DECATUR COUNTY, IN — Decatur County Council and the Decatur County Community Foundation have partnered to administer funding given to the county by the federal government. The purpose of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is to deliver direct relief to Americans affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
County Council has budgeted a total of $550,000 for grants. These funds will be distributed among nonprofit organizations, volunteer fire departments, and small businesses in Decatur County. Any organization in one of these three categories that has experienced financial hardship in the past 18 months because of the Covid-19 pandemic is eligible to apply.
Interested parties may apply between now and September 13. Funding decisions will be made later this year by a four-person committee, including Councilwoman Deanna Burkart, Councilman Kenny Hooten, Councilwoman Melanie Nobbe, and County Commissioner Chuck Emsweller. Once awarded funding, recipients will sign a grant agreement and be expected to provide sufficient proof that the funds were used as intended. Decatur County Auditor Janet Chadwell and her staff will administer funding after it is awarded.
All grant applications and follow-up assignments will be handled by the Decatur County Community Foundation.
Burkart is the Council’s primary point of contact concerning the distribution of ARPA funds. For grant application-related questions, please contact Alex Sefton at the Community Foundation at (812) 662-6364.
For more information, visit the Foundation’s website at www.dccfound.org/arpa. The Foundation will also be hosting ARPA Grantwriting Workshops for any nonprofit, volunteer fire department, or small business interested in applying. In these workshops, applicants will walk through the online application process. Workshops will be hosted on August 26, September 2, and September 9 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Foundation office located at 101 East Main Street in Greensburg.
