Announcing Funding Opportunity for Community Organizations
From the Duluth YMCA and United Way of Greater Duluth 

Information Sessions Scheduled for February and March 

The Lake Superior Initiative is a three-year, $2.25 million program to build the efficiency, effectiveness and capability of our region’s community organizations.  The Initiative, a joint project of the Duluth Area Family YMCA and United Way of Greater Duluth, is overseeing two federal grants that will provide services and financial awards to help community organizations build on their strengths.  The Initiative will help organizations in all stages, from the established organization that needs a new strategic plan, the mid-size organization needing to incorporate technology for community outreach, or a new organization wanting to learn the process of filing for non-profit status. 

Community-based, faith-based and tribal organizations that serve individuals and families experiencing poverty; at-risk youth; people in transition from welfare to work; people facing addiction or incarceration; former prisoners re-entering the community and their children in a five county area of St. Louis, Cook, Lake, and Carlton, Douglas Counties are eligible to participate.  Program benefits include customized training, grants and technical assistance.  In addition to the trainings available to all community organizations, organizations that fit the targeted areas of service may also apply for grants and one-on-one technical assistance. Under this program, 20-25 agencies per year will be selected for customized training, technical assistance, and grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for capacity-building activities such as Leadership Development, Organizational Development, Revenue Development, Program Development and Community Engagement.

Organizations interested in applying for a grant are strongly encouraged to attend one of the information sessions we will be hosting starting in late February and early March.     

Meetings are scheduled in the following locations:

Two Harbors February 28, 2008, 3-5 pm Lake County Service Center 616 3rd Avenue – Baptism Room Parking in center parking lot	Cloquet March 6, 2008, 3-5 pm Fond du Lac Community College 14th Street, Cloquet  Room 258 Parking on campus grounds
Virginia March 4, 2008, Noon-2 pm Brown Bag Lunch YMCA 8367 Unity Drive, Virginia	Superior March 11, 2008, 3-5 pm Lake Superior Library 1530 Tower (on corner of Tower & Belknap) Parking in Library parking lot
Grand Marais March 5, 2008, Noon-2 pm Brown Bag Lunch Cook County Community Center 317 West 5th Street	Duluth March 13, 2008, 9-11 am Radisson Hotel Viking Room Parking in Hotel parking lot