pet care, and enhance spay/neuter and adoption services. This aligns with the foundation's broader mission to support vital community needs, ensuring that organizations dedicated to animal welfare receive the necessary funding to operate and expand their reach. By focusing on these key areas, the grant seeks to create a more humane environment for animals and foster responsible pet ownership within the community. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are animals in need, as well as the communities and individuals who benefit from enhanced animal welfare services. The grant targets organizations working in specific Texas counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, and Wilson. The impact goals are centered on reducing animal suffering, increasing pet adoptions, promoting spay/neuter initiatives to control pet overpopulation, and educating the public on best practices for animal care. The grant prioritizes nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a clear commitment to these objectives and have a proven track record of serving their local animal populations. The program's priorities include supporting direct animal care services, public education campaigns, and programs that facilitate adoption and spay/neuter. The expected outcomes are a measurable reduction in the number of homeless and neglected animals, an increase in responsible pet ownership, and a more informed community regarding animal welfare issues. Measurable results are tied to the organizational budget and corresponding award amounts, indicating that larger, more established organizations with greater capacity are expected to achieve more significant outcomes. For instance, organizations with budgets over $1,000,000 are eligible for a $50,000 award, implying an expectation of broader impact. The San Antonio Area Foundation's strategic priorities, as demonstrated by this grant, include fostering community well-being through targeted support for critical services. Their theory of change appears to be that by providing financial resources to qualified animal welfare organizations, these organizations will be empowered to implement effective programs that directly address the root causes of animal neglect and overpopulation, ultimately leading to a healthier and more compassionate community for both humans and animals. The eligibility criteria, such as requiring 501(c)(3) status and local operation, ensure that funding is directed to legitimate and impactful entities. This grant does not support endowments, capital campaigns, religious purposes, scholarships, political activities, or lobbying efforts. This restriction further refines the foundation's strategic focus, ensuring that funds are directly applied to programmatic efforts that align with the core goals of animal services. The focus is strictly on responsive grants that address immediate and ongoing needs, rather than long-term institutional building or advocacy.