ACAF Grants Invest Over $10K in Workforce & Community Resources

New opportunities for job training, youth enrichment, technology access, and community connection are coming to Allegany County with support from the Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF). In total, ACAF awarded $10,600 in grants to five local non-profits during its August Grant Committee and Board Meetings.

To enhance awareness of local events, businesses, and community resources, this grant will help the Alfred Twenty First Century Group (A21CG) launch Discover Alfred.

The initiative will bring information from across the Alfred community together in one accessible, reliable resource. Discover Alfred  plans to provide a digital directory along with transforming the village gazebo into a community information hub with flyers and bulletin boards.

“A21CG has already begun laying the groundwork for this project by investing substantial in-kind effort outreach, content, and photography,” A21CG Communications Director Marzena Lewandowski said. “To date, we have received profiles from 32 local businesses ready to join the initiative.”

The Skill Up Allegany Tuition Assistance Program creates opportunities for Allegany County residents to access local occupational training programs. Through this initiative, the Allegany County Office of Employment & Training (ACOET) provides training assistance to several individuals facing financial barriers that would otherwise prevent them from enrolling.

Students can pursue the following certifications with Skill Up support: CDL (Class A and B), Medical Coding & Billing, Phelbotomy, HVAC, Nursing (LPN), and Welding. This grant will help more local residents access these programs and gain skills to advance their careers.

“By helping residents obtain the education and credentials required for these occupations, this program contributes to a stronger workforce and a healthier local economy,” ACOET Director Reita Sobeck-Lynch said. “Several participants have achieved greater financial independence and are no longer receiving public assistance.”

The Cuba Circulating Library will use this grant to purchase a Sensory Shower for its Community Room to serve children and teens with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The Cuba Library has a growing partnership with Starbridge and BOCES to serve local youth with these disabilities in a meaningful way.

“Through running these programs firsthand, we have identified a clear and specific need: a quiet, enclosed space where children who become overstimulated can step away to calm down, rather than having to leave the program altogether,” Cuba Library Director Tina Dalton said. “A Sensory Shower would fill that gap directly, giving both the Starbridge and BOCES groups a dedicated calming corner within the Community Room.”

This grant will support Richburg Colonial Library’s new Read, Explore, & Grow Program. This program aims to foster a connection between the local library and youth while building access to educational enrichment opportunities.

“The program is designed to encourage a love of reading while giving children opportunities to explore, create, learn, and build new skills in a welcoming community setting,” Colonial Library Director Yvonne Scott said. “The program will combine take-home books, afterschool activities, STEM and hands-on learning experiences, and art activities.”

The Rushford Free Library will use this grant to purchase a new laptop for public use, expanding reliable technology access for the community. This laptop will help the library continue to serve residents, especially those who may not have reliable computer access at home.