The Chainlink Community Grant Program is designed to support the development and expansion of the Chainlink ecosystem by providing financial resources to developers and researchers working on creating more functional and socially impactful blockchain applications. By investing in infrastructure and tools like the Hardhat development environment, which simplifies the process of building and testing smart contracts, the program aims to accelerate the adoption of hybrid smart contracts. Recently, Applied Blockchain, a research and development firm with expertise in blockchain infrastructure, received a grant to enhance the Chainlink Hardhat Starter Kit, thereby facilitating the creation of Chainlink-powered applications. This initiative is part of a broader effort by Chainlink to foster innovation and support the growth of its community through continuous funding and collaboration with development teams worldwide.