(January 15, 2014) - 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 applications are available on the Foundation’s website, www.mainstreetfoundation.org.

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. Proposals for the General Grant Cycle are due April 4, 2014.

In addition, 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 14, 2014.

Applications and eligibility criteria for the General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund are posted on the Foundation’s website, and interested organizations are required to contact Jarre Betts, Director of Programs & Community Relations, 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 2014 Scholarship Directory, which lists all scholarships and eligibility criteria, and the Foundation’s Common Application are available on the Foundation’s website. The deadline for the majority of the scholarships is March 31, 2014, although there are a few exceptions that are noted in the Directory.                                            

Included in the 60 scholarships offered this year are four new scholarships. The Main Street Community Foundation Scholarship Fund will provide a scholarship to a graduating senior or graduate of any of the high schools located in the Foundation’s service area. The Ralph Papazian Memorial Scholarship Fund will award a scholarship to a graduating senior of Bristol Eastern High School who has demonstrated a commitment and dedication to athletics. The Glo Sessions Fund for Art Education will present a scholarship to a Bristol resident who is pursuing post-secondary education with the goal of having a visual arts career. The Jill Lynne Shackett Educational Scholarship Fund will provide a scholarship to graduating senior or graduate of one of the three Bristol high schools who has a passion for teaching and the desire to become an elementary or secondary education teacher.

The Main Street Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for both present and future generations in the communities served by encouraging and promoting gift planning, prudent stewardship of assets, effective grantmaking and community leadership. A nonprofit public charity, created by private citizens, the foundation works with donors in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott who wish to build permanent charitable endowments to support their communities.