Grants available for Piscataquis nonprofits

    ELLSWORTH — Nonprofit and public organizations seeking funding for projects that draw on the strengths of the community and foster collaboration are encouraged to apply to the  County Fund, part of the Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Grant Program.

    A volunteer committee of Piscataquis County residents and business leaders reviews grants and makes recommendations for funding. The deadline for applying is Feb. 15. Application and guidelines are available at Piscataquiswww.mainecf.org.
    In 2013, the Piscataquis County Committee awarded nine grants that totaled more than $44,000. They included: $6,050 to the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society to conserve issues of the Piscataquis Observer; $4,939 to Brownville Elementary School to support the outdoor classroom; and $5,000 for a partnership between Spruce Run and Womancare, the domestic violence resource centers in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, to create efficiencies and better serve people affected by domestic violence in the region.