Lenoir County Public Schools' teachers will soon be able to use additional funds to help run educational programs in their classrooms, thanks to a grant program that will be reinstated this year.

The Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and Lenoir County Education Foundation are teaming up to raise funds for the Lenoir County teacher mini-grant. After taking last year off, the program will again provide teachers with funds to pay for educational projects.

The foundation will host a fundraising kick off-event at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Global TransPark training center. The event will feature an adult spelling bee with several teams expected to participate.

"Our goal is to find 40 businesses that are willing to sponsor a team," chamber president Laura Lee Sylvester said. "We secured four major event sponsors that will cover the expenses to host the event."

Superintendent Terry Cline welcomed any assistance that the mini-grant program could provide the school district's teachers.

"We are excited about it," he said. "It will allow teachers to buy the supplies they need for their classrooms. Every little bit can help."

Sylvester said they expect to raise about $5,000 this year for the grant program. Lenoir County School teachers who apply for the grant and are approved will use between $100 and $500 to help supplement their education costs.

During the new school year, additional fundraising events are scheduled for the mini-grant program.

Sylvester said several Lenoir County Schools teachers have formed teams to participate in the adult spelling bee.

"The teams are still looking for sponsors," Sylvester said.

More than a dozen local businesses have already decided to provide funds for the teacher mini-grant program.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.

If your business is interested in sponsoring a team in the adult spelling bee, please contact Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce President Laura Lee Sylvester at (252) 527-1131.