Williamstown Fund Wants Great Ideas
WILLIAMSTOWN - Have a great idea for making Williamstown better? The Fund for Williamstown directors are hoping you'll tell them about it.Now in its second year, the fund is getting ready to disburse about $25,000 for worthy community projects. Fund officials want to make sure the word is getting out that anyone with a good idea is more than welcome to fill out an application.
The deadline is March 19.
Most community funds only accept proposals from registered nonprofit organizations, said board member Jane Allen. Not so, the Fund for Williamstown.
"We are very interested in getting ideas from residents," said Allen, which led its founders to open the application process to small groups or individuals within the community. "We were intrigued that there would be people with wonderful ideas out there."
The fund awarded more than $27,000 in its first year of grant-making last year. Some 28 proposals requesting $112,824 were received in areas including education, social services, arts and environmental protection.
While many of the grants went to nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity, a few were awarded to local people with good ideas.
"We had a wonderful application from parents for the playing field at Broad Brook Park," said Allen. "They asked for funding for materials and did all the labor. They did a great job."
That grant was for $1,500 to fix the field - using volunteer labor - for the use of all Williamstown residents, but especially for the local girls' softball team.
"The board was excited by the quality of the proposals last year," said board Chairman Mark Gold. "Hopefully, people will think of more ways to make Williamstown better than it already is."
Gold said the grants this year will range from about $100 to $5,000, adding that "the board reserves the right to vary from those numbers" if a proposal really speaks to it.
Administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Fund for Williamstown was established in 2006 with a "Founding 50" campaign - 50 donors pledged to donate at least $1,000 a year for five years. The Founding 50 were rounded up in three months time.
About half the funds contributed each year are to be used toward grants while the other half builds up the endowment.
So far, the fund has supported a family movie program at Images Cinema; Milne Library's "A Way with Words" programs that has been running from September through this month; permits and design plans toward a new Youth Center; headphones for Recording for the Blind; studies for a bicycle and pedestrian path to North Adams, downtown plantings and the COOl Committee.
Allen, however, is concerned that not enough people are aware that their ideas for improving the community could well be implemented by applying to the fund.
"It's for any Williamstown resident or group, or anyone whose proposal would help the community," she said.
Grants will be awarded for proposals that enhance the town's quality of life, and which help make life here safer, healthier, fuller or more enjoyable.
"We welcome good ideas where ever they come from," said Gold.
Grant applications are available online, at Town Hall or by calling Berkshire Taconic at 1-800-969-2823.
