The Story County Empowerment Board is offering preschool tuition scholarships for the 2011-12 school year. Funds are available to serve Story County children from low-income families at or below 200% of poverty during FY12. Applications must be submitted by eligible preschool providers to serve qualifying children. Scholarship funds will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. First priority will be given to 4 and 5 year olds (not enrolled in Kindergarten; age as of 9/15/10); after September 16th, requests to serve 3 year olds will also be considered contingent on funding availability. Please refer to the Preschool Tuition Scholarship application for additional details and qualifications.

Story County Decategorization announces the availability of mini-grant funds to support projects/services that target the goals and priorities of Decategorization/DHS Child Welfare. The Child Welfare/ Decategorization funds are used to provide for flexible individualized family and community-based services to children, youth, and families identified at-risk. Proposed programming/services must demonstrate a direct link with addressing issues around safety for children at risk, permanency, and/or child and family well-being within Story County. Priority will be given to projects/services that demonstrate a strong component to engage at risk families in programming, and projects/services demonstrating strong community investment/collaboration. It is anticipated any resulting funding award for a project/service contract would not exceed $5000. Funds awarded through the mini-grant funds application process must be expended by June 30, 2012. Applications for mini-grant funds are due 2/24/2012. Please see the application for additional details.