The City of Hardeeville, in collaboration with the Hardeeville Community Transformation Foundation, is offering an annual competitive grant program aimed at enhancing educational advancement and workforce training opportunities. This program is designed for public, private, and charter schools serving the City of Hardeeville, as well as regional colleges, universities, nonprofits, and workforce training centers located in Jasper and Beaufort County. The grants are intended to support various educational and workforce initiatives that address the needs of the community and contribute to the overall quality of life in the region.

The primary purpose of these grants is to complement existing education and workforce programs that provide essential services to the city. The funding aims to meet the demands of a growing population and enhance the quality of life for residents and workers in Hardeeville. The grant program will provide financial resources to support projects that improve educational quality, expand access to education, promote workforce readiness, encourage collaborations, support research and development, and facilitate minor capital improvements. Additionally, there is a provision for new construction projects, which will be prioritized and determined by the City Council.

Funding for the grants ranges from ten thousand dollars to twenty-five thousand dollars, with a grant duration of one year. The competitive grant program includes specific categories for funding, such as enhancing education quality, expanding access to education, promoting workforce readiness, encouraging collaborations, supporting research and development, and minor capital improvements. New construction projects will be funded on a case-by-case basis, with only one such project being supported each year.

Eligible applicants for these grants include K-12 public schools, charter schools, private schools, accredited colleges and universities, workforce training centers, and nonprofit organizations. To qualify, nonprofits must provide education and workforce training directly to the community and be recognized as a nonprofit by the IRS. The program is open to institutions that serve the City of Hardeeville and its residents, ensuring that the funding directly benefits the local community.

Submission requirements for the grant application will be outlined in the official guidelines, which will include specific questions that applicants must address. Evaluation criteria will focus on the potential impact of the proposed projects, alignment with the program's objectives, and the ability to effectively utilize the funding to achieve desired outcomes.

The application process will have a deadline of September 30, 2024, and interested parties are encouraged to prepare their submissions in advance. For further information, applicants can contact Neil Parsons at the City of Hardeeville via email or phone. This grant program represents a valuable opportunity for organizations dedicated to improving education and workforce training in the Hardeeville area.