MAYVILLE, N.Y. —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 funding provided by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to support Youth Sports Programs for under-resourced youth under the age of 18.
For the purposes of this funding opportunity, the following program/service areas have been identified as priorities:
Youth Sports Education Funding (YSEF) – Programs that enable youth to be active and encourage physical fitness. OCFS encourages a wide and flexible definition of sports that includes organized activities with movement, including physical fitness activities such as, but not limited to yoga, hiking, dance, and active outdoor pursuits.
Youth Team Sports (YTS) – Programs that support an organized physical activity. OCFS defines “team sport” as an organized physical activity in which groups of two or more individuals compete with two or more opposing individuals. Sporting activities where individuals engage in competition on behalf of an organized group including, but not limited to, team tennis, team golf, or racing sports such as swimming or skiing, are included in this definition.
Eligible applicants should be from interested non-profit community-based organizations, cities, towns, and villages within 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), and will run during the program year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The grant may be used to fund programming that provides opportunities for youth in under-resourced communities to learn and participate in sports programming.
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 Youth Sports grant begins May 16th and closes June 17th at 3:30 p.m. The Request for Proposal (RFP), which outlines all criterion, is available on the Chautauqua County Website (chqgov.com/YouthGrantFunds). 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.
