The Community Empowerment and Reinvestment grant program is administered by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) and offers flexible grant funding to support local partnerships.
Donor Name: Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/15/2023
Size of the Grant: $75,000 and $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
This program seeks to develop, strengthen, and invest in community-led efforts to bring positive economic outcomes to communities that face historically disproportionate challenges to economic growth. Specifically, the program was developed to support communities with high rates of criminal justice system involvement, widespread poverty, and large groups of disadvantaged and underrepresented populations.
The program is designed to support projects in communities and neighborhoods across the Commonwealth that are led by these community-based coalitions, to carry out programming that meets the goals of the program as outlined in the state budget line item.
The program will make general operating grants, on a competitive basis, primarily to projects proposing to mitigate the negative impacts of criminal justice involvement through education, training, and small business development, as well as recovery, prevention, and other social support services to individuals and families that help reduce justice system involvement. The program will not fund capital projects or purchases, including but not limited to real property purchase and/or renovation.
Program Purpose
To distribute grant funds to projects that meet the goals as outlined by the state budget line item 7002-2021: “…developing, strengthening and investing in communities: (i) that are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system; (ii) where a high percentage of individuals’ incomes fall below 250 per cent of the federal poverty level; and (iii) with a large population of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups…” This RFP incorporates recommendations and feedback provided by the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Board.
EOED will prioritize funding to applications that seek to advance equitable opportunities, particularly for individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Applicants are encouraged to build or enhance collaborations that include historically marginalized groups and to strive to strengthen neighborhoods, increase workforce participation, and expand opportunities in ways that drive diversity and inclusiveness.
Project Categories
- Community Based Workforce Development,
- Small Business Development,
- Housing Stabilization,
- Community Health Improvement,
- High School Dropout Prevention, and
- Community Organizing and Leadership Development
Funding Information
- Total Grant Funds Available $15,000,000 for 2024
- Minimum Grant Size (Per Year): $75,000
- Maximum Grant Size (Per Year): $500,000
Performance Period
Grants will be awarded to support the operations of a project from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024 and may be renewable up to twice in one-year intervals, subject to grant performance and budget appropriations. Contracts would be renewable on a fiscal year basis for 2025 (July 1 2024 through June 30 2025) and 2026 (July 1 2025 through June 30 2026).
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Communities
- Any Massachusetts city or town (or neighborhood) that: is disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system,
- has a high percentage of individuals with an income below 250% of the federal poverty level, and
- Has a large population of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups.
- Eligible lead Applicants
- Non-profit community-based organization, or municipal government, applying as part of a local partnership or coalition.
- Eligible Project Partners
- Municipality, Community-Based Organizations, Schools, Local Businesses, Chambers of Commerce, Private Sector Partners, Neighborhood Associations, etc.
For more information, visit EOED.
