Grant writing workshop scheduled

    PRESQUE ISLE — Northern Maine Community College and the Presque Isle Historical Society are pleased to offer a “Grant Writing Basics” workshop to be presented in the Edmunds Conference Room on the NMCC campus at 33 Edgemont Drive in Presque Isle on Friday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. The workshop will cover such topics as what to do in advance of the writing process, the writing process itself and what information should be included in a grant proposal, the evaluation process, the grant budget, sources for grant searches, what to do once you get the grant, what to do if you don’t get the grant and more. 
    In today’s economy, good grant writing skills can be essential in the non-profit arena. Grantors have seen losses of as much as 30 percent of their assets and approximately 62 percent of grant-makers have cut back on grants made. Many grantors have also narrowed their focus to serve only the most basic of a community’s needs. All of this is problematic when grant applications have almost doubled. 
    The presenter, Kimberly Smith, MSB, is an experienced grant writer and grant-maker, having served as the executive director of several non-profit organizations. In addition, Smith has served as a consultant for non-profits in Maine, New York and Illinois. She is currently an adjunct instructor for the Graduate Program at Husson University teaching Law & Ethics for the Non-Profit, and the resource developer for Aroostook County Action Program. She has presented on various non-profit topics at the Virginia State Conference of the Virginia Events Association and at the Augusta County Community Forum in Virginia. 
    The cost of the workshop, including handouts, is $20 per person. Advance reservations are required. The workshop fee should be sent to the Presque Isle Historical Society at PO Box 285, Presque Isle, ME 04769.  For more information, please contact the Historical Society by e-mail at pihistoricalsociety@ hotmail.com or by voice mail at 762-1151.