Orange County opens $948,000 youth program funding round for 2027

Orange County has opened a 2027 funding round that could steer about $948,000 into local programs for children and young adults from birth through age 20, putting municipalities and nonprofit groups in direct competition for money that pays first and gets reimbursed later. The county is asking which services will carry the most weight in 2027, and families could feel the result in everything from sports fields and classrooms to help for runaway and homeless youth.

The money will be divided among County Solutions funding, the state Youth Development Program, Youth Sports and Education, and Runaway Homeless Youth funding. State Youth Team Sports will be handled separately in a later request for proposals. The awards are meant to support educational connection and achievement, physical and mental health, employment, and community cohesion. Programs that keep teenagers engaged after school, connect younger children to learning opportunities, or reach youth in crisis could be among the strongest contenders.

Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the funding is part of the county’s ongoing effort to give young people opportunities to grow, learn and thrive. Youth Bureau Director Rachel Wilson said the goal is to keep kids involved in positive local activities and connected to their communities. The bureau’s mission statement says it serves youth ages 0 to 21 through countywide planning, funding, monitoring and coordination, using the Touchstones framework and the county’s Children and Family Services Plan to guide where resources go.

Applications were made available through the Youth Bureau’s Funding and Forms page and through the Empire State Bid System. The Department of General Services was designated as the sole point of contact during the submission process until review begins. Proposals are part of a competitive reimbursement process, so awarded programs must cover costs up front and then submit claims for payment. Funding is not guaranteed simply by applying, and awards can be reduced, rejected or only partially funded if the county decides that is in its best interest and within available dollars.

The bureau’s FAQ set the estimated award announcement date at Jan. 1, 2027. Applicants who receive less than requested can look for other revenue, trim or change programming and enrollment, or decline the award if the cut is large enough and not approved by the bureau and its advisory board.

In May 2026, the county projected about $95,000 for that year’s competitive youth funding round, while a separate September 2025 Youth Team Sports solicitation brought more than $223,000 in state money for local programs.