Starke County officials are looking to apply for the maximum award of $250,000 in an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant and they need residents of the county to help the county secure that grant. 

In order to obtain more points in the application in this competitive process, Starke County government leaders are asking residents to complete a simple survey of five questions asking for support for the grant. 

A link to the survey can be found below. 

If awarded, $100,000 of the grant funds will be used for $100 food boxes made available to those impacted with COVID-19 for pick-up, or sponsor more food distribution days with the Northern Indiana Food Bank.

The remaining $150,000 would be available to small businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county, if awarded.

The Starke County Commissioners previously stated that since officials in the City of Knox and the Town of North Judson will be submitting independent applications, the county would assist those small business owners who qualify in Koontz Lake, Bass Lake, San Pierre and the Town of Hamlet.

The $25,000 match may come from the Northern Indiana Community Foundation or funds out of the county’s County Economic Development Income Tax fund.