For Immediate Release
March 23, 2021
Media Contacts
Amy Webb, Chief of Communications
amy.webb@dhs.arkansas.gov
Second Round of CARES Act Funds Available for Organizations to Support Initiatives in Low-Income Communities
(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) – Community organizations and nonprofits serving vulnerable Arkansans can now apply for grant funding to support programs for low-income and vulnerable populations in Arkansas.
The funding is available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Steering Committee to help offset the negative impacts of the public health emergency using federal CARES Act funds. Applications from eligible organizations will be accepted through April 2 at 5 p.m. Late applications will not be reviewed or approved. Organizations applying for this grant must be the entity providing the direct services to the community. Proposals applying on behalf of other entities or seeking to fund other organizations will not be approved.
Funds should assist the nonprofits in providing direct services to clients and meeting the immediate needs in the community not addressed by other sources. Nonprofit and community organizations selected must have the ability to provide direct services to individuals within high poverty areas. To be considered a high poverty area, the poverty rate of the city or county must be greater than 15 percent based on the 2010 Census. The application can be found on our website on the page with COVID-related information for providers. CARES Community Outreach Funding Request Form – Wave 2 – Formstack
Organizations may apply to receive up to $10,000 to serve high-poverty areas in Arkansas. All funding must be expended by May 31, 2021.
To be eligible for funding organizations must have:
- A mission and vision that aligns with advancing equity and addressing the needs of high poverty areas
- A demonstrated history of service in high poverty communities
- Leadership and staff that are representative of the population served
- Documented support of racial and socioeconomic populations served
- A history of demonstrating clear strategies for engagement with communities of high poverty
- Been in operation since March 1, 2019.
- An administrative staff that does not exceed 15 paid staff members or an annual operating budget that does not exceed $1,500,000.
Organizations will be required to use at least 85% of the grant funds to provide direct services to clients. The remaining funds may be used as administrative costs to offset the costs of business interruption or general operating caused by COVID-19. Items that will temporarily assist clients but remain the property of the organization after the grant period over are not considered direct services and are only allowed to be charged toward administrative costs.
While applicants are not limited to the services listed below, the following services will be prioritized. They are as follows: (1) Mortgage Assistance (2) Utility Assistance (3) Food Distribution or Grocery Assistance (4) Clothing Assistance (5) Transportation Assistance (6) Assistance directly tied to addressing the impact of COVID-19. Please note that the Department of Human Services’ Division of County Operations has recently received $123 million for Pandemic Emergency Rental Assistance. Thus, no proposals for rental assistance will be approved at this time.
If your organizations needs assistance in completing this application, please submit a request for help at acbccommittee@gmail.com or call 870-229-4554.
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