Hennepin County Youth Sports Equipment Grants Available

The following was released by Hennepin County:

Consider applying for the spring round of the Hennepin County Youth Sports capital equipment grants if your organization needs things like field maintenance equipment, nets or backboards. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, March 11.

Hennepin County has operated the Hennepin Youth Sports Program since 2009, awarding up to $2 million annually in capital grants to build, repair, renovate or expand youth sports facilities in the county.

Since 2011, $250,000 has been set aside out of the total $2 million available for
capital equipment grants relating to youth and amateur sports activities in the county.

The equipment grants are awarded in two rounds ($125,000 in the fall and spring) and are based on the following criteria:

·       Partnerships between youth sports organizations and local government units.

·       Number of youths served and their population characteristics.

·       Ratio of matching funds to the amount requested.

·       To the extent possible, grants are awarded to a mix of various sports and recreational activities and distributed to communities throughout

A youth sports organization must have the endorsement of a local government unit, such as a city, school district or park district. The local government unit pledges to act as a fiscal agent for the grant and agrees to ensure the grant is used for its intended purpose.

Grants range from $1,000 - $10,000 for the following types of equipment:

·       Field maintenance

·       Pitching machines

·       Goals

·       Backboards

·       Sleds and dummies

·       Playground equipment

Grants will not be awarded for the purchase of uniforms, scrimmage vests, helmets or other personal equipment of participants. For more information, visit www.hennepin.us/youthsports or the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission’s grant program page.