More local students will have the tools necessary to learn and compete, teachers will have much needed classroom materials, police officers will get new video cameras for their patrol units, and visitors to the Piney Woods VFW won’t have to dodge dangerous potholes thanks to support from the Board of Directors of the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) and its Community Development Grant program.
The Board presented checks totaling $153,527.78 to 11 organizations at its regular meeting Thursday, December 10. Grants are funded twice a year to governmental entities, non-profit corporations and other organizations for projects that improve the quality of life for residents in East Montgomery County. Applicants must have at least 33 percent matching funds for their projects.
Recipients of the Fall 2015 Community Development Grants are: Boy Scouts of America Cub Scout Pack 911, Friends of the R.B. Tullis Library, New Caney ISD Education Foundation, New Caney ISD White Oak Middle School Applied Skills Classroom, Roman Forest Police Department, Roman Forest Special Events Committee, Splendora ISD Elementary Robotics Program, Splendora ISD Police Department, Splendora Youth Baseball Association, VFW Piney Woods #4816, and the Woodbranch Police Department.
Grants
Boy Scouts of America Cub Scout Pack 911 – $1,303.00
Grant funds will purchase a Pinewood Derby Track and software to be used for the annual Pinewood Derby race, where scouts design, build, paint and race their cars against each other. The new aluminum track will replace a wooden track built in the 1970s.
Friends of R.B. Tullis Library – $6,000.00
Grant funds will purchase books, e-books, books on CD and videos for the children’s, young adults and adult programs.
New Caney ISD Education Foundation – $25,000.00
Grant funds will provide teachers with money for various projects in the classroom. The NCISDEF awards grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to teachers for innovative and creative projects that provide classroom experiences consistent with district-wide goals and priorities in regard to unique student learning experiences.
New Caney ISD White Oak Middle School Applied Skills Classroom – $3,543.74
Grant funds will purchase educational materials in reading, science, social studies and math, hands-on manipulatives, and functional skills material not currently funded by the school district, but necessary to equip the students for the future.
Roman Forest Police Department – $680.05
Grant funds will purchase a Marijuana Simulation Kit to be added to the existing DWI and Distracted Driver Simulation Kit purchased with EMCID Community Development funds in 2014. The special goggles simulate the effects of marijuana and demonstrate to participants the dangers of drug use.
Roman Forest Special Events Committee – $9,032.94
Grants funds will pay for an automatic firing system for staging and firing fireworks. The automatic firing system will be an addition to the permanent components purchased with a previous grant.
Splendora ISD Elementary Robotics Program – $6,962.82
Grant funds will fully fund several teams for the Robotics Programs and the purchase of Lego EV3 kits and software to be used in education and competitions.
Splendora ISD Police Department – $4,891.00
Grant funds will help create and purchase 1,000 handbooks and posters. The Handbook for Success is written to inspire and to enable students to improve their lives and their community. Each book will be personalized with a forward written by Chief Dennis Doerge.
Splendora Youth Baseball Association – $39,529.38
Grants funds will purchase playground equipment at the Sports Complex in Splendora to provide a safe, fun and enjoyable place for the siblings and friends of ball players.
VFW Piney Woods #4816 – $39,362.50
Grant funds will be used to repair and resurface the existing parking lot. The 52,000 sf parking lot, which was installed in the late 1960s/early 1970s, is currently a safety hazard for visitors to the VFW, especially the senior citizens who frequent the establishment. Funds will pay to resurface and restripe.
Woodbranch Police Department – $17,222.35
Grant funds will purchase a new in-car camera system for three vehicles to replace the current video system which, at times, is non-functioning. The grant will also pay for the removal of the current system and installation of the new cameras. The video system helps with investigations and keeps suspects and officers accountable.