The Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary Club announces its new charitable community service program of funding Educational Grants to prepare for working in a chosen vocation in Lincoln County.

This new club charitable focus expands training in various trade skills and replaces the many decades of awarding scholarships for students attending colleges and universities. Instead of seeking scholarship applications from area high school students, applicants for an Educational Grant can be of any age and apply any time throughout the year for financial support to acquire or upgrade skills in any educational program that provides certification, license or degree. An alternative grant may be awarded to assist in the purchase of tools and equipment needed for one’s vocational work.

This new Educational Grant program seeks to expand the opportunity for training leading to employment in jobs that both serve the people of and expand employment in Lincoln County. Examples of such skill training are plumbing, electrical, heavy equipment operation, cosmetology, mechanics, health care, HVAC, construction, law enforcement and others.

To apply, applicants living or working in Lincoln County are asked to fill out and submit a one page application form. Each month, the applications received will be reviewed, applicants may be interviewed, and Educational Grants awarded to fund up to 90% of the costs for the training program to which an applicant is accepted for enrollment. Jobs in Lincoln County await those who acquire the skills required to be successfully employed in them.

For further information and application forms, click Educational Grants on the Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary Club website, dnmrotary.org