DOVER — The Excellence in Education Fund is now accepting grant applications for the 2024 cycle, aimed at supporting programs that promote workforce development and drive economic growth within Kent County.

The EIE fund will award up $50,000 to eligible institutions and organizations. These include entities focused on educating and training individuals to fulfill the demands of present and future businesses in Kent County.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a public institution or 501c3 organization with proper IRS documentation.
• Grant requests must be submitted on a 2024 Excellence in Education application form, available at cendelfoundation.org.
• Completed grant applications must be received or postmarked by June 28.

Grant notifications will be announced in the Fall of 2024.

The Excellence in Education Fund, established in 2019 through a partnership between the Kent Economic Partnership, Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance (formerly the Greater Kent Committee), and Delaware State News, a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing workforce development and fostering economic growth in Kent County.

Notable contributors include: Axia Management, Bayhealth, Becker Morgan, Century Engineering, Chesapeake Utilities, Delaware Electric Cooperative, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, Del Dot, Faw Casson, George & Lynch, Harrington Family Fund, Hastings Family Fund, Hawkins & Associates-Merrill Lynch, Horty & Horty, Jefferson, Urian, Doane & Sterner, Kent County Levy Court, Raymond Book & Associates, Schmid Eleven Corporation, and United Way of Delaware,  and the Kent County community.

The fund’s assets are managed by the CenDel Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and administered by the Excellence in Education Advisory Board.

Each year, grants are awarded to schools and nonprofits, prioritizing educational and training programs that contribute to workforce development.

The Excellence in Education Fund has allocated $40,574.00 to various initiatives, including information technology training, professional certification tests, and advertising and marketing initiatives to bolster enrollment.

Recipients of these grants include organizations such as the Inner City Cultural League, Polytech Adult Education, Milford & Polytech High Schools, Good Neighbors (formerly NCALL Research), Green Beret Project, Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware, Delaware Adolescent Program (DAPI), and Engineering Concepts.

For further details or to contribute to the Excellence in Education Fund, individuals can contact 302-724-7538 or visit cendelfoundation.org.