ROI program supports grant writers pursuing projects that improve the quality of life for Uplands residents
Southern Indiana Business Report
BLOOMINGTON – Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) has announced that 24 individuals have been selected for a second cohort of the Indiana Uplands Grant Writing Fellowship program.
Sixteen members of the cohort represent counties in the Radius Indiana region.
ROI Grant Writing Fellows from the Radius region
Thomas Bailey, City of Linton, Greene Co.
Ashlynne Bender, City of Bedford, Lawrence Co.
Robyn Embry, Mitchell High School, Lawrence Co.
Tammi Gibson, Washington Co. Economic Growth Partnership
Kaylee Gildersleeve, Crawford County Tourism
Jason Goodman, Lost River Career Cooperative, Orange Co.
Jennifer Harp, Springville Community Academy, Lawrence Co.
Erik Kirkendall, Eastern Greene High School, Greene Co.
Dawn Sullivan, Eastern Greene Schools, Greene Co.
Kelley Miller, MSD of Shakamak, Greene Co.
Carrie Shaw, Daviess County Hospital
Pamela Poe, Friends of Marengo Big Springs Old Town Church, Crawford Co.
Stacey Samm, MSD of Shakamak, Greene Co.
Naomi Trojan, Shawswick Elementary School, Lawrence Co.
Anne West Barr, St. Vincent Catholic School, Lawrence Co.
Kayla Willey, Eastern Greene High School, Greene Co.
Zoe Zollman, Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County
Participants learn to develop compelling grant applications in the year-long program by gathering data, developing budgets and finding funding opportunities. Fellows also receive continuing professional development on a variety of related topics, connections to a network of peers, and information on available grants. Upon completing the program, fellows receive $1,000 stipends, plus up to $1,000 in matching dollars for successful grant applications fellows submit and win using their new skills.
ROI’s Grant Writing Fellowship was developed to help secure grant funding for projects and programs that can strengthen communities in the 11-county Uplands region. This past spring, ROI graduated its first cohort of 17, which included several from the Radius region. For the inaugural cohort, ROI contributed $12,000 in grant matching funds to leverage $444,404 in grant funds. Fellows secured $1,334,904 in additional grant funding that did not require a match from ROI for a total of $1,779,308 invested in the Uplands region.
Fellows successfully secured grant funds to address a host of new opportunities in the Radius region including, but not limited to:
- Increasing the capacity of three fabrication labs for the Collaboration of Shoals, Mitchell, and Orleans Schools (COSMOS)
- Expanding early childhood education for White River Valley School District’s preschool program
- Strengthening substance misuse and prevention programs in Greene County
- Boosting STEM education in the Linton-Stockton School Corporation
- Marketing for economic development growth and community prosperity in Lawrence County
- Supporting youth correctional programming in Martin County