Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES— Schools, churches, local governments or charitable organizations contemplating a community project that needs funding can apply for a grant from the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF).

For the last seven years, MRCF has awarded grants to further local projects through its community grant program. Maria Bancroft, MRCF staff person, said the foundation has funded many diverse projects.

“The foundation has assisted with many projects in the past, such as supporting bully prevention programs, local food pantries, park improvements, pregnancy resource centers and early childhood education programs to name a few,” Bancroft said.

An estimated six grants of $250 each will be available to nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and governmental entities looking to address local needs that will enhance the quality of life within the community.

2012 marked the inaugural year for the grant program, and in the last seven years $9,900 in grant funds have been awarded to 40 community projects throughout the region. The grants are made possible through the Meramec Regional Community Foundation Community Grant-making Fund, which was created by a $30,000 donation from Meramec Regional Planning Commission. A portion of the fund’s earnings are distributed each year through grants.

Awardees in 2018 included the Crawford County University Extension, CASA of South Central Missouri, Dent County Community Foundation, Art Works on Main Gallery in Owensville, Ya Yas of Belle and Caledonia Community Foundation.

Applications for the 2019 grant round will be accepted online only until 5 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2019. Online applications may be found and submitted at https://www.formstack.com/forms/CFO-mrcfgrantapp.

Organizations and governmental entities must be based in the Meramec Region – Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties – to qualify.

For more information on the grant opportunity, contact Bancroft at mbancroft@meramecregion.org or 573-265-2993 extension 114. To learn more about MRCF, visit www.cfozarks.org/affiliates/affiliate-list/meramec/.

MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Vicki Lange of Osage County serves as president of MRCF.

Currently, MRCF has 55 funds totaling over $2.39 million.

CFO is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaborations and public leadership. Formed in 1973, CFO has since grown to include 49 affiliate community foundations and more than 3,700 charitable funds totaling approximately $300 million in assets, as of June 30, 2018.

MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation and providing the initial investment to create a grant program, provides staff support to MRCF.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 23, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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