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Community Connections

Grantor:
CA State Library
Portal ID:
6364
Status:
Closed (12 total applications submitted)
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
 | 
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this project is to eliminate barriers that prevent people from accessing vital community resources, particularly in the areas of housing, health, nutrition, employment, and education through establishing community resource navigators in up to ten California Public Libraries.

 

Description:

This program will help California public libraries build staff skills and knowledge about social care resources, as well as create or join a hub of local social service organizations. Collaborations with existing service providers will be an essential element of each successful project. By expanding their capacity to provide effective social service assistance, successful awardees will build resilience and improve the health and wellbeing of their communities. All participating libraries will:

· Receive funds of up to $60,000;

· Partner with at least two California-based organizations providing social services;

· Receive training from the California State Library;

· Engage with a cohort of library staff focused on developing skills, tools, and knowledge to best implement the project. The cohort will convene monthly to create a community of practice.

Requirements

All awardees will be required to:

· Participate in monthly virtual meetings;

· Partner with at least two California-based (Regional?) social service organizations;

· Create a needs assessment (training will be provided);

· Establish a location in the library that can be used for appointments, with a computer, printer, and phone.

To conduct an effective project, each library will engage in a needs assessment during the grant period. Shared conversations will be built into the Community Connections project so that all libraries participating in the project will have the opportunity to share ideas, concerns, and solutions to challenges that occur during the course of the project. Training on partnerships, needs assessments, asset mapping, and more will be offered by the California State Library.

Libraries interested in being part of the Community Connections project will need to identify staff to focus on this project (either a current staff member or new hire) to serve as a Community Resource Specialist (CRS). The CRS will provide social service information and referrals for patrons to other organizations. The CRS will also develop or participate in a hub of organizations providing these resources. Grants will be awarded in October 2021. Projects will close on June 30, 2022.

Funding can be used to offset staff costs, as this project will be time-consuming and will work best if there is a single person identified to receive training, serve as the point person for partnerships, and staff a community resource desk.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Public Agency

This opportunity is available to all California public libraries that meet the criteria found at this link https://www.library.ca.gov/Content/pdf/grants/lsta/LSTAEligibility.pdf

 

Eligible Geographies:

This grant opportunity is available to public libraries in California.

Matching Funding Requirement:

Applicants are expected to contribute a local match to the grant funds in the form of a cash match and/or in-kind contributions. A match is expected, but no minimum amount is required.

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
October 15, 2021
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
Fiscal year 21/22

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$500,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$30,000 – $60,000
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • Federal

Funding Source Notes:

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants are federally funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and are awarded by the State Library to eligible California libraries.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advance(s)

Funding Method Notes:

A typical payment schedule:

45% upon execution of the agreement and the State Library’s receipt of the awardee’s claim form;

45% upon receipt of the first quarter financial report;

10% upon receipt of all final reporting forms and any unexpended funds. It can take up to ten weeks for a grantee to receive funds from the State Library after the signed claim form and/or reports are received by the Fiscal Office.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Jody Thomas, 1-916-603-7173, Jody.Thomas@library.ca.gov

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