The county will soon change the way community grants are distributed. County manager Dave Mendiola said that in the past, entities have been able to request grants from the board of county commissioners through a very informal process.
All that will change in July when the new fiscal year begins, he said.
The new grant process will require an individual or organization that wants funding to file a formal application before a deadline to be set at a later date. Commissioners will then prioritize and make approval decisions on all of the grants during one meeting, Mendiola said. Commissioners will set aside a specific amount for grants during the budget process and all grants will be paid out of that budget.
The one- to two-page application will require the applicant to define their specific need and outline how it will be a benefit to the county. The application will request the entity’s tax ID number, the event name, the number of attendees expected, and other information, Mendiola said.
The county will not be requiring matching funds, but does want an explanation of exactly why the money is needed and who will benefit from it.
Once a budget and a deadline have been set, a notice will be sent out to regular grant applicants to inform them of the new grant requirements. The deadline will also be advertized, Mendiola said.
