The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) is now offering supplemental grant funding through a third phase of the COVID-19 Response Program which prompted a discussion by the North Judson Town Council members Monday night.
The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) is a federally funded, competitive program that helps rural communities with eligible populations to improve their quality of life with projects that focus on the overall health and safety of their residents. The goal is to encourage communities with eligible populations to focus on long-term development.
Some of the criteria to qualify for this grant include the fact that communities must have received an award from phase one or phase two to apply for phase three, must meet a national objective and have eligible activity, and cannot have any unresolved findings or overdue documents and two public meetings are required to be held.
Public Services and Economic Development are the two programs available that both offer a total of $250,000 each.
Under Public Services, this money could provide new or expanded mental health services on domestic violence/abuse services, substance abuse treatment and recovery services, suicide prevention, or other general mental health services. It could also provide new or expanded child care, public Wi-Fi locations or food bank and pantry services.
Previous funds received by the Town of North Judson have been used to help up to 34 businesses so the North Judson Town Council members decided they will begin talks in whether or not to apply.
