The Inside Press

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Grants

Westchester County Announces Additional Funding for Local Businesses, Nonprofits

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$4 million in Business FIRST grants will support organizations impacted by COVID-19

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY (Dec. 15, 2020) – The Westchester County Office of Economic Development has announced a second round of funding for county-based small businesses and nonprofits facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The county has secured $4 million in additional funding to support 175 eligible organizations seeking relief. In addition, 20 of the county’s Chambers of Commerce applied for and were each awarded a grant to be used for providing business services.

The funds are part of Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow, a grant program designed to offer immediate financial relief to organizations in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. The county last month awarded a total of $10 million to 262 county-based small businesses and nonprofits. Based on the substantial number of applicants, the county expanded the program to enable additional awards to eligible organizations that had applied to the initial program. Businesses did not need to submit a second application

“Due to the tremendous response we received for financial assistance, we knew we needed to expand our Business FIRST grant program,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “We are so pleased we were able to secure additional funding to assist even more small businesses and nonprofits, and our Chambers of Commerce as we work together toward a sustainable future.”

The grant program, launched in September, was open to businesses and nonprofits with 99 or fewer employees. Eligible entities could apply for up to $49,000 to cover expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, employee salaries or benefits, working capital, equipment and other COVID-19-related expenses. The 262-recipient organizations comprise industries such as restaurants/food service; arts, entertainment and recreation; social services and education. A full list of awardees will be made available once each awardee has signed their grant agreement.

The Westchester County Business FIRST grant program is being administered by the County Office of Economic Development through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The county is currently working to secure additional funding for the program.


Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County’s Director of Economic Development, announces that the county has secured $4 million in additional funding to support nearly 200 small businesses, nonprofits and Chambers of Commerce through the Westchester County Business FIRST grant program.

“It is so important to provide a financial boost now, to enable these organizations to work through the difficult times so they can plan for a better tomorrow,” said Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County’s Director of Economic Development. “As ‘The Catalyst’ for economic growth and vitality, the Office of Economic Development is committed to supporting our business and nonprofit sectors and getting our economy back on track.”

For more information on available county programs and assistance, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/business-first-programs/.

 

About Westchester County Business FIRST

Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow is a grant program designed to offer immediate financial relief to small businesses and nonprofits in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second grant opportunity being provided by Westchester County as part of an ongoing effort to support businesses and nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County’s economic well-being and quality of life.  This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth and inclusive economy. For information, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/.

 

The above information was made available to the Inside Press via a news release on behalf of The Westchester County Business FIRST grant program

Field Hall Announces Summer Grants with Focus on Helping Vulnerable Seniors and their Caregivers

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The Field Hall Foundation announces $240,000 in new grants.  $190,000 has been awarded through its Summer 2020 grant cycle, and will be used to pilot, support and/or expand programs focused on the most basic needs of vulnerable seniors and their caregivers. 

Three full grants have been awarded to:

Family Services, Inc.                                                       

$45,000 – To pilot an Elder Abuse Intervention program which will provide prevention and intervention services for victims of elder abuse

Hudson River Housing, Inc.                                                              

$50,000 – To pilot an Elder Care Services Program that will help homeless and low-income seniors obtain and sustain stable housing

The Osborne Association                                                      

$50,000 – To support and expand their Elder Reentry Initiative in Dutchess County, which helps older, incarcerated adults successfully transition back into the community                             

Five smaller grants were awarded to:

Hillside Food Outreach, Inc.

$10,000 – To increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables they purchase and deliver, at no cost, to low-income seniors in Putnam and Westchester counties

Meals on Wheels of Poughkeepsie

$5,000 – To purchase new kitchen equipment that will allow them to meet the increased demand for home delivered meals

North East Community Council, Inc.

$10,000 – To expand their home-delivered food pantry services to older adults in the rural north east section of Dutchess County

Putnam County Office for Senior Resources

$15,000 – To provide free respite services to eligible spouses or relatives caring for older adults at home

WestFair Rides, Inc.

$5,000 – To provide older adults with free livery transportation to/from medical appointments when volunteer drivers are not available.

COVID-19 Emergency Relief grants, totaling $50,000, have also been awarded.  Funding focused primarily on senior food insecurity, personal protection equipment for nursing home staff, and telehealth equipment and services.  Grant recipients include:

Andrus on the Hudson Nursing Home, Bethel Springvale Nursing Home, Cabrini of Westchester Nursing Home, Catholic Charities, Dutchess Responds, EverCare Home Health Agency, Hillside Food Outreach, Maryknoll Sisters, Meals on Wheels of Hyde Park, Neighborhood House, New Jewish Home Sarah Neuman, North East Community Center, Pawling Resource Center, Putnam Community Cares, Putnam COVID-19 Response Fund, Ride Connect, Visiting Nurse Service Westchester, and WestFair Rides.

Going forward, an additional $50,000 has been added to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for programs supporting seniors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since its inception in 2019, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in grants to improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers in Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties.  Letters of Inquiry are accepted on an ongoing basis.  For more information visit the Foundation’s website,  http://www.fieldhallfoundation.org