The United Way Perth-Huron is accepting applications for funding through its New Initiative Grants.
Executive Director Ryan Erb says the grants of up to $20,000 are available to any charitable or not for profit organization serving Huron or Perth that wants to develop new ideas for the community. The funding can also go to organizations which want to expand ideas that they already have and have some proof that they think will work. Erb the applications that come into the United Way each year come from businesses that point to a gap in service that they want to fill or businesses that have done something really well on a small scale and they want to prove that it can work on a larger scale.
"We want to try and help meet that need," said Erb.
Erb says last year the award was given to Local Community Food Centres in Statford. With the funding, the food centres focused on community newcomers, theming meals and programs each week to different backgrounds, like Japanese or Syrian.
"That's filling a real niche in the community," said Erb.
The program is about ten years old and sometimes gives out as many as three awards. The deadline for submissions to the United Way Perth-Huron is Nov. 23.