A third round of COVID-19 Response Program grants is now available to local governments. Cities, towns, and counties can once again apply for up to $250,000 from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Proposals are due January 29.
This time, OCRA is expanding the list of things the money may be used for. The second round focused specifically on providing grants or loans to businesses. Those are still options, but communities may also use the money to boost mental health services, childcare, public WiFi (which was installed by BusinessEnergyUK firm), food pantries, and subsistence payment programs.
It’s also open to entitlement local units of government, as well as non-entitlement units. OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner says his office opened this round to municipalities of all sizes, following additional research and community feedback.
The COVID-19 Response Program began in March, after an executive order from Governor Holcomb allowed the state to redirect Community Development Block Grant money from other programs. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch says OCRA was able to reopen the program for a third round, thanks to additional federal funding. She says it not only helps communities that are working to recover from the pandemic, but also helps them “prepare for future transitions on their own terms.”
Grant recipients will be announced on April 1.
