GAINESVILLE – Nearly $4-million in federal funding is being made available to non-profit organizations across Hall County.
Hall County Administrator Jock Connell told county commissioners Thursday evening, “I have one item tonight and it is a very significant item that has the ability to significantly help the non-profits in the community.”
“Earlier this year Hall County received just under $40-million in American Rescue Plan (APR) funding to help turn the tide on the COVID-19 pandemic,” Connell began. “If you’ll remember this is federal money that we received directly from the federal government; it was not local tax money.”
Connell said county commissioners determined early-on that a tenth of the money received from the federal government would be set aside for use by non-profit organizations in Hall County.
Hall County Assistant County Administrator Zach Propes said in a media release on Friday, “The Hall County Board of Commissioners had the desire to set aside a portion of these funds for area non-profits to help them provide services that align with the goals of the American Rescue Plan.”
Propes explained that funding could be used for projects associated with improving public health, serving those negatively affected by COVID-19, and serving sectors of the community disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
One well-known non-profit in Hall County that fits those guidelines is Good News at Noon (GN@N) on Davis Street. Executive Director Ken Gossage said Friday he is excited about the availability of the funds but Good News wants to be circumspect in whether nor not to seek the funding.
“Our perspective on any money is if it’s not going to prevent us from doing ministry the way we believe God wants us to, including sharing the Gospel…as long as there are no hindrances to doing that we’re open to resources from any available entity,” Gossage said.
Gossage confided that GN@N already has assembled a grant application in the event monies would become available and it includes details about what the ministry does and what are its standards of operation. “I just feel like if they’ll read this and see what we are doing, we’ve got a great shot,” Gossage stated.
“It is an honor and a privilege to share these funds with organizations within our community who are doing incredible work, serving the citizens of Hall County in monumental ways day in and day out,” Hall County Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Higgins said. “We are looking forward to seeing how these funds will be utilized to better our community as a whole.”
The grant application period begins Nov. 1, 2021 and will end Dec. 31, 2021 with notification of grant awards occurring in mid-March. Click here for more details and access to the applications needed.
