Grants from the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation now can be applied for over the Internet. Nonprofit organizations can apply through Monday, May 1, at 4 p.m. Grants will be announced by June.

This is the sixth year the Community Foundation will award grants to local organizations for the benefit of the community. Grant application packages can be ordered by calling Eric Cardwell at (906) 484-5150, Lori Pieri at (906) 484-2324, or John Sullivan at (906) 484-3905.

The Foundation will offer grants from eight of its funds this spring:

+ Economic Development Fund, a new fund to help promote business and commerce endeavors within the Les Cheneaux Islands area. Possible uses for grants from this fund are limited to initiatives that increase the economic vitality of the community.

+ General Fund, which provides grants to programs and projects that demonstrate that they will have a measurable positive impact on the community.

+ Geraldine "Gerry" Nayback Fund, for programs and projects that promote education and/or early detection of cancer; programs or services to assist people diagnosed with cancer or terminal illnesses; programs and support services for families, or scholarships for people returning to college to study nursing or a related health field.

+ Great Lakes Environmental Initiative, for programs that promote or enhance environmental initiatives.

+ Mary Shapero Memorial Fund, for organizations looking to develop the young people or community of the Les Cheneaux area.

+ Horween Fund, which offers grants for innovative education educational programs at Les Cheneaux Community Schools.

+ Youth Fund, for which the Les Cheneaux Youth Advisory will review and recommend grants for projects that will benefit young people in the area. Priority will be given to projects that give young people something to do after school, on weekends, during summer vacations, or initiatives that provide a safe place to spend time with friends. Projects are recommended to the Community Foundation Board by the Youth Advisory Committee, a board of local teens.

+ Islands Environmental Fund, which provides grants to projects that protect the environment of the Les Cheneaux Islands area.

Grants are not normally made for operating expenses, annual fundraising campaigns, political campaigns, loans, secretarial purposes, or deficit funding. Grants are not made directly to individuals, but rather to nonprofit organizations and schools.

Applications should be mailed to Les Cheneaux Community Foundation, P.O. Box 249, Cedarville Michigan 49719. Online applications can be completed by visiting the Les Cheneaux Community Schools Web site, http:// lescheneaux.eup.k12.mi.us/lescheneaux/ site/default.asp and clicking on the "Community" drop-down menu, and selecting "Community Foundation."