Public Engagement & Equity Update- Grants and Scholarships Available Part 2
Current Safe Routes to School Funding Opportunity
Deadline: January 11, 2023
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will support Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plans for schools across Minnesota through the Planning Assistance Grant.
Plans include an analysis of existing conditions, public outreach, and solutions to help more children walk and bicycle safely to school. More information on the planning process and type of assistance available through this grant is available in the Planning Assistance Application Guide.
Applications must be submitted online by Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. and must include:
• Completed online application form
• Letters of support uploaded with application
Financial Assistance Available for Certified Small Businesses
Deadline: April 28, 2023
The Micro Grant Program assists Minnesota-based certified small businesses in increasing their business capacity by providing financial assistance for eligible business expenses. Through expanding their capacity and industry expertise, small businesses will increase their eligibility on MnDOT contracts.
Selected application can receive up to $3,500 of financial assistance to increase their business capacity and eligibility to work on MnDOT contracts. Funding is provided through reimbursement and is available through Friday, April 28, 2023, or until funding is exhausted.
Grants Support Living at Home for Aging Minnesotans
New state grants will help older Minnesotans continue living in their own homes by funding services such as caregiver support, help with housekeeping, modifications to prevent falls, and more accessible gardens.
Fifty-seven organizations will receive more than $7 million in Live Well at Home grants from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to support aging Minnesotans. The goal is to help older adults stay healthy, independent, and involved in their communities.
The latest projects include:
• Expanding caregiver support for older people and their families to the Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, and Lake of the Woods County.
• Funding a raised-bed vegetable and flower garden in McGregor to allow access for people using wheelchairs and walkers.
• Providing new services for American Indian elders in their homes in Minneapolis, including homemaker and chore services, home safety assessments and modifications to prevent falls.
Financial Aid Assistance for Student Parents: Postsecondary Child Care Grant
As we head into the winter season, student parents may be thinking about heading back to school and enrolling spring semester in January. To remove potential barriers, the Office of Higher Education (OHE) administers the Postsecondary Child Care Grant program, which helps low-income students with young children pay for child care while they attend classes at a participating institution.
Families can receive up to $6,500 per eligible child per academic year. To apply, students can complete the application available on the OHE website and work with their child care provider and school's financial aid office to finalize their award.
Future Together Grants: Tuition-Free Pathway
Cost does not need to be an obstacle to fulfilling your dreams. Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in a high-need career area may be eligible for a Minnesota Future Together Grant.
This new grant program provides tuition-free pathways for eligible Minnesotans to earn a certificate or college degree in identified high-need career areas including health care, STEM, business, industry, technology, education, and public service.
Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program
The Minnesota Indian Scholarship is a state-funded financial aid program for Minnesota students of American Indian ancestry who demonstrate financial need to pursue postsecondary education. American Indian students with at least one-fourth Indian ancestry and membership in a federally recognized tribe may be eligible for the scholarship. Students can receive up to $4,000 for undergraduate and $6,000 for graduate degrees per academic year.
First established in 1956, the program has grown to meet the needs of hundreds of American Indian college students, awarding nearly $2.5 million to over 750 undergraduate and graduate students in 2021. Interested students can complete their application online.
Even as we head into winter, it’s not too late to enjoy Minnesota Grown products. Minnesota has many farmers markets that continue into the winter, and the Minnesota Grown gift guide is a great way to find unique gifts and support local entrepreneurs, producers, and farmers. You can also use the Christmas tree directory to find the closest tree farm to you – including pre-cut trees and some Choose & Cut locations. Finally, learn more about the practices of Indigenous food producers in this article.