Dalton State students getting grants

Colleges and universities in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area have started giving money to eligible students as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act.

Colleges and universities in Georgia received more than $300 million, half of which must go to emergency student aid.

Dalton State College announced it has started giving eligible students grants between $300 and $700 to help them through the difficult time created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Dalton State received about $2.4 million in federal relief funds.

Margaret Venable, president of Dalton State, said in a statement the college is committed to helping students overcome

any burdens they are facing as the school year continues on.

“So many of our students work and have family commitments, and we know they’re facing additional challenges and stresses right now due to this global pandemic,” Venable said. “If our students are worried about basic needs, they won’t be able to focus on school. We don’t want this crisis to slow anyone’s education or get in the way of graduation.”

Some of the relief money at Dalton State is being put in the Roadrunner Student Emergency Fund, which students with specific hardships can apply for.

For those not eligible for CARES Act funding, the Dalton State Foundation is partnering with the Dean of Students’ Office to provide additional resources to assist with emergency needs.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College received about $3.18 million in aid, and $1.6 million is expected to go directly to students.

Tennessee universities, colleges, and trade and professional schools received $237 million in federal emergency grants during the first round of stimulus funding.

The grants for 127 Tennessee higher education institutions include $118 million specifically targeted to students for expenses related to disruptions in their educations due to the COVID19 outbreak.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is getting a total of $9.5 million under the grant program. Of that amount, $4.75 million falls into the minimum allocation category for the direct emergency financial aid grants for students.

Chattanooga State Community College, meanwhile, is expected to see a total of $5.28 million, of which $2.64 million is designated for the emergency financial aid grants for students.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education announced an additional $39.5 million was being sent to 71 colleges

and universities in Tennessee. Most of that money — $30.4 million — is being sent to six historically black colleges and universities in the state.