Rowan County has been awarded federal funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.
The county will receive $54,997 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
Rowan was selected by a national board chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and comprised of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and United Way of America.
The local board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
A local board will determine how the funds awarded to Rowan County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The board is also responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds.
Under the terms of the funding, local agencies chosen must: be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government; be eligible to receive federal funds; have an accounting system; practice nondiscrimination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.
Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.
Rowan County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously to the Salvation Army, Rowan Helping Ministries and Family Crisis Council. These agencies were responsible for providing 6,119 meals and 2,152 sheltered nights and assisted 178 people with rent/mortgage and 338 with utilities.
Applications for public or private voluntary agencies interested in providing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds, along with current guidelines, can be picked up weekdays at the Rowan County United Way office at 1930 W. Jake Alexander Blvd. Completed applications are due back at the office by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
Qualifying organizations may apply. For more information, call the United Way office at 704-633-1802.