The Chautauqua County Youth Bureau is looking to increase the positive impact that athletics have on young people in the county.

The Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services (DMHSS) is accepting applications for a funding created in the NYS Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which appropriated additional funds to support the operations of Youth Team Sports (YTS) programs for underserved youth under the age of 18.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a “team sport” is defined as an organized physical activity in which groups of two or more individuals are in competition with two or more opposing individuals.

Youth Team Sports funding awards are guided by the following principles:

≤ Educational Connection and

Achievement

≤ Physical Health and Well-Being

≤ Mental Health and Well-Being

≤ Employment

≤ Community Cohesion

Eligible applicants should be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or another community-based organization operating in Chautauqua County with a federal identification number and charity registration number that is able to meet the County’s insurance requirements.

The grant program, created under the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), will run during the program year Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2025. The grant may be used to fund programming that provides opportunities for youth in under-resourced communities to learn and participate in team sports activities.

This may include educational instruction necessary to prepare youth to participate in team sports.

Program costs can include the following:

≤ Coaches/instructors/direct service

staff/mentors (including

training/professional development)

≤ Referee fees

≤ Scholarships

≤ Purchase of equipment or uniforms

≤ Capital investment (e.g., swimming

facilities, fields, fences,

storage, lighting).

≤ Instruction or coaching necessary to

support youth’s ability to participate

in team sports.

≤ Facility/field space

The application period for the YTS grant begins August 7 and closes September 5 at 3:30 p.m. The Request for Proposal (RFP), which outlines all criteria, is available on the Chautauqua County Website: chqgov.com/SportsGrant.

Funding decisions and awards will be based upon New York State Office of Children and Family (OCFS) guidelines. For more information, contact the Chautauqua County Youth Bureau at kimballn@chqgov.com or call 716-753-4117.