Huron County Economic Development Board Awarded Six Grants Through It's Supporting Local Youth Program
by Bob Montgomery
Huron County's Economic Development Board has awarded six grants to local young people to proceed with projects in their community.
Economic Development Officer Rick Sickinger, says the Supporting Local Youth Program is a pilot program launched by the Economic Development Board in the fall of last year. He says the program builds on Huron County council's list of priorities, and one of those priorities is Youth Engagement. Huron County's Economic Development Board recognizes what youth contribute to the community, so the Supporting Local Youth Program made sense. Sickinger says one of the conditions for the program is that projects have to be for youth, and led by youth.
The Economic Development Board set aside six thousand dollars for projects that youth wanted to do in Huron County. They got nine applications for projects from local youth. A review committee looked over the applications and awarded six grants. The grants will be awarded and the projects started sometime between January and April of this year.
Sickenger says one of the goals of their project was to get young people involved in their community and the people best qualified to know what youth want to do are youth. At this point the grants aren't a lot of money but it will give participants in the area the opportunity to show what they can do. A lot of the current programs for youth are not designed by youth, but if it can be demonstrated that their ideas are important and respected, they're more likely to get involved in their community and stay in their community.
The six winning applicants and their projects are:
Goderich District Collegiate Institute Equity Team Approval amount: $1,000
Funds will be used for A Celebration of Cultures event at GDCI on Friday, March 28th to celebrate the many cultures of Huron County. The event will include dancers, musicians, storytellers and other performers. Food and crafts from other cultures will also be shared.
Huron Honour Band Approval amount: $1,000
The Huron Music Open House will invite youth from across Huron County to a music-making and learning event at Central Huron Secondary School. Honour band members will mentor and introduce youth to different instruments and the day will end with performances by youth and community musicians.
Goderich District Collegiate Institute Culinary Club Approval amount: $1,000
Funding supports The GDCI Culinary Club Dinners. A series of student-planned and prepared community dinners designed to foster connections between students and the local community. Chef Devon Tabor, of Bon Vivant Catering, will provide mentorship to the students.
Homeschool Student Community Cookbook Approval amount: $1,000
Gather recipes, food budgeting and food stretching tips from the community for a cookbook aimed at combating food insecurity. Hold a youth event similar to “Chopped” television show where youth create dishes using ingredients commonly distributed through the food bank.
Central Huron Secondary School Construction Class Approval amount: $1,000
CHSS Construction Class will build little libraries that will be placed around Clinton. The project will involve CHSS art classes in the decoration of the little libraries, Central Huron will partner to do the installation and provide the posts.
Goderich District Collegiate Institute Greens Approval amount: $1,000
The funds will be used to hold a “Bring Your Own Mug” event. Participants who bring their own coffee mug on a set day will receive a free coffee to show how we can eliminate some onetime-use products.
