Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that an additional 49 rural Hoosier communities will receive more than $8.8 million in federal grant funding through the new COVID-19 Response Program.

“With today’s announcement, Indiana has awarded more than $10.7 million to our rural communities,” said Crouch. “From increasing access to necessary testing and medical supplies to providing businesses and their workers with much needed relief, these funds are directly assisting in the fight against COVID-19.”

On April 22, Lt. Governor Crouch announced the first 13 recipients of the COVID-19 Response Program who received more than $1.96 million in funding.

“Public-private collaboration and intergovernmental coordination are critically important in ensuring funding is distributed to our rural communities,” said Jodi Golden, Executive Director of OCRA. “The creativity and local partnerships OCRA has seen in these applications is inspiring and the Hoosier spirit of collaboration continues to thrive even through this crisis.”

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs is continuing to develop a long term response program. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

For more information on the program, visit www.in.gov/ocra/3010.htm.

Provide testing, diagnosis or other services

• Marshall County is awarded $150,000 to install electronic billboards to help communicate information about the county’s response and resources available to residents.

Establish delivery service

• Starke County is awarded $75,000 to establish service through a local non-profit to deliver needed supplies to quarantined individuals or those who are medically vulnerable.

Grants to businesses to retain jobs

• The City of Wabash is awarded $250,000 to provide grants to hospitality, food and beverage, tourism, manufacturing and retail sectors. Grant amounts would range from $2,000 to $15,000 and would be available on a first come, first serve basis for applicants meeting the low-to-moderate (LMI) criteria that are confirmed by a review committee.
• Knox County is awarded $250,000 to assist area businesses with operational and retention costs.

Loans to businesses to retain jobs

• Kosciusko County is awarded $245,000 to offer zero interest, forgivable loans to businesses for the purpose of business retention within the County.
• Miami County is awarded $250,000 to assist small businesses in retaining employees and paying for operational expenses.