Fayette Alliance Coordinating Teamwork, Outreach and Resources (FACTOR) has received a 2008 Hands On Georgia State Challenge Grant in the amount of $8,000. This grant will help to build organizational capacity and strengthen the Encore! Fayette volunteer program, a program designed to engage senior adults of Fayette in volunteer work.

The Fayette County Board of Education will provide a 100 percent match of the State Challenge Grant, increasing the final award to $16,000. In addition to matching retirees with nonprofits that can benefit from their expertise, Encore! will use this grant money to develop a marketing plan and marketing materials, to hire a program director and to create a website.

“We’re extremely pleased and impressed with the programs chosen to receive this year’s challenge grants,” said Laurie Grant Nichols, CEO of Hands On Georgia. “The recipients represent a broad range of communities from across the state. These grants will help establish solid volunteer programs, making it easier for Georgians to give of their time to meet community needs.” 

The State Challenge Grants are allocated by the Georgia General Assembly and distributed by Hands On Georgia and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 

During the 2008 fiscal year, $200,000 was available to Georgia communities to build sustainable volunteer programs. The available funding represents the second round of grants made available to Georgia communities this year. The first round of grants totaling $84,500 was awarded in November 2007 at the Georgia Summit on Volunteerism. The grant requires each recipient to match 100 percent of the grant award amount with locally raised funds. 

Over the past three years, Hands on Georgia Challenge Grants totaling $500,000 have been awarded to 32 communities.

For more information, visit www.handsongeorgia.org or call 404-979-2842.