The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce the availability of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds for a special grant program entitled “Growing Community – the Library Food Garden”.

This special grant program was developed in recognition of the 2010 National Library Week theme, “Communities Thrive @ Your Library”, and the water theme of the 2010 Summer Reading Program. Growing Community encourages libraries to partner with other community entities to establish food gardens on library or school property, or other public land, during the 2010 growing season.

In order to be funded projects must demonstrate community partnerships as well as include library-based activities in the areas of Health and nutrition, Sustainability and ecology and/or Hunger/poverty issues.

Funds may be used to purchase seeds and plants, gardening tools and supplies, copies of materials and titles on gardening in various formats, marketing and promotion of the program, and speaker fees and other costs associated with program activities.

All types of libraries are eligible for this grant program which has a federal request limit of $7,500. A local cash match of 25% of the total project cost is required.

Electronic proposals are due at the State Library midnight on March 1, 2010. Approved proposals will run from May 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010.

The Request for Proposal can be found on WebJunction Ohio at http://oh.webjunction.org/ohlstaspecial.

If you have any questions about this grant program, please contact Janet Ingraham-Dwyer at jdwyer@sloma.state.oh.us, 800-686-1532 or 614-644-6910 or Missy Lodge at mlodge@sloma.state.oh.us, 614-644-6914 or 800-686-1532.