Community Wellness and Outdoor Recreation Grants Available

Hancock, Michigan –  The Portage Health Foundation Community Wellness and Outdoor Recreation Endowment Advisory Committee of the Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF) is now accepting applications for its annual granting cycle. The fund has made available $30,000 for local organizations, with a maximum $15,000 per proposal, this granting cycle.

This year’s Request for Proposals will once again be seeking applications that support existing trail development and/or help to support the expansion of new non-motorized trail systems throughout the four-county region including Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties. Although no partnership match is required, proposals that include programmatic or financial partnerships are strongly encouraged.

The purpose of the Portage Health Foundation Community Wellness and Outdoor Recreation Fund is to provide financial assistance and grant awards in support of focused initiatives, programs, or projects, that influence or support individual physical activity. This fund will give the community the chance to expand, create, or sustain outdoor recreational resources throughout Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties. It will also provide greater access and more choices for the identified community members to utilize these resources as part of their individual and collective health pursuits and enjoyment.

Thanks to the 2017 Portage Health Foundation Community Wellness and Outdoor Recreation granting cycle, five non-profit organizations were awarded a total amount of $51,080 in support of existing trail development and/or to help in supporting the expansion of new non-motorized trail development in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties. The recipients were the Keweenaw County Historical Society, the Copper Harbor Trails Society (for two separate projects), Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, and Baraga County. The Copper Harbor Trails Society was able to use their funding to purchase a new snow-bike trail groomer snowmobile for their Churning Rapids Trail this past winter. All other projects are slated to start this summer.

To be considered for this year’s cycle, grant applications must be submitted to the KCF office no later than 4:00 P.M. EST on Friday, August 3, 2018. Grant award recipients will be announced by September 25, 2018.

Applications are available at http://keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/field-interest-grants/. Grants will be made to organizations or programs with clear potential for positive outcomes; collaboration; and initiatives that help to support and promote healthy, physical activities.

KCF welcomes partnerships in the Foundation and urges interested parties to share this information with their constituents and all sub-groups within their organization. Tax deductible contributions may be made to the Portage Health Foundation Community Wellness and Outdoor Recreation Endowment Fund online at www.keweenawgives.org. All contributions to a permanent endowment of KCF qualify for a Federal Tax Credit.

For more information on giving or grant opportunities, please visit the KCF website (www.keweenawgives.org) or email mail@k-c-f.org.