INC NEWS - OPen Space Matching Grants Program

[pat carstensen]

I just received the following notice about Durham County Matching Grants.. 
Regards, pat


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Dear Community Group Representative:

Durham County has a program that might be of interest to your community 
organization. The Durham County Matching Grants Program is designed to 
assist nonprofit organizations both inside and outside city limits, in 
preserving open space lands and promoting recreational opportunities for the 
citizens of the County.


Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
  * Assistance to a local Land Conservancy organization in acquiring an 
environmentally significant natural area in Durham County.

* Assistance to a local Neighborhood Association to develop a "tot lot"? and 
playground for the neighborhood and public.

* Assistance to a local Scout Troop to clear and build a trail on publicly 
owned lands.
* Assistance to a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to upgrade play equipment 
at a local  elementary school that is used by the community.


Grants are based on a public-private partnership between Durham County and 
the many strong on-going private efforts to provide recreation and open 
space.  Projects eligible under the grant program must be publicly 
accessible recreational activities and open space lands (including modest 
support structures) in the County.  Grant recipients must provide a matching 
contribution for the project and can be provided in a variety of ways such 
as fundraising and volunteer labor. The grants will be awarded on a 
competitive basis. The County has up to $85,000 and there is no minimum 
amount for grant requests. Grants will be considered for any size project.


The application deadline is September 29, 2006, with grant awards 
anticipated around the year’s end.  If your group is interested in 
applying for a grant or would like an application, please call the Matching 
Grants Program Administrator, Kevin Etheridge, at 560-0018, contact by email 
at matchinggrants at co.durham.nc.us, or visit 
http://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/bdmg/ and click on the Matching 
Grants link.