Polk County seeks applications for remaining $10.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds

Polk County is calling on organizations in need of financial help to apply for a portion of the county’s remaining COVID relief funding. 

The county received $140 million in American Rescue Plan funding from the federal government. After the commission agreed to put more than half of the money, $82 million, toward infrastructure projects, such as roads and utilities, the county has $10.5 million available for nonprofits, health organizations, or businesses. 

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In a news release Monday, the county extended an official open invitation for applications.

“Organizations are requested to submit informational proposals for projects that would help the community recover from and respond to COVID-19,” the release says. “Proposals will be reviewed to ensure they qualify for the ARP funds and meet the requirements of the Department of Treasury.”

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Applicants must be located in and doing business in Polk County, and also must have been established as a business prior to Jan. 1, 2021.

Thus far, the county has received requests totaling more than $43 million — $33 million more than what’s currently set aside to give out for this purpose.

The deadline to contact the county and apply is Oct. 4 by 5 p.m. After that, it will be up to the County Commission to decide during a work session how the $10.5 million should be used. 

The applications, along with detailed guidelines on the proposals, can be found here.