TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners recently announced that $25 million dollars in grant funds will be available to aid non-profit organizations that have been assisting residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Gary Quinn said he was pleased with the grant program that would benefit many non-profit groups “that have gone above and beyond to assist during the coronavirus pandemic. They have helped tremendously.”
“Many have also suffered financially during the pandemic as fund raising efforts had to be curtailed. This grant program will help cover the costs of expenses incurred as a result of addressing increased community needs because of COVID 19,” Quinn added.
The Commissioners is directing $25 million in CARES funding to the Ocean County COVID 19 Response Non-Profit Program. This grant program has been developed to support the response efforts of non-profit organizations working locally in Ocean County to meet the additional needs of the community created by the coronavirus pandemic.
Quinn said starting 9 a.m. May 13, the grant application for the Ocean County COVID 19 Response Non-Profit Program will be available. The application period is expected to be open until June 3.
Successful grant recipients will be based on meeting all eligibility criteria as outlined on the program webpage. There are requirements for eligibility and they can be found at co.ocean.nj.us starting May 10.
Quinn said, “the application will be available three days later on May 13.” This initial round of funding would be used to cover expenses incurred by non-profits during the period of March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021. If there is a second round available those grant funds would cover costs incurred as of March 1, 2021 or later.
“When the coronavirus pandemic began to spread across Ocean County, the lives of so many of our residents were affected. So many of our citizens lost jobs as businesses were forced to close, others felt the health impacts from getting the virus, our homes were turned into classrooms as schools closed, child care was not as readily available, food insecurity and housing instability increased dramatically,” Quinn said.
In order to meet the growing needs of county residents, many non-profit organizations increased their assistance and outreach in the communities, helping with food distribution, providing personal protection equipment, administering coronavirus tests, assisting with COVID-19 vaccination distribution and community outreach.
Quinn said, “non-profit agencies have extended a lifeline to many of our residents, especially our most frail and vulnerable senior and disabled residents during the coronavirus pandemic.”
The grant program’s purpose is to provide financial support to non-profit organizations that incurred new costs that would not have otherwise occurred if not for the pandemic.
“We deeply appreciate all of the effort that has been made by these dedicated non-profit organizations, many with the assistance of volunteers, who have worked tirelessly to help the residents of Ocean County during this very challenging time,” Quinn added.
Other grant programs including the Ocean County Residential Emergency Rental Assistance Program, grants for businesses to assist with rent and lease payments have been supported by County Board of Commissioners.
Quinn said the federal “CARES Act funds have “allowed us to reach out and help those in our communities that have been adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “These grant programs have been tailored to help residents, business owners and non-profits during unprecedented times.”
