We’re excited to share a few highlights from our recent grants to organizations serving residents of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. These August grants focus on arts & culture, economic development and equity-focused human services.
Arts & Culture
A total of $150,000 in grants to Arts Cleveland to support a formal partnership between the organization and the Arts & Culture Action Committee to research, assess and advocate for new public funding options. Our support will also allow Arts Cleveland to explore other structural partnerships among key arts funders and policymakers necessary to sustain and supplement public arts funding in light of declining cigarette tax revenue.
$190,850 to Cleveland Museum of Art to continue its teen curatorial arts mastery program which helps high school students learn to develop and curate visual art exhibitions. This year’s program will engage 225-275 youth in activities that introduce them to all aspects of roles in the museum world, building skills in teamwork, planning, writing, research, design, leadership, creative problem-solving and communications.
Economic Development
$175,000 to the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) for the Cleveland Microenterprise Neighborhood Development Program, which provides small business loans and technical assistance services to underserved and underbanked entrepreneurs. The program’s holistic approach to entrepreneurial support is accomplished through one-on-one coaching, microlending and neighborhood-based partnerships.
$167,948 to Westside Industrial Retention & Expansion Network for the continued implementation of the Encore Cleveland Technical Corps Program (TCP). This program recruits, hires and trains experienced tradespeople to assist teachers with accredited programs in classrooms at Max Hayes High School and Euclid High School. At least 240 10th through 12th grade students will engage in projects facilitated by TCP members throughout the 2019-20 academic year.
$60,000 to Lake County Port Authority to conduct a Transient Marina Market Study and a Water Treatment Plant Study that builds on work completed in 2005 during the development of the original Lake County Coastal Development Plan. These studies will help inform next steps as it relates to feasibility, site control and land assembly in further developing the Fairport Harbor Lakefront.
$150,000 to Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority to create a comprehensive master plan for Woodhill Estates and the surrounding neighborhood that will improve the lived experience of the estates’ 1,000 residents. Funds will also be used to support the planning and execution of resident-led projects.
Equity-Focused Human Services
$70,000 to Refugee Response to strengthen the Family Engagement, Teen Response and Adult Tutoring programs, and to enhance Ohio City Farms’ business model by introducing wintertime cultivation and merchandising, and increasing employment opportunities.
$65,000 to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Community Center to build its organizational capacity in community outreach through volunteer engagement, training programs, and communications. Our grant will work to achieve equity by supporting the LGBT Center’s training programs that focus on increasing the cultural competency of Cleveland institutions, as well as expanding the Center’s reach to previously unserved populations.
