The committee for the 2002 Robert S. Smith Award for community progress and innovation is calling for proposals from local organizations and agencies. Proposals are due by April 12.

An award of up to $3,500 will be given to a sponsoring program using a Cornell University student or students to help carry out a community development project. Last year, four local organizations shared grants totaling $8,750.

The award, established at Cornell in 1994 through a $100,000 grant by Tompkins Trust Co., is named for Robert S. Smith, former bank chairman and the W.I. Myers Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Finance at Cornell. Projects will be judged for their potential to stimulate tangible progress in areas such as health, nutrition, community housing, small business enterprise, youth development, arts, agriculture and the environment.

Sponsoring programs can be for- or not-for-profit community organizations, agencies or businesses in Tompkins County or a Cornell department, center, institute or unit.

Application forms are available from Tompkins Trust Co., Robert S. Smith Award Committee, c/o Jody Beck, Community and Rural Development Institute, 43 Warren Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853. For more information, call Beck at (607) 254-4916 or Rod Howe at (607) 255-9510.