NEWS BRIEF: Grants on offer to innovative locals

People living in Atlanta will be able to apply for grants of up to $5,500 to start one of 16 proven ideas in a new creative endeavor from the Microsoft-funded nonprofit ChangeX. The organization, based in Ireland, is offering ideas such as the Pollinator Partnership which supports pollinator-friendly habitats; Better Block Parklet, an initiative to expand public or private space with digitally fabricated parklets, and Girls Who Code, a program to introduce girls to coding and computer science. Locals who choose one of the suggested projects will have 30 days to build a small team and design an action plan, a press release explained. On completion, they will be eligible for seed funding of up to $5,500. The challenge is open to residents of the Atlanta metropolitan area, including Douglas County. Funding will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. “We are looking forward to supporting a range of impactful projects through this fund,” said Jonathan Clarke from Microsoft’s Community Development Team. “(We) know that this model can really empower local people.” changex.org