The Emporia Community Foundation will be accepting grant applications for the 2017 grant cycle. The ECF grants committee makes grants for innovative projects and programs that are responsive to changing community needs in the areas of health, social service, education, recreation, and cultural affairs.

During the July 15, 2016, quarterly meeting, Cynthia Kraft announced that the foundation is increasing the 2017 grant awards to $25,000. This is an increase of $5,000 due to the positive response to the ongoing Fund for the Future campaign. As the fund continues to increase more dollars will become available to meet community needs.

The 2017 grant period will begin with applications being accepted during the month of September. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. Recipients will be announced in December and disbursements will be made in January 2017. The foundation serves communities in Lyon County and its six contiguous counties through charitable acts from a variety of established funds.

In January 2016, ECF awarded $16,381.98 to five area organizations. Grant recipients, along with their planned activities and award amounts were as follows:

Emporia High School Library, eBooks to promote STEM and College & Career Ready themes, $1,113,98; Emporia Public Library, funds to purchase a 3D printer and cover expenses for the MakerFest event that promotes technology and hands-on learning, $2,500; Kansas Children’s Service League, funds to provide Safe Sleep options and SIDS education to parents of infants and toddlers, $3,000; Douglas County, funds to support the Market Match SNAP matching program for the Emporia Farmers Market, $4,528; and Strong City Park Committee, funding for Strong City Park renovations to include a triple racing slide and chin up bar, $5,240.

Applications are available at www.emporiacf.org, by writing in care of Emporia Community Foundation, 527 Commercial St., Suite 501, Emporia, KS 66801, or by calling the ECF office at 620-342-9304.