Columbus and Bartholomew County will use some of their federal COVID-19 relief funding to help local not-for-profits.
The city announced that it is partnering with the county to provide revenue replacement grants for not-for-profits who were hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the program is to help those organizations that experienced losses in regards to “revenue collected in the most recent full fiscal year.”
The funds for this program come out of both the city and county’s allocations from the American Rescue Plan. So far, according to officials, the city has received almost $4.29 million, and the county has received about $8 million.
Per the act, one of the eligible uses for this funding is response to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 or its “negative economic impacts.”
Applications for revenue replacement funding will be available on Sept. 1 on the city and county’s websites.
The deadline to turn in completed applications and supporting documentation is Sept. 30. City Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon said at a recent city council meeting that grants may be awarded by December.
To apply for the grant, an organization must be a “501(c)3 agency in good standing and in operation for at least the last five years” with headquarters in Bartholomew County. Their annual operating expenses must not exceed $2 million. Additionally, the agency must provide “direct services” and be able to show a negative impact from the pandemic.
