From the Sept. HCI Newsletter:
The Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) is proud to partner with the Northfield Union of Youth on the new “Northfield Youth Micro-Grant Program.” This program will provide funding to Northfield students under the age of 19 who would like to start their own businesses. The intention of the Northfield Youth Micro-Grant is to help young people learn valuable skills, interact with community mentors, and potentially form a profitable business.
HCI dedicated $5,500 to form this youth micro-grant program. No more than $1,000 will be granted to any one student/application. The first deadline for applications is November 1.
If available funding remains or additional funding is secured, there will also be deadlines on January 15, 2009, and April 15, 2009.
After each deadline, a board made up of adults and youth will review the applications and distribute the funding. Interested students will be asked to fill out an initial application, which requires little more than a basic business idea. After the initial application is received, the student will be matched up with a mentor based on his or her project. After meeting with a mentor, the student will complete a more detailed secondary application to be reviewed by the selection committee. If the student receives funding, he or she will be invited to attend informative seminars that highlight important business skills or other relevant information.The review board will look highly on projects that will contribute something valuable to the Northfield community.
Applications are available by visiting www.unionofyouth.org (click on the microgrant heading). Any questions about this program can be directed to Josh Hinnenkamp at mainstreetmentors@gmail.com or Wade Hauser at hauser@stolaf.edu.
