The town of Bluffton is using a portion of its American Recovery Plan Act funding to assist local nonprofits. 

A news release said the town has set aside $520,000 in federal ARPA funds to distribute grants to nonprofits that “were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and whose representatives serve low-to-moderate-income residents of Bluffton and/or underserved communities.” 

The town will work with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to distribute grants of up to $20,000 each to these organizations. The nonprofits must have a physical location in the town of Bluffton, the release said. 

“It is the desire and directive of Bluffton’s Town Council to use a portion of Bluffton’s American Recovery Plan funds to assist those organizations who are on the front lines of improving the quality of life of our community’s residents,” town manager Stephen Steese said.

“We are all aware many residents, and the organizations which assist them, took financial hits during the pandemic and we are hoping this approximately half million dollars will help reverse that trend.” 

Nonprofits can apply for the grants on the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry’s website at https://cf-lowcountry.org/nonprofits-and-grantees/arpa-slfrf-covid-19-fund-grant-guidelines. 

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of town and foundation officials, and community leaders, the release said. The application deadline for the first grant cycle is April 11. The town said additional cycles will take place “if funds remain available.”  

“All grant distributions from the fund will comply with federal guidelines and will address the negative financial impact caused by COVID-19,” the foundation said. 

For more information about the grant process, contact Debbie Cahoon, the foundation’s vice president for community investment, at dcahoon@cf-lowcountry.org or 843-681-9100. 

Credit: Original article published here.