Ocean County non-profits can get financial boost with CDBG-CV funds
Ocean County non-profit organizations could soon be getting some financial relief as they can apply for grants to fund activities related to Covid-19 preparation and response.
The Ocean County Freeholders announced Wednesday that under the CARES Act, Housing and Urban Development has allocated $820,810.00 in CDBG-CV funds to Ocean County to be used to for those COVID-19 related expenses.
The County requested a waiver to use the funds specifically for grants to non-profits.
“There are a number of non-profit organizations in Ocean County that can help our citizens through this difficult time with these funds,” Ocean County Freeholder Deputy Director Gary Quinn, who is liaison to the Ocean County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, said. “The deadline to apply for the funding is 4 p.m., Friday, July 10. I encourage our non-profits to take advantage of this opportunity. With so many of them doing great work already, I am sure this financial help will assist tremendously their ongoing efforts.”
Quinn explained that the County has prepared a substantial amendment to the Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Action Plan to make CDBG-CV funds available to qualified non-profit 501(c)(3) agencies serving Ocean County residents to support a variety of eligible public service activities.
“We appreciate the efforts of President Trump and our Congressional delegation in securing this money for our non-profit organizations in Ocean County,” Quinn said. “Without these agencies, many of our citizens would be without the necessities and the care they need during this pandemic.”
The CDBG-CV funds will be able to support a variety of activities:
· Public service activities such as senior services, food provision, emergency assistance, homelessness prevention, childcare, health, drug abuse, domestic violence services, among others.
· Public service activities such as providing COVID-19 testing and diagnosis services at a fixed or mobile location.
· Public facilities and improvement projects that directly contribute to addressing COVID-19 related issues. This includes equipment and other property needed for the public service, labor, supplies and material to operate and/or maintain the portion of a facility in which the public service is located.
· Public facilities improvement projects such as rehabilitating a community facility to establish a COVID-19 testing/treatment clinic.
· Temporary emergency rental assistance for eligible households (up to 3 months).
· Other eligible activities that directly prevent prepare and respond to COVID-19.
Successful grant recipients will be based on meeting all eligibility criteria as outlined in the grant application.
“Non-profit agencies have extended a lifeline to many of our residents, especially our most frail and vulnerable senior and disabled residents during the coronavirus pandemic,” Ocean County Freeholder Director Joe Vicari, who is Chairman of Senior Services, said. “I am pleased we can assist in administering these grant funds. The many services that can be funded make an important difference for so many of our citizens.”
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