In support of the myNKY vision to promote vibrant communities, The Catalytic Fund and The Center for Great Neighborhoods (The Center) are expanding their Nano Grant program in Northern Kentucky, for a total of six communities: Dayton, Ludlow, Elsmere, Taylor Mill, Pendleton County and Grant County.
Up to three $250 grants per community will be awarded to people who live or work there and have creative ideas to bring their community together.
A grant honored Slush Puppie which was invested in Dayton
The purpose of the Nano Grant program is to support creative place-making ideas created by local residents, students or workers that bring Northern Kentuckians together, build a sense of community, celebrate our differences and foster community pride.
Started in Covington by The Center, the Nano Grant program has been instrumental in increasing residents’ community involvement. Recipients of the 2016 Nano Grant created events, including Stories of Dayton and the Ewe-nique Art Hop, as well as interactive projects like a tribute to the inventor of the Slush Puppie, a picnic for special needs children and their families, a store window display called Falmouth Aglow, a rain-activated sidewalk art project called Fowl Weather and others.
Bob Yoder, Main Street Director for Dayton, is excited to have this program back in his city.
Another grant made possible a fall picnic for special kids in Florence.
“The creative projects that came out of last year’s grant program were very inspiring and generated a lot of community engagement,” he says. Jamie Baker, Executive Director of the Grant County Chamber of Commerce, is very pleased to bring the Nano Grants to her county and hopes “they will be a catalyst for projects that improve our community.”
The 2017 expansion of the Nano Grant program was made possible by a generous grant from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.
Although the grant application period has ended for Dayton and Pendleton County, informational sessions about the grants and the application process will be held in Ludlow, Taylor Mill and Grant County in August.
For more information, please visit www.myNKYVibrancyGrants.org.
A grant funded sheep-themed art at the Ewe-unique Art Hop in Pendleton County.
