SW Connecticut News

(Norwalk, CT) – On May 31, 2023, Mayor Rilling announced that applications are open for the City of Norwalk’s Community Impact Mini-Grant Program, newly established by the Community Services Department. The City of Norwalk established the Community Impact Mini-Grant Program to provide direct assistance to support local nonprofit organizations with operating budgets under $1 Million that provide critical services to residents. 

The creation of the Community Impact Mini-Grant Program was in response to feedback the City received in 2022, after rolling out the Norwalk Community Recovery Fund Grant, which disbursed the City’s American Rescue Plan Act funding to qualifying larger nonprofit organizations negatively impacted by the pandemic. Ahead of the City rolling out the second phase of the Norwalk Community Recovery Fund Grant program this summer, the City put together the Community Impact Mini-Grant Program to ensure smaller nonprofits doing vital work in the community also have the opportunity to qualify for grant funding. 

“We created this funding opportunity in response to feedback we received to make sure there are qualifying grant opportunities for smaller nonprofit organizations. The Community Impact Mini-Grant Program will ensure nonprofit organizations of all sizes and development stages have the chance to receive funding for the vital services they provide that benefit Norwalk residents,” said Mayor Rilling. “We also want to support our community partners who are working to help fill gaps in high-need areas, such as mental health services, prevention or diversion programs and supplemental education programs designed to enhance students' academic experience.”  

Grant awards are available from $5,000 up to $10,000 with a total distribution of $100,000. An organization may only receive one mini-grant per 12-month period. Funding for these grants will come from the City of Norwalk’s Operating Budget. 

 Grants will be awarded to nonprofits that are focused on one of three areas: 

1.)   Health, including health or mental health services or education that addresses active gaps in the Norwalk continuum of care. 

2.)   Education, including academic support to students of all ages and/or parents that provide enrichment or direct tutoring. 

3.)   Safety Net areas, including prevention or diversion services, such as food insecurity, youth needs, homelessness, and other community gaps. 

Organizations must be a currently established 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) with the U.S. Department of Treasury and authorized to provide services in the State of Connecticut. Permitted activities for the funding include materials needed with the associated project, current projects, or expansion of projects or programming, as well as costs associated with professional development, certification, or training programs that further the development of staff delivering direct services. A total of two applications per nonprofit organizational entity may be accepted. 

Interested parties can learn more and access the application by visiting https://www.norwalkct.gov/3474/Community-Impact-Mini-grant. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 30th at 5:00 PM, and completed applications should be emailed to ImpactGrant@NorwalkCt.gov. A grant review committee selection appointed by the Chief of Community Services will review applications using a rubric, and the awardees will be announced at the end of July.  

The Community Services Department will offer two information sessions to prospective applicants with questions. The sessions are not intended to be a grant writing course but rather to help applicants understand what the City is looking for in an application and respond to any general questions. The webinars will be on Thursday, June 1, at 1:00 PM and Monday, June 5, at 6:00 PM. 

Participants can join the June 1 meeting by using the Zoom Meeting link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82357396855?pwd=Z0lnSjJ5U2JiQVNINWQ4MG91TTRTUT09, meeting ID: 823 5739 6855 and passcode: 550295

Participants can join the June 5 meeting by using the Zoom Meeting link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87581419208?pwd=ZXlvSlRyY3d2NkdjTjdoK3NUWTVDdz09, meeting ID: 875 8141 9208 and passcode: 882691. 

Anyone with questions can direct them to ImpactGrant@Norwalkct.gov at any point.  

Original source can be found here.