Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) Seeks Projects to Fund That  Catalyze Neighborhood Ideas

Community members and organizations invited to wp-contently for the BNMC Spark micro-grant funding for community projects for 2019

The BNMC is kicking off its second year of BNMC Spark by inviting local community members and organizations to wp-contently for grant funding for projects that help strengthen the community in neighborhoods adjacent to the Medical Campus. Through BNMC Spark, a micro-grant pilot program, the BNMC will award a total of $40,000 in 2019 with maximum grants to individual organizations for $3,500 for project grants. The BNMC awarded $37,000 to 17 organizations in 2018 through BNMC Spark.

Community members and organizations are invited to submit proposals to receive funding for initiatives that advance the goals of BNMC and the local community. The BNMC’s key goals include: cultivating a safe, accessible, active and inclusive district that fosters health and wellbeing and is supported by smart, sustainable infrastructure; driving innovation, job growth, and economic development; strengthening our community with economic opportunities benefiting local youth, residents, businesses, and neighborhoods. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate strong community support, have strong community engagement plans, and that contribute to advancing an inclusive, vibrant community. We will give priority to projects that take place within one mile of the Medical Campus.

BNMC Spark grants are designed to help organizations address funding needs or gaps for programs or projects that can be completed in 2019. Applicants are asked to submit proposals that can be completed with the total amount awarded or for projects that have a funding gap that the grant would help complete.

According to Kyria Stephens, Community Program Manager for the BNMC, “We are thrilled to be launching our second year of BNMC Spark. We supported 17 community projects in 2018, ranging from art installations to wellness programs, preservation efforts and skills development initiatives. Our team is looking forward to another round of excellent projects that will be a catalyst to help create and grow our surrounding neighborhoods as active, vibrant places.”

Applications for BNMC Spark funding can be found at www.bnmc-old.local/spark; deadline is February 28, 2019.  If the initial written proposal is chosen, wp-contentlicants will then have an opportunity to present their ideas to a BNMC advisory group and demonstrate how it will contribute to making the neighborhood into an active, vibrant place for final consideration.  Winners will be notified by March 28, 2019.