QuickStart Mini-grants are designed to get your Safe Routes to School program going and build momentum. They can be used to fund a range of activities that encourage safe walking and bicycling to school, but please keep the following in mind as you prepare your application.

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• Proposed Mini-grant activities must advance the purpose of Safe Routes to School, which is to encourage or enable students to safely walk or bicycle to school—Activities that don’t advance this purpose cannot be funded, e.g., activities that promote physical activity but don’t encourage walking or biking to school or don’t include pedestrian or bicycle safety education.
• Proposed Mini-grant actives should reach the broadest possible audience within the school community—Activities that exclusively target a fraction of the school community (e.g., a class or club) are generally discouraged; however, activities may target a smaller group if they also include outreach to the broader school community. Use this opportunity to build excitement for walking and biking!
• Consider involving students in activity identification and planning—Students have great ideas and often a good sense of what will resonate with their peers. Involving students in event planning also gives them valuable leadership experience. 
• Think creatively—We value creative ideas for encouraging safe walking and bicycling to school.

 

Check out our QuickStart Mini-grant Learn it. Do it. Live it. for additional application tips.

 

Online Application – Click here to apply for a QuickStart Mini-grant.

 

Important Dates

Applications for QuickStart Mini-grants are accepted year round. The applications are reviewed and funding is awarded six times a year, three times in the fall and three times in the spring.

	2016	2017
Spring	February 4 March 3 April 7	February 2 March 2 April 6
Fall	August 11 September 8 October 13	August 10 September 14 October 12

 

Successful applicants will be notified within 3 weeks of the due date, and to be eligible for reimbursement, grant activities must be completed within 90 days of the award.

 

Who can apply for QuickStart Mini-grants?

Eligible applicants include:

• Elementary or middle schools
• Adult-supervised elementary or middle school groups or clubs;
• Adult-supervised high school groups/clubs that wish to partner with a nearby elementary or middle school;
• Faculty, staff, or parent volunteers at elementary or middle schools;
• Local governments;
• Tribal governments; and/or
  
• Community-based or private non-profit organizations that will work with a school to improve safety and/or increase the number of children who safely walk or bicycle to school.

 

What can be purchased with QuickStart Mini-grants?

Below are examples of items that can and cannot be purchased according to federal regulations. Please note that these lists are not exhaustive. Because of the small award size, these restrictions differ slightly from those associated with the typical VDOT SRTS grants. If you have questions about funding eligibility for specific activities or items, please email Jim@VirginiaSRTS.org.

Allowable	Not Allowable
Promotional materials* Educational materials* Safety items (e.g., reflective vests and bands, bicycle helmets, bicycle lights) Bicycle racks Bicycles that benefit groups of students Bicycle rentals Digital camera rental Video camera rental Helmet camera rental Professional services (e.g., safety trainers)	Food and refreshments Staff salaries Stipends for volunteers Fund-raising activities Gift cards Contests, prizes Bicycles for specific individuals Digital camera purchase Video camera purchase Helmet camera purchase
* Modest-cost promotional/educational materials with the broadest reach are more likely to be competitive in the application process.

 

Need some ideas?  Click here

What can I purchase with $1,000?  Click here for a list with the per item price ranges for commonly purchased items.

 

QuickStart Mini-grant recipients to date

The Virginia Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program has awarded over 150 QuickStart Mini-grants since the program began in the fall 2012. The map and table below shows the schools benefiting from QuickStart Mini-grants. Click on a marker on the map to see the school and brief description of the activities funded with the grant.

