A local nonprofit committed to recycling and environmental initiatives has received two $50,000 grants from the city and plans to apply for more city funds in the 2012-13 budget cycle.

Along with a $50,000 grant to help sustain its day-to-day operations, ECO, Inc. also received a $50,000 public service grant for its recycling and cleanup projects, such as its tire recycling and household hazardous waste collection event held in November.

Gina D’Abella, executive director of ECO, Inc., said in an economy where grant money is scarce she was pleased with the city’s support. “We appreciate the city of Maricopa acknowledging the importance of the sustainable community development projects that we provide in Maricopa and the outlying community.”

D’Abella said she plans to apply for grants in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 31 and the applications can be found by clicking here.

Three local nonprofits, including ECO, Inc., recently received $25,000 as the second half of grant money awarded through the Maricopa Non Profit Funding Program. Each organization gave a status report to the Maricopa City Council last week as a requirement of their grant award.

The other two nonprofits presenting with ECO, Inc., were: F.O.R. (Food, Opportunity and Resources Maricopa) Maricopa, a community food bank located off Honeycutt Road; and CAASA (Ak-Chin Community Alliance Against Substance Abuse)/Maricopa Youth Recreation Center, which operates a youth recreation center at Maricopa Wells Middle School.

Wendy Webb, F.O.R. executive director, said the $50,000 grant will be used to sustain the ongoing operation of the food bank.

“We tried to write in a way that was flexible,” she said. “The grant is certainly an essential component of helping us meet our goals.”

The food bank currently is housed in a rented mobile home on Gunsmoke Road. It needs a bigger place to operate, whether it rents or builds, Webb said.

The Maricopa Rotary Club was awarded a $50,000 public service grant for operation of its outdoor swimming pool on the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

To qualify for a grant, an agency must provide a copy of an IRS letter sanctioning its nonprofit status and religious organizations can only request grants for secular human services.

Witkofski said the city received 11 applications last year but only one so far this year, though she expects more will come in before the deadline.

She said the program evolved from discussions in early 2010 to formalize a process for the city to fairly award grants to nonprofits.

Up to 1 percent of the city’s operating budget can be set aside for the grants. The applications are reviewed by council members, who rank them to determine which agencies will get the money and for how much.

Witkofski said a goal of the grant program is for the city to build partnerships in the community. “It falls under the council’s strategic plan for a stronger community.”

For more information, call Witkofski at 520-316-6844 or email mary.witkofski@maricopa-az.gov.