Usually, the grants we go after kind of get spread out over a period of time, but this year, January has become Grant Season at The Brickyard! We have some major thanks to spread out this month – here’s the rundown.
The MassDevelopment Collaborative Workspace Program is a true inspiration. It’s a true example of vision and an understanding of the value of collaborative work models, and is a Massachusetts state-level program from the Baker administration. This year, when I met with Lt Gov. Karyn Polito to thank her for last year’s support ($57K in funds for equipment) and accept this year’s award, she asked, “What did this grant mean to you?” An interesting question, and a loaded one, but on the spot? It meant we could launch. It meant we could tool up and open our doors, no less than that.
This year we applied for the Mass Department of Environmental Protection “Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant“, a program aimed at helping create programs to keep stuff from ending up in landfills. Our Repair Cafe won a $5000 award, the maximum, to further tool up and expand our reach and services. This is the first year this grant has been offered, and we’re thrilled to be one of the first grantees for this visionary program!
Fun stuff, we not only hosted the informational meeting for the Lynn Cultural Council MCC grants, but we were awarded nearly $5000 for several projects we’re ramping up! Unlike other grant processes, this is direct work with the community, meeting with friends and neighbors to put together a plan to distribute this Mass Cultural Council funding, with the attitude “It’s your money, it’s our money, let’s put it back into the city where it belongs!” That, and, “If you have an idea, put together a proposal! The worst that can happen is that we pass on it!” I think the basic sum-up of the feeling was, “Go for it!” They had some specific language for posts about it, hold on, let me get it… Here it is: “This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lynn Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.”
And here’s the big surprise. The HUD Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program is a federal program with a long history of making a big difference to local communities – indeed, several agencies in the city count on this funding every year. It’s administered through the State and finally at the city level through the Citizen’s Advisory Board to the Office of Community Development. Again, these are our neighbors making the decisions about what best helps Lynn. This year, at the hearing for all the applicants, we were all told that the fate of this program was not at all secure, and, though we should all go through the process, it was by no means guaranteed that any awards would be made.
The normal schedule for these grants is that the Advisory Board makes its determinations, it’s voted on by the City Council in August or so, by September the announcements are made, and contracts go out in November. Well, this year, these dates came and went with no word on anything – awards or denial, and to be perfectly honest, our application dropped off our radar.
The other day, we were walking by the mailbox and saw a big white envelope from the Office of Community Development. Inside, the letter: “Congratulations on your award…” What a wonderful surprise!
All told, we were awarded over $18,700 in grants this year, all for programs that will directly benefit the community – from providing memberships to kids, disabled folks, veterans and other partner organizations, to expanding our Repair Cafes, classes and general capabilities – even getting some funding to provide stipends for overworked teachers who want to offer classes at The Brickyard. It’s a huge deal for us, and for the North Shore makers community, but mostly? It’s a huge deal for the City of Lynn!
We want to offer a heartfelt THANK YOU! to everybody who’s had faith in us, who’s gone to bat to support us, and for the city and state leaders who share our vision and make it possible!
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