Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES, Mo—Schools, churches or charitable organizations contemplating a community project that needs funding should apply for a grant from the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF).

For the last four years, MRCF has awarded grants to further local projects through its community grant program. Maria Bancroft, MRPC business loan specialist, said the foundation has funded many diverse grants.

“The foundation has done many projects in the past, such as bully prevention programs, the local food pantries, the Salvation Army chapters to provide resources to families, pregnancy resource centers and early childhood education programs,” Bancroft said.

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 four years $5,700 in grant funds have been awarded to 23 community projects throughout the region as a result.

Awardees in 2015 included Heartland Independent Living Center in Gasconade County; Maries County R-IISchools Foundation; Phelps County Humane Society; Salvation Army of PulaskiCounty; Caring Hearts Pregnancy Resource Center of Potosi; and Chamois Industrial Development Corporation in Osage County.

Applications for the 2016 grant round will be accepted online only until 5 p.m. on Jan. 29.

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.

MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CCFO) 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 44 funds totaling nearly $647,000.

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 49 affiliate community foundations and more than 2,971 charitable funds totaling approximately $259 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 24, 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 or cfozarks.org/meramec.