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Lehigh Co. Nonprofit Relief Funds

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Lehigh County COVID-19 Relief Non-Profit Block Grant Program Application


The American Recovery Plan (ARP) has funding available to eligible nonprofits to be administered by the County in partnership with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and to approved by the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.
 

Click Here For Application Portal

Please use this site to register, request and complete the required forms for the application. Applications must include a completed W-9 form. 

Application deadline: October 15, 2021.

Please submit all technical questions to tanyaengler@hotmail.com. Please submit all eligibility questions to carmenb@unitedwayglv.org. 
 
Program Overview
  1. Once applications are received, Lehigh County Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in partnership with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) will review and process applications.
  2. Grant applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of Lehigh County Administration, Lehigh County Board of Commissioners members and UWGLV who will make recommendations to the Lehigh County Executive.
  3. The County Executive will make final recommendations to Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.  The Board of Commissioners will consider each application for approval or denial.
  4. Lehigh County will fund grants to approved non-profits.
  5. An organization requesting this grant must be recognized as a nonprofit organization under Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  6. Applicants must verify compliance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s directives regarding COVID-19 safety precautions.
  7. No matching funds are required.
  8. All grant expenditures must be directly related to COVID-19.  Expenses can be charged from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2022.  All ARP COVID-19 grant funds MUST be spent by December 31, 2022.
  9. Applicants must serve Lehigh County Residents.
  10. Applicants must declare what other CARES funding has been received, though this will not preclude the organization from receiving funds from this distribution.
  11. COVID-19 funds cannot replace a funding source.
  12. The intent of this grant is to supply funds to as many projects as possible; therefore, awards may be subject to partial funding. 
  13. This overview and guidelines are subject to change as additional guidance regarding American Recovery Plan funding is received by Lehigh County.
  14. This is application is for 2021 only. The application period is open from Tuesday, September 7, 2021 until October 15, 2021. 
  15. Please direct all technical questions to tanyaengler@hotmail.com. Please direct all questions re: grant eligibility questions to carmenb@unitedwayglv.org.
  16. A W-9 must be included or the application will be incomplete and ineligible for funding.

General Guidelines for Nonprofits
  • Financial assistance is available in the form of grant funding to help eligible non-profit organizations respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Funding priorities include, but are not limited to, providing services to Lehigh County residents that: 
    • Provide assistance for food access (grocery shopping resources, pantry resources or other meal delivery services.) 
    • Reduce social isolation for all ages through virtual programming, resources to provide connectivity and equipment, and training to build skills. 
    • Provide assistance to bridge the digital divide in grades PreK-12 through training, connectivity and equipment.
    • Provide resources to assist with added maintenance requirements brought on by COVID19, such as additional PPE, sanitizing and disinfecting requirements in order to operate safely and in accordance with mandated guidelines.
    • Provides assistance to create an environment that can be safely experienced by Lehigh County residents due to requirements brought on by COVID19, i.e., social distancing, masks, etc. 
    • Provide resources to people experiencing homelessness or supporting housing and homeless prevention. 
    • Provide positive youth development, social emotional and mentoring services, support at home learning materials and virtual tutorials, purchase of curriculum for in person or online digital platforms with summer learning. These services can be provided either virtually or in person.
    • Funds can be used to cover operating costs. 
  • Must report on number served and how served, and the impact on the community. Must identify the community need and how the service will mitigate that need. Must provide non aggregated data that clearly identifies the demographics of those served. 

Nonprofit Resources

LIVE UNITED Story
Having a hand in making the Lehigh Valley even more vibrant is a highlight of this position I have been personally involved with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley for years through Women United, and I have seen firsthand the powerful impact of people pooling their resources to help their neighbors. It has been so rewarding to experience a campaign from the other side and to encourage colleagues to support the communities where we all live and work. Having a hand in making the Lehigh Valley even more vibrant is a highlight of this position. – Bevin Theodore
Campaign Coordinator, Talen Energy
WU Member

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