ITHACA, N.Y. -- Grant proposals from local organizations and agencies for the 2003 Robert S. Smith Award are due by April 14.

Awards of up to $3,500 will be given to programs employing Cornell University students in community development projects. Last year, five local organizations shared awards totaling $13,500.

The award, established at Cornell in 1994 with 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, 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 Jody Beck at 254-4916 or Rod Howe at 255-9510. To request an electronic version of the application form, contact Beck at jcb47@cornell.edu .