Virus aid grant programs slated
Montgomery County commissioners to vote on funds for health care providers, farmers, day cares.
Three new grant programs to distribute $20 million of Montgomery County’s more than $92 million in CARES Act funds are up for approval today by county commissioners.
The proposed programs include $10 million to assist health care providers, $5 million for child cares and preschools, and $5 million for farmers and other agricultural businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the county.
Grants of up to $3 million will be made available to eligible hospitals — both public and private — medical centers, health clinics and other health service providers, according to the county.
“So many of the hospitals and health care organizations have been our front-line workers and they’ve been desperately needing supplies constantly. That’s really going to help them,” said Judy Dodge, Montgomery County Commission president.
Operators of agricultural businesses that meet forthcoming guidelines could get grants of up to $100,000, and those of day cares and preschools up to $30,000, according to the county.
Montgomery County’s Office of CARES Act is working on eligibility requirements for the new
programs tentatively scheduled to launch in mid-September, according to the county. Interested residents and organizations can sign up at www. mcohiocares.org to receive email alerts when details become available.
“We want to get the word out to these different organizations so that they can start thinking maybe they’ll qualify,” Dodge said. “The important thing is to get it into the community’s hands.”
Dodge said federal rules allow the county to award grants only until the end of the year.
“We’re on a time frame here and we’ve got to spend this money or the feds take it back by Dec. 31,” she said.
The county has already rolled out several programs, including one that aids small businesses. Others focus on renters and homeowners behind on making housing and utility payments, as well as for educational institutions and nonprofits impacted by the pandemic.
Commissioners have twice relaxed the eligibility requirements for small businesses to apply for grants of $10,000. Small businesses with up to 50 employees and annual receipts up to $5 million may now apply and are no longer disqualified if they previously received Paycheck Protection Program assistance.
Montgomery County received an initial allotment of $92.77 million in funds, which could reach more than $200 million.
Grants of up to $10,000 to support housing payments are available to eligible residents who experienced a loss of income after March 1, 2020, due to the pandemic. The loss of income could have been caused by a layoff, reduced work hours, furlough or reduction in pay, according to the county.
Additionally, commissioners have also approved a program for eligible nonprofits to receive grants up to $100,000 and another to offer grants up to $1 million to qualifying educational institutions.
Applications for the small business, housing, education and nonprofits programs are also available at www.mcohiocares.org.
“Since this virus hit, so many things had to be shut down and people couldn’t go to work, businesses were closed. It has affected almost every single man, woman and child in community,” Dodge said “This money has just been a lifesaver as far as trying to get people back working and taking care of their children.”