LONGVIEW — Four Cowlitz County nonprofits received pandemic relief grants this week from the ArtsFund and Washington State Department of Commerce.
The Nonprofit Community Relief grant program distributed $10.78 million to 702 nonprofits throughout the state, according to a press release.
The Columbia Theatre Association for the Performing Arts received $10,000, the Castle Rock Community Development Alliance received $10,000, the Lelooska Foundation received $22,500 and the North County Recreation Association received $9,500.
The program, announced in early May, was designed to provide funding to arts, cultural, science and heritage organizations, as well as neighborhood associations, sports and recreation nonprofits, and veterans service organizations affected by the pandemic.
Applicants could request between $2,500 and $25,000. The program awarded grants to every eligible nonprofit that applied, covering 91% of funds requested, according to the press release.
Nonprofits have been especially hard hit by the pandemic and their recovery is crucial to a full and equitable economic recovery throughout Washington state, said Commerce Director Lisa Brown in a statement.
“These funds provide critical financial resources to keep people employed and active in strengthening communities and their local economies,” Brown said. “As we all reimagine our futures together, the positive economic impact of these community-focused grants will help to keep momentum going into the next stages of recovery.”
Grant funds may be used to cover expenses that were incurred between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, due to financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Top uses of funding cited by organizations include staff salaries, programming, rent/mortgage, and reopening education and awareness communications.
