$6.5M In COVID-19 Grants, Loans Available From City Of Clearwater

CLEARWATER, FL —The city of Clearwater is accepting applications for nearly $6.5 million in grants and loans through funding the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act to provide relief to businesses and communities impacted by the pandemic.

The city will be accepting grant applications via the myclearwater.com/ARPA webpage now through Feb. 15 in the following three categories:

• Education Grants and Partnerships - To support activities that address and mitigate learning loss through evidence-based programs. It is open to qualified nonprofit organizations and stakeholders with experience in providing educational programs serving residents or students who attend schools in Clearwater city limits. The total available is $750,000.
• Cultural Affairs Nonprofit Grants - To support programs and projects including conducting, creating, producing, presenting, staging or sponsoring cultural exhibits, performances, educational programs or events; or for specific projects, such as one-time events or art installations in the city. The total available is $1 million.
• North Greenwood Community Grants - To support the North Greenwood area programs serving youth and adults who live or work in the general boundary of Sunset Point Road to the north; Kings Highway to the east; Palmetto Street, the CSX Railway and Jones Street to the south; and North Osceola Avenue, North Fort Harrison Avenue and Clearwater Harbor to the west. The total available is $1.4 million.

"The American Rescue Plan Act funds are a lifeline to individuals and organizations that continue to struggle from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As these funds are now made available through the city's grant process, we hope that organizations will seek funding to mitigate the difficult impacts many of our residents and organizations have experienced," said City Manager Jon Jennings.

Grant program funds will be disbursed through competitive solicitations, which will be ranked and scored through a committee process.

In addition, the city will be accepting grant and loan applications on a continuing, non-competitive basis for homeowners, homebuyers and residential developers of single-family and multi-family affordable and workforce housing.

The city allocated $3.3 million to provide enhancements to existing grant and loan programs resulting in expanded income eligibility limits, increased funding caps and expanded uses, including emergency repairs and rooftop solar installations, if feasible.

The city will be offering training to the public. An in-person session with city staff will be held on Jan. 11 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the North Greenwood Library. The session will include training on accessing and filling out applications as well as scanning and uploading required documents.

Staff at this location are will be available during regular library hours of operation to provide one-on-one assistance.

For more information and to apply for the grants and loans, visit myclearwater.com/ARPA.