January 15, 2016 - Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations through its competitive General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund while scholarship applications are being accepted from local students. All guidelines, eligibility criteria and applications are available on the Foundation’s website.

Nonprofit organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott may be eligible to apply for grants through the Foundation’s competitive General Grant Cycle. Funding consideration will be given to, but not limited to, proposals requesting support for charitable projects in the areas of education, health, human services, sports field maintenance, animal welfare, environment and arts and culture. All proposals for the General Grant Cycle are due March 31, 2016.

In addition, the Plainville Community Fund is seeking grant applications from nonprofit organizations that serve Plainville residents in a variety of areas. Proposals for the Plainville Community Fund are due March 15, 2016.

Applications and eligibility criteria for the General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund are posted here. Interested organizations are required to contact Jarre Betts, Vice President of Programs, at 860.583.6363 before submitting a proposal.

The Foundation is also accepting applications for scholarships from local residents who wish to pursue their educational dreams. These scholarship funds target many diverse areas of study and are available to students at various points in their educational careers. The 2016 Scholarship Directory, which lists all scholarships and eligibility criteria, and the link to the Foundation’s online application are available here. The deadline for the majority of the scholarships is March 14, 2016.

Included in the 65 scholarships offered this year are four new scholarships:

• The Stanley P. Bitel Memorial Fund will award a scholarship to a resident of Connecticut who is interested in the manufacturing field. This fund was established in memory of Stanley Bitel, the founder of Rowley Spring and Stamping Corporation in Bristol and a man who personified entrepreneurial spirit, continual learning and self achievement.
• The Jeffrey Downes Memorial Truck Driving Scholarship Fundwill provide a scholarship to a student pursuing a commercial driver’s license who is from the Foundation’s service area as well as Harwinton. This fund was established in memory of Jeffrey Downes, a past resident of Southington and Harwinton, who passed away in 2015 after a hard fought battle with cancer.
• The Al and Joan Monico Scholarship Fund will award a scholarship to a Bristol resident in need of financial assistance. This fund was established through a bequest from Al Monico, whose desire it was to establish a named scholarship in recognition of both him and his wife Joan. They were longtime Bristol residents.
• The Eva Wickwire Volunteer Scholarship Fund will provide a scholarship to a student pursuing a career in the health care field who is from the Foundation’s service area. Established in memory of Eva Wickwire, a longtime employee of Bristol Hospital, applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to volunteering in a health care facility and preference will be given to applicants who have current or past volunteer service at Bristol Hospital.