"A Closer Connection"
(Economic Development)
Nuestro Vecinos Grant Program
Nuestro Vecinos "Our Neighbors"
(Revised 01/06)
Purposes
Rural
communities are often at a disadvantage in expanding jobs, creating
opportunities for new businesses, or retaining existing small
business operations. Barriers associated with geographic isolation,
low market density, deteriorating infrastructure, and high
unemployment rates underscore the need for community development. To
better strengthen and develop communities served by ENMR•Plateau, a
matching grant program has been established, “Nuestro Vecinos—Our
Neighbors”
Matching grants are available to rural communities, municipalities, or other non-profit groups that have a desire to remove barriers that inhibit growth and development—especially those obstacles that may hinder economic development. To demonstrate the company’s intent to be good neighbors, a fund has been established that will allow up to $10,000 to be matched for those purposes.
Matching Grant Categories
• Economic Development and Business Assistance - Support for communities in their efforts to create new jobs, retain businesses, to counter unexpected and dramatic job losses, and to provide incentives for prospective or newly developing industries or to meet business/industry requirements for employment especially those that are newly locating to the ENMR service area.
• Economic Development Fund - To support and fund non-profit economic development organizations in the ENMR•Plateau service area for the purposes of creating jobs and economic sustainability. (Organizations such as economic development corporations established in the communities to assist in creating jobs for the region.)
• Disaster and Emergency Assistance - A fund established to support locally or regionally declared disaster recovery efforts due to storms, fires, floods or other unanticipated causes.
• Community Sponsorships - (Based on Availability of Funds) Support for those services, activities, events, recreational or any other projects that are endorsed or sponsored by a fully sanctioned body such as a municipality, county, local government, Chamber of Commerce or Economic Development Organization that contributes to the economic viability, health or safety, or general well-being of those residing within the ENMR•Plateau service area. Any major events that would assist in the increase in GRT (gross receipts tax) of that community.
Note: Applications will only be considered if funds are available from the ”Nuestros Vecinos-Our Neighbors” grant program, Community sponsorship applications will be considered and reviewed by the ENMR Board sub-committee on economic development in the month of December of each calendar year. The committee will then recommend grant request based on availability of funds to the ENMR•Plateau Board of Directors.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Projects for which matching funds are to be used must be located in the ENMR•Plateau or Plateau Telecommunications service areas. The grant funds must be utilized to assist in job creation goals. Grants awarded to entities located outside ENMR•Plateau service areas, but within Plateau Telecommunications service areas will be in the form of credit for telecommunications products/services provided by Plateau Telecommunications (excluding Plateau Wireless services).
2. Applications requesting matching funds must be authorized by a local governmental entity, a group, or individuals who have a bona fide interest in economic or community development. Examples would be a chamber of commerce or economic development organization. Individuals participating in the project must not derive direct, personal benefit from an award of funds.
3. A completed application form detailing the planned use of the matching funds must be submitted for review and approval by the ENMR•Plateau Board of Directors or its designees.
4. Records including an audit or accountants report for the use of funds must be made available to ENMR•Plateau representatives upon request.
5. Awards of matching funds can be made up to $10,000 during the course of the fiscal year (January 1- December 31) or until which time the fund is depleted. At the discretion of the ENMR•Plateau Board of Directors, the grant award may be paid out over a series of months. The intent of the matching funds program is to broadly distribute available funding to those applicants residing throughout the ENMR service area. Multiple applications for funding may be entered, but none may exceed $10,000. Projects that are uniquely different and independent from one another may be considered for separate funding.
6. Unused, remaining, or uncommitted funds that were matched after one year (12 months) of the award shall revert back to the “Nuestros Vecinos-Our Neighbors” Rural Communities Matching Grant Program at ENMR•Plateau.
Application Forms Request
Necessary application forms or additional information may be received by contacting the following address:
Nuestros
Vecinos—Our
Neighbors Matching Grant Program
Send To:
Attn:
Director of Economic Development/Gov’t Relations
ENMR•Plateau
P.O. Box 1947
7111 N. Prince Street
Clovis, New Mexico 88102
Tel:
575-389-4225 or toll free 1-800-432-2369
Email: raym@plateautel.com
Electronic applications Click Here