View SRTS Mini-Grant Beneficiaries in a larger map

School	QuickStart Mini-grant Project
Alvey Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Andrews School	Bike rodeo
Antietam Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Ashburn Elementary School	Bike Safety Rodeo
Ashlawn Elementary School	Walking school bus program
Bassette Elementary School	Bike rodeo
Bayview Elementary	Walk to school event
Belle View Elementary School	Bike racks and Bike Safety Assembly
Bellwood Elementary School	Bellwood Elementary Walk to School Day
Bensley Elementary School	BikeSmart curriculum in grades 4-5
Berkeley Glenn Elementary School	Berkeley Glenn Elementary SRTS new sidewalk ribbon cutting event
Berkeley Middle School	Walk to School Day events
Berryville Primary School	Light up the Ride Town Bike Rodeo
Beville Middle School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Booker T. Washington Elementary School	Healthy Steps Walk to School Day
Bristow Run Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Burnley-Moran Elementary School	Burnley Moran Walk-A-Thon
Butts Road Primary School	Chesapeake Public Schools Walk to School Day
Buzz Aldrin Elementary School	Bike to School Day Event Crossing Guard Assistance, Reflective Safety Incentive Items
Cedar Point Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Central Elementary School	Walk-A-Thon and Bear’s Mileage Club
Centreville Elementary School	Walk to School Week recognition program
Chesterbrook Elementary School	Walk to School Day material and bike rack
Chesterfield County Public Schools	Keeping You Safe, Bike Helmet Safety
Clover Hill Elementary School	Clover Hill Elementary Safe SWARM to School
Crestwood Elementary School	Crestwood Safe Travels Program
Cub Run Elementary School	Walk to School Day event
Cumberland County Elementary School	Bicycle safety education
Cunningham Park Elementary School	Walking Wednesdays, Bike Rodeo, and Pedestrian and Bike Safety
Dale City Elementary School	Bike Safety and Education Program
Daniel's Run Elementary School	Daniel's Run Elementary International Walk/Bike to School Day
Dublin Elementary School	Safe Routes to School initiative
Featherstone Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Fitzgerald Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Garfield Elementary School	Garfield Bike Rodeo
Gate City Middle School	Crosswalk designation and proper marking
George Mason Elementary School	Walk to school day event
Ginter Park Elementary School	Ginter Park Elementary Walk to School Day
Glen Allen Elementary School	School crosswalk and safe travel route event support
Graham Road Elementary School	Share Graham Road and Bike Rodeo
Gravely Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Herndon Elementary School	Bike rodeo with frequent biker program
Hickory Elementary School	Chesapeake Public Schools Walk to School Day
Hopkins Road Elementary School	Bike Rodeo
Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences	Walk to School Day, bike rodeo, education and training
J B Watkins Elementary School	School Bike Safety Program
James River Elementary School	Walk to School Day events
JEB Stuart Elementary School	J.E.B. Stuart Walk to School Day Event
Jennie Dean Elementary School	Harvest Moon Family Fun & Fitness Festival, including a bike rodeo and bike/walk safety promotion
Johnson-Williams Middle School	Light up the Ride Town Bike Rodeo , Bike to School Day rodeo and helmet distribution
Kent Gardens Elementary School	Bike it!
Kilby Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
King Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Lake Anne Elementary School	Pedometers for students who pledge to walk to school
Lake Ridge Middle School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Larchmont Elementary School	Walk and bike to School Day event and safety assembly
Laurel Ridge Elementary School	Promote Biking to School with Bike Rack
Linwood Holton Elementary School	After school enrichment bicycle class
Loch Lomond Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Louise Archer Elementary School	International Walk to School Day, Walking Wednesdays, Vienna Bike/Walk to School Challenge
Lynbrook Elementary School	Lynbrook Bike Rodeo Incentive Items
Macy McClaugherty Combined	5-K Walk to School
Marshall Road Elementary baseball field	Monthly "Walking Wednesdays" and "Bike Trains"
Marstellar Middle School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Marumsco Hills Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Matthew Whaley Elementary School	Walk to School Day events
Maybeury Elementary School	Maybeury Elementary Walk to School Day
Mill Run Elementary School	Bike safety assembly and bike racks
Minnick Education Center (Harrisonburg)	Bicycles, helmets, and bicycle maintenance tools
Minnick Education Center (Roanoke)	Bicycle Safety Training
Montclair Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Neabsco Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Nokesville Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Nottingham Elementary School	Walk to school event, Bike Safety Unit
Oakridge South Elementary School	Walk to School Event Bicycle Safety Training and Incentive Items
Occoquan Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Olde Creek Elementary School	Bike to School Day Bike Rodeo and day-of Event Incentive items, safety vests, and “Drive Slowly” Signs
Parkside Middle School	Bike Safety and Education Program
Peak View Elementary School	Bike Rodeo/Bike Club
Phenix Elementary School	Saturday Safety Initiative
Pleasant Valley Elementary School	Bicycle and helmets for new PE school biking program
Preston Park Elementary School	Preston/Eureka Park Bike Safety Event
Robious Elementary School	A Walking School Bus on Our New Sidewalks!
Rockledge Elementary School	Bike Rodeo NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Rosa Parks Elementary School	NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety curriculum materials
Russell Middle School	Bicycle Rodeo
Salem Church Elementary School	Bike Safety Unit for 4th and 5th grades
Sanders Corner Elementary School	Sanders Corner Walk to School Program
Seldens Landing Elementary School	Bike Safety Rodeo
Shoemaker Elementary School	Crosswalk designation and proper marking
Shrevewood Elementary School	Healthy Elementary Health Living Week and Festival
Skyline Middle School	'Risk Watch' Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education
Smithland Elementary School	'Risk Watch' Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education
Spotswood Elementary School	'Risk Watch' Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education
Spring Hill Elementary School	Walk to School Wednesday incentive program
Stonewall Middle School	Stonewall Striders- Morning Walking Club
Sunrise Valley Elementary School	Monthly Bike and Walk to School Days
Swansboro Elementary School	Swansboro Walk to School Day Event
Thomas Harrison Middle School	Thomas Harrison Middle School Bike to School Day event support
Thomas Jefferson Middle School	Bicycle education program and club
Tomahawk Creek Middle School	Bicycling Intramural Club
Van Pelt Elementary School	Walk to School Day Event
Venable Elementary School	Venable School Walk to School Day Event (Healthy Habit/Healthy Mind)
Vienna Elementary School	Walking Wednesdays
W H Keister Elementary School	SafeKids Summer Safety Event, Walk to School Day Harrisonburg bike rodeo
Waterman Elementary School	Graphing Our Steps, Walk to School Day-Harrisonburg, bike rodeo
Westbriar Elementary School	W&OD Safety Awareness and Bike Rodeo, Wednesdays are for Walking and Biking
Western Branch Primary School	Chesapeake Public Schools Walk to School Day, Western Branch Primary's Family Fun Runs
Westover Hills Elementary School	Walk to School Day
Williamsburg – James City County Schools	Bicycle rodeos and incentive items