SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio — After a two-year pandemic-induced absence, One South Euclid will again conduct this spring its mini-grant program.
Residents and business groups can now apply for small grants to support community projects. OSE grants of as much as $500 can be awarded for neighborhood beautification, events, or other initiatives in support of South Euclid. One South Euclid is the city’s nonprofit community development corporation.
“These grants are meant to provide support for South Euclid residents and organizations who have great ideas to bring people together and beautify our community,” said OSE Executive Director Annette Iwamoto. “We are excited to see what ideas our neighbors have and to be able to help them meet our city’s motto to ‘Come Together and Thrive.’
“When we speak of community groups,” she said, “it runs the gamut. It could be a group of businesses or youth-led groups. It can even mean four or five neighbors getting together to plan their street’s block party. Having 501(c)3 status is not required.”
According to Iwamoto, there are requirements attached to the grants, which do not exceed $500. All projects require a 20-percent match by the recipient to demonstrate support and buy-in. Iwamoto said that the 20-percent match can come in the form of cash, volunteer hours on the project for which money was granted, or via donations, such as space or supplies for the project.
“We just want to see some buy-in from whoever is organizing an event, so that it’s not just a project funded by One South Euclid,” Iwamoto said.
She said that the OSE grants committee, made up of board members, will decide who receives funding and how much money will be granted.
OSE this year combined what had been two mini-grant programs, one geared toward beautification and the other toward community engagement, into one mini-grants program for 2022. Speaking of submitted projects, and determining whether they, indeed, support the community, Iwamoto said, “We want to leave (guidelines) a little bit open so people can be creative and we can hear what ideas they have.”
To be considered for a grant, applications must be completed by midnight April 15. Funds must be used for projects that are completed by the end of 2022. Funding will be given via reimbursement.
To apply, visit onesoutheuclid.org/mini-grants.
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