Grants available for Ashland area

  AUGUSTA – The Ashland Area Fund, established at the Maine Community Foundation in 1999, makes grants to non-profit programs, organizations, schools, government agencies or municipalities. Eligible communities are Portage, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville and Ashland.    Grant amounts typically are in the $200 to $1,500 range. The grant focus will be on health care, economic development or educational enrichment. If interested, please contact Peter Taylor at 877-700-6800. The deadline for letters of interest is Jan. 15, 2009. Letters should be sent to Maine Community Foundation, 150 Capitol St., Augusta, ME 04330.
   Grants in recent years have been awarded to Ashland Caregivers Association to support their activities program; town of Portage Lake to support the acquisition of archival photography; Ashland Community High School to support a performing arts series; Good Shepherd Thrift Shop for roof repairs; SAD 32 for teacher professional development; the Aroostook Valley Health Center for blood pressure machines without mercury; and the town of Ashland for a defibrillator and for a digital thermal camera for the volunteer fire department.
   A statewide organization with offices in Ellsworth, Augusta and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation has been partnering with donors and non-profits to strengthen Maine communities for 25 years. For more information, visit www.mainecf.org or call 877-700-6800.