The Valentine Area Youth Planning Commission has been informed that they will be receiving a grant from the Turner Foundation for Youth Initiatives in the amount of $16,000 for 2012. Each year a grant application is prepared and submitted to the foundation, documenting what programs the Youth Planning Commission has funded and what the plans are for the upcoming year. Since 1997 the Commission has applied for and received $242,000 which have gone to a variety of youth programs in the community. The local funds are divided into four categories including: Recreation, Environmental, Fine Arts, and Leadership/Education. Past programs supported have included tree planting in the Big Rock fire area, teen center improvements, bringing art programs to the community, several ball programs and improvement at the public library. The Youth Planning Commission will accept applications for local programs later this spring. Any person or organization that has a youth program that would fall into one of these four project areas is welcome to submit a proposal. The applications will be available at a later date. For more information contact chairman Mike Burge at 402-376-6842.