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Tag: CARES Act funding

Applications reopen for CARES Act funding

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – For residents and businesses still working to recover from the financial effects of COVID-19, more help is coming in the form of CARES Act funds.

Nonprofit organizations that previously received funding through the Manatee County distribution of CARES Act money can extend their funding applications through March 31 to receive the same amount previously distributed. The total amount expected to be distributed is $2.9 million.

As part of the county’s phase three extended spending plan, nonprofits that provide food distribution to Manatee County residents can apply for funds beginning Feb. 26. The county has earmarked $750,000 for the effort.

Community health and wellbeing grants up to $5,000 also are available to nonprofits to assist in reconfiguring their spaces to allow for social distancing and to purchase safety equipment. Up to 100 applicants will be awarded the funds for a total of $500,000. The applications are scheduled to open at the end of February.

For homeowners, the mortgage assistance program is reopening the week of Feb. 22, though only 75 applications are planned to be accepted with a total of $500,000 available in funding. The funds will be available to Manatee County homeowners whose mortgage payments are in arrears due to loss of income related to the pandemic.

Small business owners who have not previously received a CARES funding grant with a physical location in Manatee County, 500 employees or fewer and documented financial losses due to COVID-19 can apply for financial assistance. Funds totaling $1 million will be available to brick and mortar and home-based businesses with applications opening on Feb. 8.

Small business owners can also receive up to $5,000 per business for an Open Safe grant to help pay for personal protective equipment, signage, outdoor seating, equipment, supplies and other items. The county plans to accept 250 applications with the application process opening the week of Feb. 8.

The county also has set aside $5 million in funding for vaccine distribution, staffing and COVID-19 testing.

Financial support totaling $4.2 million is being made available to Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Hospital for personal protective equipment and reimbursement for loss due to business interruption from the governor’s executive order 20-72. That order prohibited elective services at hospitals to make room for additional COVID-19 patients. Blake Medical Center opted out of the funding program.

Applications will be taken through Neighborly.com and the application period will only be open for a short time to allow for the quick distribution of funds. Anyone interested in applying for funds can visit this website to determine their eligibility and the requirements to apply for funding before the opening of the application window.

An emergency rental assistance program to sustain housing, not related to CARES Act funds, is being made available to help pay rent and utilities in arrears, home energy costs and other related housing expenses. The total amount available in Manatee County is $12,081,000.

To qualify for the emergency rental assistance program, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, reside in Manatee County, be delinquent on rent or utility payments due to COVID-19 on or after April 1, 2020, qualify for unemployment or be able to prove a reduction in household income or financial hardship due to COVID-19. The applicant also must have a household income of 80% or less below the area median income. The program can provide assistance for up to three months before the applicant has to reapply for additional funding. Manatee County is currently working with local nonprofits to provide utility assistance for utilities not included in rent payments.

Applications will be taken online on Neighborly and open on Feb. 16. More information on the emergency rental assistance program is available here.

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CARES Act funding applications reopen

CARES Act funding applications reopen

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Applications are reopening for local nonprofit managers, small business owners and residents financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to request CARES Act funding through the county.

CARES Act funding applications for nonprofits open Oct. 19 with Recover Manatee Safety First Small Business Grant Program applications opening Oct. 21 and Manatee CARES Housing Assistance Program applications opening Oct. 28.

The nonprofit funding is only available to expand an existing program for food distribution, including holiday meals, to assist people in recovering from the pandemic. Only food distribution related expenditures are being considered for this round of funding.

A $5,000 grant for the purchase of personal protective equipment and other items needed to reopen safely is also open to applications for nonprofits. Nonprofits that previously received funding through this grant are invited to apply again.

The Recover Manatee Safety First Small Business Grant Program is in its third round and offers up to $50,000 in funding for Manatee County small businesses employing up to 500 people. The funding includes a $5,000 to fund safe operations and up to $45,000 for reimbursement of documented COVID-19 related business losses. Applications are not open to those businesses who’ve already received CARES Act funding.

The Housing Assistance Program provides eligible Manatee County residents with rent and mortgage assistance up to $10,000. Anyone affected by the pandemic with a household income at or below 150% of the area’s median income, $80,400 for a single person or $114,750 for a four-person household, is eligible to apply for funding.

Out of the $70 million in federal CARES Act funding expected to be distributed by Manatee County leaders, more than $6 million has been distributed so far for community health and well-being programs with an additional $10 million given to economic recovery programs, including nonprofits, small businesses and in rental and mortgage assistance.

For more information, or to apply, visit the county’s website.