Steamboat Springs — Applications are due Jan. 6 for the Education Fund Board’s annual community group grants.

The grants are open to local nonprofits that participate in work that benefits students in the Steamboat Springs, South Routt and Hayden school districts, with allocations determined by the EFB Grant Commission.

The Grant Commission is a branch of the Steamboat Springs Education Fund Board, and together the groups dole out the city’s half-cent sales tax for education through innovation, community group and district grants each year.

“As long as the group is a nonprofit, and as long as they’re shooting to hit the mission of the fund, they’re welcome to apply,” said Sam Jones, EFB president.

Jones said the commission and board have seen many of the same groups apply for funding each year, and the board and commission are hopeful new community groups will hear about the opportunity to apply for the funds.

The projects and programs proposed should be student-facing, and having a champion within the district supporting an application helps, Jones said.

“They have to have collaboration with the district at some level,” Jones said.

The commission will determine how much funding they plan to allocate to community groups during its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Steamboat district office boardroom.

Last year, the commission awarded $105,000 to eight community groups.

Examples of the grants awarded last year include $22,000 for program expenses to Yampatika, $40,000 to Partners in Routt County, $7,000 for tutoring services to Integrated Community and $1,500 for scholarships to the BookTrails program.

Grant requests last year totaled $176,000, and while all requesting groups received some funding, none received the full amount it requested.

More information and an online application for community groups grants is available on the EFB website, steamboateducationfund.org.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow