Saratoga County nonprofits can get pandemic help from the government to the tune of $2 million. The grant program approved by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors earlier in the month is intended to replace lost revenue or expand needed services.
“This is a unique opportunity and I’m glad we can do this for our nonprofits,” Saratoga County supervisor Matt Veitch said of the county’s decision to offer grants through the American Rescue Plan Act, funds the federal government awarded to the county.
Nonprofits have felt the pinch.
“At all our pillar programs, certainly our food pantry and our free store, demand has increased dramatically during the pandemic,” said Mary Beth McGarrahan, development director at Franklin Community Center in Saratoga Springs. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of families coming in and in the size of the families.”
Franklin Community Center offers services and support to those in need to promote healthy lifestyles.
“Our food pantry has really taken the brunt of clients coming through our door for assistance,” McGarrahan said.
Nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for grants through the county’s website. Applicants can request between $500 and $50,000, explaining how the money will be used in response to the pandemic’s economic impact, to prepare for future emergencies or to replace losses incurred during the pandemic.
“The county board will look at the level of impact, the number of residents affected, what percentage of the organization’s income was lost, as well as other factors,” Veitch said.
Successful applicants are not guaranteed the full amount of their requests, he said, but added that $2 million is a starting point and may shift if a lot of applications come in.
“We have $2 million budgeted, but if we get $5 million in requests, we know that means we underestimated need and we will re-evaluate,” he said.
McGarrahan filed a request to fund a full-time position in the Franklin Community Center food pantry, a job made necessary by increased demand caused by the pandemic, and to purchase or lease a vehicle to facilitate donation pickup.
“That would give us the opportunity to increase fresh produce, fresh-baked bread and ready-to-eat products,” she said. “We didn’t need [a vehicle] before 2020, but there’s such an outpouring of support as all these restaurants, retail stores and supermarket chains see an alternative to just throwing out their products.”
Funding will be announced beginning in the second quarter of 2022 and applications will be accepted until all funds are dispersed.
“I urge every eligible organization to apply so we can assist those who provide so much support for our residents,” said Tara Gaston, a Saratoga County supervisor.
To learn more about the Non-Profit COVID Relief Grant Fund for Saratoga County-based nonprofit organizations —including eligibility and how to apply — visit www.saratogacountyny.gov/covidfund/.