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Trust Expands its Immigrant Integration InitiativeIn a new phase of its Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families initiative, The Colorado Trust will commit an additional $3 million to help support more Colorado communities in their efforts to strengthen immigrant integration. All told, The Trust's Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families Initiative, which began in 2000, is a 10-year, $16.7 million grantmaking initiative and is the first such effort in the nation to provide support to multiple communities across one state. Up to five communities will be selected to participate under this new funding opportunity. Each will be awarded an initial $10,000 planning grant to develop comprehensive immigrant integration action plans. Following the planning process, the communities will be invited to submit their plans to The Trust for implementation grants of up to $75,000 per year for four years. The 10 communities that are already participating in this initiative are: Aspen to Parachute region, Boulder County, El Paso County, Gunnison County, Lake County, City of Littleton, Mesa County, Morgan County, Pueblo County and Summit County. Each of these communities brought together broad coalitions to participate in an initial planning process, including health care providers, educators, business people, law enforcement, libraries, local government, faith-based organizations, immigrant-serving organizations and immigrants themselves. With their planning process now complete, these communities are beginning to put strategies into place, including integration resource centers, community dialogues and interpreter banks. Nonprofit and governmental agencies interested in applying for this funding opportunity should review requirements for submitting Letters of Intent. Letters are due to The Trust by August 18, 2006 and new grantees will be announced in late fall 2006. For additional information, contact Susan Downs-Karkos, Senior Program Officer; susan@coloradotrust.org. Please also see related article, Colorado Municipal League and The Trust Team Up on Immigrant Integration. |
