About Us
PRIMEtime Collaborative is a network of local organizations and youth programs that provide free after-school and summer programming for over 1,000 school-age children in Northfield. More information about these programs is available on our Programs page, and documentation of the very positive outcomes of these programs is available on our Outcomes page.
The collaborative was fortunate to learn in September 2009 it would receive funds from a new Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Fewer than 10% of applicants received funding, so PRIMEtime partners feel very fortunate to have received this highly-competitive grant. The grant reviewers commented that PRIMEtime is a very cost-effective, collaborative, and innovative model for delivering a variety of after school options to a diverse group of young people.
Nevertheless, while this was welcome news, this new grant covers only a portion of the staffing costs and cannot be used for any program expenses or supplies. In addition, it expires in June 2013 and cannot be renewed.
Being dependent on the uncertainties of state and federal funding makes the PRIMEtime Collaborative vulnerable and serves as a reminder of an important lesson:
It’s our community. They are our kids. Let’s take responsibility for making sure that when 4 p.m. rolls around, they have somewhere safe to go and positive, healthy activities to engage in. We’re all better off when kids succeed.
Financial Contributors to PRIMEtime
Current financial contributors to PRIMEtime include:
- Minnesota Office of Justice Programs
- Northfield Area United Way
- Women In Northfield Giving Support
- Youthprise Foundation
- HealthFinders, through funding from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Minority and Multicultural Health
- Northfield Public Schools
