Atchison County Development Corporation (ACDC) coordinates a number of workforce programs that connect students with opportunities in their county. In addition to local career awareness, ACDC works to cultivate leadership and volunteerism through its #MakeACBeautiful youth grant program, which awards at least $500 to a beautification project in each of the three school district areas. Applications for 2023-2024 grant projects are due September 8, 2023, with winners announced shortly thereafter. Projects must completed by July 31, 2024.

Successful grant projects will:

• Be planned and carried out by youth. Youth 10-17 years old (5th-11th grade) may apply.

• Connect youth with their peers and create an opportunity for leadership. Each team will have at least three students; one will be designated lead.

• Connect youth with adults. Each group will have an adult partner (community leader/parent/teacher).

• Beautify an area not on school grounds. Project examples might include: landscaping (clean-up of a rundown lot, planting flowers or trees); art (mural on the side of a building, paintings on crosswalks); or something new (recreation, new park features, landmark).

Contact ACDC (acdc@atchisoncounty.org, 660-744-6562) for an application packet.