[Swanton, VT]—Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile was recently selected to receive $23,000 in funding from the Summer Matters for All Grant program. According to Governor Phil Scott, the Summer Matters for All Grant Program will award up to $3.85 million to programs in 13 counties with the goal of expanding access to summer enrichment opportunities for K-12 youth this summer.

Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile will be partnering with area summer camps to bring books and stories to youth throughout the summer. These programs will receive stories and activities to encourage literacy and reading to prevent the summer backslide. The bookmobile will also be doing a series of pop up story times around the Franklin County in Parks and with partner organizations including Franklin County Animal Rescue and Green Country Corners.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the bookmobile as we get back on the road and continue to promote reading to our neighbors. After a couple years of quietly reorganizing this funding gave us the opportunity to jump in with both feet and get our services up and running,” Hadley Priebe, Executive Director, says.

Governor Scott has put an emphasis on helping Vermont kids recover from the pandemic and the isolation it caused, including creating opportunities for them to safely reconnect with their peers and their communities. The purpose of the grant program is to increase access to summer enrichment opportunities for K-12 youth statewide during Summer 2021. This was a highly competitive process with 188 proposals submitting $7,427,584 in requests, which far exceeded available funds.

The grants, funded by federal dollars secured by Senator Bernie Sanders and administered by Vermont Afterschool, were awarded to a variety of programs, including summer camps, libraries, municipalities, teen centers, non-profit social services organizations and more, to expand the number of weeks and slots, as well as to increase affordability and accessibility of summer programs. These offerings will supplement school-based programs, as districts in Vermont received separate federal funds to support summer learning and afterschool programs.

“Summer is the perfect opportunity to help kids reconnect and recharge. We are incredibly grateful to our state leaders and policymakers for their commitment to the development of the Summer Matters for All Grant Program,” said Holly Morehouse, Executive Director of Vermont Afterschool. “With this funding, communities and youth-serving organizations across the state will be able to create a great summer for Vermont children and youth that will help them make new memories and emerge from the pandemic strong, resilient, and hopeful.”