Grant funds available by federal and state agencies because of the coronavirus pandemic can provide $830,000 for area charities through the Pinebelt Foundation, and the community foundation’s executive director said the grants are important.
Mike Dixon said the Pinebelt Foundation is happy to help with overseeing these local grants.
“The state received something like $1.25 billion in money from the federal government to assist with all various areas in regards to the effects of the pandemic,” Dixon said. “So, they carved off about $8 million to route through the community foundations in the state in order to try and assist nonprofits and food pantries. We received $831,656 and I've had applications open for a few weeks now.”
With the number of people who are lacking food, Dixon said he realizes the importance of the funds.
“It's just hugely important,” he said. “Virtually every nonprofit that we know struggled this year. The demand has been greater on their services, but the income has often times dried up and their fundraising events have been canceled. It's just been the worst of all things, which is higher demand and less supplies.”
The funds were granted as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by the U.S. Legislature in March. The funding will be split to provide $415,828 for nonprofits and $415,828 for food pantries. Applications for this grant program went live Thursday, Sept. 24.
The State of Mississippi established the Community Foundations COVID-19 Grant Program during the 2020 legislative session. The Mississippi Development Authority will administer the program and has issued rules governing its operations. The state’s seven community foundations will divide a total of $8 million in funding between qualifying area nonprofit entities and food pantries.
Dixon said the funds are making an important boost.
“It's making a big difference where we've been able to get it out so far,” he said.” So, it's been a very complicated process, working through the different federal and state organizations and auditors and everything to try and get the rules in place and make sure everyone's doing it correctly.”
However, the change has been significant.
“We're already getting calls from people who are going to be able to serve,” Dixon aid. “I mean, literally thousands of people they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. So, it's been it's been wonderful to be a part of it.”
As one of the community foundations, the Pinebelt Foundation will be responsible for reviewing grant applications for nine counties: Covington, Forrest, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Perry, and Wayne.
Grant applications must be completed online at www.mscaresgrant.com. Applications must be filed no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. More information can be found on the MS Cares Grant website. Questions can also be directed to the Pinebelt Foundation.
Applicants must apply either as a nonprofit entity or a food pantry as defined in the act. Organizations that meet both definitions, such as a nonprofit that operates a food pantry but also has other programs, may qualify as an eligible grantee for both funds. An organization that operates multiple food pantries may qualify each food pantry as a separate eligible grantee, provided that each pantry serves a distinct geographic area and population. Eligible grantees may be reimbursed for eligible expenditures incurred between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 30, 2020.
Eligible expenditures are outlined in the Community Foundations Act across 18 categories and include:
• Costs to create social distancing measures
• Costs to clean or disinfect areas due to COVID-10
• Personal Protective Equipment “PPE”
• COVID-19 testing
• COVID-19 screenings
• Expenses for technical assistance concerning mitigation of COVID-19 related threats
• Contactless equipment
• Equipment or items designed to track positive COVID-19 cases
• Expenses for quarantining individuals
• Necessary re-opening expenses to address COVID-19 issues
• Expenses to facilitate teleworking
• Expenses to facilitate distance learning
• Expense for additional food delivery costs and expenses, including the purchase of food, for vulnerable populations to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions
• Expenses for care for homeless populations
• Grants to prevent evictions or foreclosure to prevent homelessness
• Grants to individuals and households who have been directly affected by loss of income
• Expenses for employment and training programs for individuals who have lost employment
• Expenses incurred because of the interruption of the Nonprofit Entity’s business, including mortgage interest, rent, payroll, or utilities
The Pinebelt Foundation exists to invest and expand charitable resources throughout
the region. We partner with individuals, corporations, and non profit organizations on both short and long-term charitable investment.