County Offers $100,000 to Local Non-Profits

The Tulare County Youth Commission is accepting applications for the 2013 Step Up Youth Activities Grant Program. The grant program provides $100,000 in grants for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that operate within Tulare County. Please visit www.stepuptc.com on Monday, Sept. 17 to download all Step Up Youth Activities Grant Program documents.

The Step Up Youth Activities Grant Program is designed to provide financial support for non-profit organizations that provide programs and services aimed at improving the quality of life for at-risk youth under the age of 18.  Preference is given to programs working with youth that are in a gang or are exposed to the gang culture in an underserved area, start up programs, programs that leverage other funds, and programs that work with underserved populations.

“The Board is committed to providing positive activities for youth,” said Allen Ishida, Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “This funding empowers our non-profit organizations to provide services to youth that better their lives.”

The Step Up Youth Activities Grant program allocates $100,000 for grants to Tulare County non-profit organizations. There is $20,000 in funding available for each Supervisorial district; grants will be awarded in amounts ranging between $5,000 and $10,000.

Twelve Tulare County non-profit organizations received $100,000 in funding in 2011, the fourth year of the program. Funding was provided last year for organizations that mentored at-risk youth, provided tutoring services, and expanded after school sports leagues, among others.

The Tulare County Youth Commission will review the submitted grant applications and recommend to the Board of Supervisors which organizations should receive funding and at what level. Grant funding is not intended to supplement other funds the organization is already receiving for a current project.  The Tulare County Board of Supervisors will make the final funding decision.

Before making its recommendation, the Tulare County Youth Commission will host a mandatory grant workshop for all applicants on Thursday, October 4, 2012.  The Youth Commission will vote on the funding recommendations on Monday, November 26, 2012.  The final grant awards will be made on December 11, 2012 by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.

Applications can be obtained by visiting www.stepuptc.com. The deadline to submit an application for a grant is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 26, 2012. Late applications will not accepted. For more information, please contact Youth Commission staffer Tammie Weyker at (559) 636-5000 or tweyker@co.tulare.ca.us.