Elkhart County’s Little BIG Idea Grant Program returns in November

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Little BIG Idea Grant program, which was created in 2017 to help regular people bring big ideas to life, will return to Elkhart County in November.

The announcement comes from Vibrant Communities, a movement of volunteers who aim to create comfortable and safe communities and build relationships with the community.

Officials say between 2017 and 2019 the program awarded over $50,000 to 59 different county projects imagined by local applicants of all ages, including seven grants awarded to people under the age of 18.

The new 2.0 version of the program will start in November to award micro-grants up to $500, announced monthly, to help inspire community action, involvement, connection, and creativity.

The program was launched and funded by the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Officials say the program encourages residents to submit creative, fun, and effective ideas for community events, projects, and gatherings.

“These jumpstart grants have helped so many residents, from all demographics, experience the joy and fulfillment of making things happen for their neighbors, and for themselves,” said Bil Murray, the program's project manager. “It’s important for our residents to feel included and to know that they have a say in defining and creating their experiences; that they can accomplish things. This program has helped so many people get projects off the ground, and we’re pleased to be able to bring it back. We’ve seen this program encourage significant involvement among our younger residents, as well, and we are delighted by its direct, positive impact on youth participation. That is a challenge these days.”

While the program encourages festive submissions celebrating unity and artistic creativity, and those with the potential to send positive, long-term ripples throughout the community, officials say all feasible ideas are welcomed and entertained by the grant committee.

Sally Bawtinheimer, who created her free Little Library to lend books to people of all ages in her west side Elkhart neighborhood, is a previous grant winner, alongside Middlebury’s Darla Kauffman, who started a community gathering, "Night of Nostalgia", to celebrate games and foods of the past.

Another former grant winner, Elisha Rauch, as a Goshen pre-teen, submitted his idea for a sports podcast to fill a local void, and inspire other students his age to apply for the grant to take action in bringing their own ideas to life.

“Taking action is everything, and we want the community to know how invested we are in them, and their ideas,” said Terry Mark, Director of Communications and Public Relations for the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Officials encourage residents of all ages, interested in the Little BIG Idea Grant program, to review the application form and submit their ideas on the program's application page.