ELLSWORTH/PORTLAND — The Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Grant Program recently awarded $74,367 in grants to 15 Franklin and Somerset County nonprofits, including the History House Association, which will use the funds to research, develop and conduct walking tours in two historic downtown Skowhegan districts.

Other grant awards went to:

* Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance, to build capacity to administer education and outreach programs at the new Maine Lakes Resource Center

* Jackman Moose River Chamber of Commerce, to purchase boulevard banners to be displayed on Main Street in Jackman

* Kingfield Artwalk, to support program expansion through an improved communications/outreach package

* Kingfield POPS, to strengthen the leadership, ensure the model is sustainable and give the POPS the capacity to contribute to strategic regional economic development

* Maine International Center for Digital Learning, to create a student technology team at Warsaw Middle School

* Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Inc., to support the planning process in the pilot community of Stratton/Eustis as a key step in building the collaborative Trail Town model in Maine

* Rangeley Region Health & Wellness Partnership, to support consulting services for one year in order to train board and staff to help implement a five-year capacity building fundraising plan

* Safe Voices, to partner with the Franklin County Domestic Violence Task Force to promote awareness of domestic violence resources and provide safety kits for children impacted by domestic violence

* SeniorsPlus, to support rural outreach provided to aging and disabled consumers in Franklin County

* Somerset County Association of Resource Providers, to develop a website to make the Somerset County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program curricula and resource materials widely available

* Somerset Economic Development Corporation, to match a U.S. Economic Development Administration Technical Assistance and Planning grant that will be used to hire a consulting firm to develop a short- and long-term economic plan for the central and northern portions of Somerset County

* United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, to further engage Franklin and Somerset County volunteers in energy conservation initiatives

* Wesserunsett Arts Council Inc., to organize the Rural Open Art Studios Tour exploring the homes and studios of local artists

* Western Maine Center for Children, to expand and strengthen its after-school program.

A volunteer committee of Franklin and Somerset County residents and business leaders reviews grants and makes recommendations for funding. The next deadline for applying is Feb. 15. Application and guidelines are available at www.mainecf.org.

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