Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES–Is your school, church or charitable organization looking to fund a community project? The Meramec Regional Community Foundation is looking to award grants to further local projects this spring through its community grant program.

An estimated six grants of $250 each will be available to nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and governmental entities looking to address local needs that will enhance the quality of life within the community.

2012 marked the inaugural year for this grant program, and in the last three years $4,200 in grant funds have been awarded to 17 community projects throughout the region as a result.

Awardees in 2014 included Helping Hands Outreach Center of Gasconade County, Maries County R-II Schools Archery Program, Caledonia Community Betterment Youth Organization, Sullivan High School Students Against Drunk Driving, The Community Partnership of Phelps, Dent and Crawford counties and Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Robert.

Applications for the 2015 grant round will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Jan. 30.

Organizations and governmental entities must be based in the Meramec Region to qualify. This includes Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties.

For more information, contact Maria Bancroft at mbancroft@meramecregion.org or 573-265-2993. Online applications may be found and submitted at www.formstack.com/forms/CFO-mrcfgrantapp.

Continuation of the community grant program and the many other charitable funds held by MRCF requires a small operating budget to allow for staff time and other minimal expenses such as travel and paper copies. Individuals wishing to help MRCF continue building a legacy of giving in the Meramec Region may make a taxable deductible donation to MRCF’s Sustaining Membership Drive. To donate, contact Bancroft or mail a check made payable to Meramec Regional Community Foundation to MRPC, 4 Industrial Drive, St. James, MO 65559. Please indicate that your check is intended for the Sustaining Membership Drive either in the memo field or in a note enclosed with the check.

MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of CFO in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Wayne Parry, a Rolla banker, serves as MRCF’s chairman. Currently, MRCF has 36 funds totaling nearly $631,000.

CFO is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaboration and public leadership. Formed in 1973, CFO has since grown to include 44 affiliate community foundations and more than 2,700 charitable funds totaling approximately $257 million in assets.

MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation, provides staff support to MRCF. Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 21, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

For the latest news and events from MRPC and MRCF, find them on Facebook at facebook.com/meramecregion or visit the MRPC website at meramecregion.org.