The committee for the 2009 Robert S. Smith Award for community progress and innovation is calling for grant proposals for up to $3,000 from local community members, student leaders and organizations by Oct. 31.

The award supports partnerships between grassroots community leaders and area college students to jointly plan and carry out innovative community-building projects that strengthen Tompkins County communities.

The committee seeks "project ideas and visions from 'everyday' community leaders who have good ideas, passion and community, but who may not have formal leadership titles or roles." Special priority is given to teams that include leadership from communities of color, immigrant communities and low- and moderate-income communities.

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 such areas as health, nutrition, community housing, small business enterprise, youth development, arts, agriculture and the environment.

Informational sessions will be held Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m. in 208 Sibley Hall and Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. in the Willard Straight Hall International Room.

For more information, e-mail zxm2@cornell.edu.