Nonprofits to receive COVID relief funds from Miami County

TROY — Miami County commissioners said they will support distribution of nearly $150,000 in county American Rescue Plan Act money to nonprofit organizations across the county.

Out of $198,654 in requests, nine nonprofits will receive $5,000 because they previously received funding through the CARES Act COVID relief program, and 11 applicants will receive $9,545.

The applications were filed by those offering senior services, addiction services, child care, dental services, libraries, historical sites, education and food/meal providers.

Applications were accepted through May 31 for possible grants using money set aside from the more than $10 million the county received this year from the ARPA program.

The commissioners recently approved another $741,744 in grants from the ARPA money for 39 small businesses.

A similar process was used to review applications for both the small business and nonprofit grants, said Michael Clarey, development services manager with the county development department.

That included an initial vetting at the development department of tax documents, financials and application materials followed by a review of a subcommittee of county staff members. The subcommittee made recommendations to the commission.

Because more applications were received than the amount of money set aside for the nonprofit grants, the committee looked at three options for distribution of dollars.

The recommendation was based on a formula the subcommittee thought would be the fairest, Clarey said.

The commissioners praised the committee and Clarey for work done on the grants. The commissioners said they plan to vote formally on the nonprofit grants Tuesday, July 19.

The development office is working with the recipients of the small business grants approved in June. “They have expressed gratitude …for your consideration of small business. It really makes a difference to them, for sure,” Clarey said.

Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com

About the Author