The Hendricks County Community Foundation (HCCF) is opening grant applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on June 1 as a part of its plan to distribute up to $6.6 million in ARPA funds to nonprofits serving Hendricks county. In April 2022, HCCF finalized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commissioners to provide expertise and create a grant program for up to 20% of the County’s total ARPA funds. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill to speed up the country’s recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. The funding Hendricks County received is part of the $350 billion to help state, local, and tribal governments bridge budget shortfalls and mitigate the fiscal shock of the pandemic.
Noncompetitive grants of $5,030,355 were made in 2022 to community organizations that, along with their clients, were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Competitive grants will be offered through an annual application for three years, with the first grant cycle awarding grants of $548,395 to 25 local nonprofits in late 2022. Applications for the second grant cycle will open on the Community Foundation’s website at www.hendrickscountycf.org on June 1.
“We are excited to be collaborating with our county officials for this second round of ARPA Grants,” said William Rhodehamel, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “These funds will be a gamechanger for organizations and the clients they serve, and we applaud the Board of Commissioners, County Council and AAPR Planning Committee for their foresight in recommending this funding for essential nonprofits in our community.” The Community Foundation’s regular grant programs include both competitive and noncompetitive grants, with over $1.5 million in total grants awarded in 2022. HCCF distributed over $600,000 in COVID-response dollars through a similar process during 2020 and 2021. “Nonprofit organizations in Hendricks County serve a critical role in our community and worked during the pandemic to assist many of our neighbors. These services from the social sector could not have been provided by business or government,” Rhodehamel said.
