Chamber accepting grant application for ‘Taste’ money

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- The Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce has begun

accepting grant applications for its annual Taste of Newport, to be held

the weekend of Sept. 14 and 15.

The success of this communitywide event allows the chamber to share

proceeds with some worthwhile nonprofit organizations, chamber officials

said..

Last year the chamber donated $25,200 in proceeds directly to local

charities.

“This is a way of saying thank you to the community for their

tremendous and continued support of our terrific community event,” said

Richard Luehrs, the chamber’s president and chief executive.

The chamber expects to award a number of different community

organizations with grants to those who have worthy programs or projects

in the area.

But because the chamber receives more and more requests each year,

officials have set up a grant application process to make sure the money

is used wisely.

The chamber began accepting applications Wednesday and has set Sept.

15 as the deadline for funding requests.

Applications will then be reviewed, and successful organizations will

receive the money in December.

Interested organizations must complete a four-step process that

consists of:

* completing and submitting a Taste of Newport Grant Application Form;

* submitting a brief description of the organization and the program

or project to be funded;

* submitting a list of the organization’s board of directors, advisory

board members and staff;

* submitting a copy of the organization’s federal nonprofit

tax-exemption letter from the IRS documenting 501 (c) (3) status.

Other restrictions also apply. Application or information: (949)

729-4400.