Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on May 5.

United Way of Grant County is pleased to announce that it has been approved to receive a $400,000.00 COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative Grant, made possible through a partnership between Lilly Endowment, Inc. and Indiana United Ways, the state professional association of which United Way of Grant County is a member. These special funds will be used to boost the efforts of selected area human and social service nonprofits on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“United Way of Grant County has been a key convener and coordinator of our community’s response to meet human needs for decades in partnership with Grant County Emergency Management and Grant County COAD. Even before this crisis, we knew that 19% of families in Grant County were living in poverty and an additional 23% were not able to make ends meet - despite working. Without a robust local nonprofit safety net, those needs are bound to become even more dire. Thanks to generous support from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., we are now more strongly positioned to help our community’s nonprofits deal with the immediate impacts of Covid-19,” said Brett Carey: Board Chair for United Way of Grant County

The COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative Grant calls for United Ways that receive funding to leverage partnerships and relationships to better meet Covid-related essential and basic needs, which could include safe, emergency childcare, and to address other Covid-19 critical issues as they emerge. Specifically, United Way of Grant County plans to work with a committee of community leaders to address the mid and long-term impacts that COVID-19 has had on Grant County. United Way of Grant County will initiate a Request for Funding Proposal and begin accepting funding requests from area human and social service nonprofits in good standing beginning May 18, 2020. Interested organizations should consult United Way of Grant County’s website for guidance on funding intent and application instructions.

United Way of Grant County is focused on building stronger families in Grant County Indiana by supporting programming in Health, Education and Financials Stability to achieve measurable results by uniting community resources. For more information, contact Alicia Hazelwood, Executive Director at director@uwofgrantco,com

Lilly Endowment Inc., is a private philanthropic foundation supporting the causes of religion, education and community development focusing its work in Indianapolis and the State of Indiana. For more information, contact Judith Cebula, Communications Director at communications@lei.org.

Indiana United Ways is the state association for United Ways in Indiana that supports thriving United Ways through capacity building, shared services, and partnering. For more information, contact Maureen Noe, President & CEO at Maureen.noe@iuw.org.

Original source can be found here.