CARES Assistance Applications Open

MANATEE COUNTY – Applications opened today for CARES Act funding for nonprofits, for Community Health and Wellbeing, and will open tomorrow for the Recover Manatee Safety First Small Business Grant Program. Applications for the Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) open Monday, March 15.

CARES Act funding in this round for nonprofit agencies is available to cover up to $5,000 for PPE and items for safe re-opening. Funding will also be available to agencies already receiving Manatee CARES Act funding for food distribution. Applications for the nonprofit funding will close at noon on Friday.

The Safety First Small Business Grant Program provides $5,000 grants for sanitation and safety supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), signage, outdoor seating and other items to ensure safe operations. The grant is only available to active, private businesses headquartered in Manatee County, with 500 employees or less, who have not previously received funding through this program. Applications for the Small Business Grant Program will close on Friday, March 19 or once 250 applications are received.

The Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) assists homeowners who are behind on their mortgages due to the financial impacts from the pandemic, will also open later this month. Applications for the Mortgage Assistance Program will close on Monday, March 29 or once 75 applications are received.

Assistance is already available for renters through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA), which provides funds for those who are delinquent on rent and in need of rental payment assistance due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit www.mymanatee.org/renthelp for more information.

To date, Manatee County has approved more than $6 million in CARES Act funding for programs promoting Community Health and Wellbeing and more than $30 million in CARES Act funding for Economic Recovery programs, including business recovery, rental and mortgage assistance for residents, and other local nonprofit programs for individuals. View the Manatee CARES Funding Dashboard for more funding data.

For more information on Manatee CARES programs and to apply, visit www.mymanatee.org/manateecares.