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Westmoreland County Invited to Participate in Pittsburgh 250 Celebration
Posted 7-25-07
The Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners -- Tom Balya, Tom
Ceraso and Phil Light -- is inviting neighborhood, community and
civic organizations in the county to participate in a program to
help celebrate the region's 250th anniversary. The program will
offer $1 million in grant funding.
On July 31, Community Connections, in
conjunction with the Community Foundation of Westmoreland
County, will conduct a community brainstorming session from
6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center, 951
Old Salem Road in Greensburg, to encourage project ideas and
applications. All interested individuals and organizations are
welcome to attend.
"Given the significance of Westmoreland County
in our region, both historically and today, it is fitting that
our county be given the opportunity to help commemorate
Pittsburgh 250," said County Commissioner Chairman Tom Balya. "I
strongly encourage residents to attend this workshop and apply
for grant funding, and I have no doubt that many worthy ideas
will be generated."
Community Connections projects will support the
broad theme of "Pride & Progress," and projects will be divided
into three classes -- Regional, Grassroots, and Affiliated.
Targeting $1 million in total grant funding administered by The
Sprout Fund, the number of projects undertaken will depend on
the ideas generated.
Regional Grants of up to $50,000 will go to
civic or community groups whose project, event or activity will
affect larger populations or distinct groups. A decision-making
panel representative of the entire region will decide who is to
be awarded Regional Project Grants.
Grassroots Grants of up to $5,000 will go to
communities, civic groups or individuals whose project, event or
activity affects citizens in a single county or community.
Decision-making panels of local leaders in each county will
decide who will receive Grassroots Project Grants.
Additionally, a third class of Affiliated Projects will be
endorsed and promoted as part of Community Connections, but will
not receive monetary support. These ideas will run in
conjunction with regional and grassroots projects while
supporting the vision of Community Connections.
The deadline for applying is September 14, 2007.
Groups and individuals interested in applying for grant funding
can download the application at
www.pittsburgh250.org.
In October and November 2007, using objective
criteria focused on civic engagement, a nominated panel of
community leaders will select and announce the recipients of the
grant funding. Throughout 2008, the chosen organizations will
execute their projects with the assistance of Community
Connections. Finally, in spring 2009, Community Connections will
document the success of the program by outlining how projects
affected communities and residents throughout the region.
Community Connections is a cooperative effort of
The Sprout Fund, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization with
extensive experience in supporting and managing community-based
projects; the Pittsburgh 250 Community Connections Committee, a
40-member regional advisory group; and Pittsburgh 250, Inc., a
supporting organization of the Allegheny Conference on Community
Development and the lead agency implementing and coordinating
events and activities related to the region’s 250th anniversary
celebration.
For more information about Pittsburgh 250, visit
www.pittsburgh250.org. |
