Staff Report</p><p>Applications for the Community Grant Program are available on the Madera County website at <a href="http://www.madera-county.com" target="_blank">www.madera-county.com</a> under Public Notices or at the Madera County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors office, 200 W. 4th St. The grant filing period runs from Jan. 1 through March 1.</p><p>"The Community Grant Program has been a great benefit to Madera County," said Frank Bigelow, District 1 supervisor and chair of the board. "Partnering with the tribe and strengthening the government-to-government relationship that has been established has been a gratifying experience, especially knowing it allows both entities to better serve all the residents of Madera County."</p><p>The grants are offered as part of a 10-year agreement between Madera County and the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, which provides $1 million in grants throughout Madera County.</p><p>"This will be the sixth year of the program," said Bigelow. "It's an intense process to review all the applications of so many deserving requests and try to spread the funds across the county. It's a tremendous opportunity for nonprofit organizations, schools, agencies and county government to receive funding that wouldn't otherwise be available."</p><p>"Over the past five years, we have been able to provide much-needed funds to many deserving organizations in our area through the Community Grant Program. We look forward to continuing that tradition this year, and look forward to working with the county to ensure that this program continues to benefit the residents of Madera," said Tribal Chairman Reggie Lewis.</p><p>The Community Grant Award banquet will be held the third week of April, and according to the agreement between Madera County and the tribe, grant recipients must spend funds within two years or the grant will be returned to the tribe.