Small cities – those whose General/Auto Liability contribution is $40,000 or less – are eligible to participate in a grant program to fund projects identified in their CIS Risk Management plans. The three-year grant provides a total of 25% of the city’s 2007-08 General/Auto Liability premium. The member may choose to use all of the funds in one year, or spread it over three.

Participation in this grant program requires a commitment of the city to remain in the CIS liability and property programs for three years. (Members may leave the program prior to the end of three years without penalty if the Trust increases base liability rates more than 10% during any one year of the three-year period.) Those wishing to receive a grant in 2008-09 must submit their application, and the Council resolution committing the city to the three-year term, to their CIS Risk Management Consultant by December 1, 2008.

Apply for the Risk Management Grant
Requires membership access to the CIS Members Only Portal.
Once logged into the Portal, look for the headline: "Risk Management Grant Program"

Another CIS grant program – this one for members of both the Workers’ Compensation and General Liability programs – is targeted at avoiding injuries in “heavy” jobs and helping employers bring back to work employees with complex physical conditions. Members may receive up to $2,500/year in either of these areas; a total of $60,000 has been funded this year.

The Job Development grant assists members planning to hire workers for entry-level laborer jobs in three ways:

• Preparing descriptions for entry-level laborer jobs that accurately reflect the physical requirements of the job.
• Paying for all or part of an assessment of preferred candidates’ ability to carry out the physical requirements of the job.
• Working with the member to develop policies that will continue pre-hire assessments into the future.

Apply for the Job Development and/or Return-to-Work Grant
Requires membership access to the CIS Members Only Portal

Cities that are members of CIS Benefits also have an opportunity for funding again this year, with wellness grants available to those members where 80% of the employees have completed the Health Status Questionnaire, the gateway to CIS’ Healthy Benefits program. The grants provide $15 per employee who has completed the questionnaire; the grant lets employers carry out worksite activities aimed at helping employees lead healthier lives. Last year, 57 employer groups received over $52,000 for worksite wellness programs.

This year, employers that don’t qualify for the full grant, but that achieve an HSQ completion rate of 70%, can apply for a pro-rated grant amount. Employees have until August 31 to complete the Health Status Questionnaire at www.cisbenefits.org and qualify their employers for these grants.

View more information on CIS Benefits Grants
This link will take you to another overview page where you can see the various grant opportunities from CIS Benefits.