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Franklin County Awards IMPACT! Grants To Local Nonprofits, Municipalities, Authorities

Commissioners, County Grant Opportunities

December 13, 2022

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin County Commissioners awarded IMPACT! Grants to 127 nonprofit, municipal and municipal authority projects across Franklin County. The commissioners approved the funding, made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), during the board’s Dec. 7 public meeting.

 

“These awards will truly have a positive impact across the county in a number of ways and through a wide range of projects and initiatives,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller. 

 

IMPACT! Grant Program funding was available to nonprofit organizations, municipalities and municipal authorities located within Franklin County to support local recovery efforts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed projects were required to meet one or more of the following goals:

  • Provide general governmental services that were impeded, delayed or otherwise affected by the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Revitalize Franklin County communities negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; or
  • Support key infrastructure projects such as water, sewer, stormwater and broadband.

To help guide applicants, the county highlighted several key project areas that fit the grant criteria, including: creating affordable housing; providing resources for disadvantaged communities; enhancement of public infrastructure; improving outdoor space; improving green infrastructure projects; funding vocational and educational programs; funding mental and physical health programs; and expanding/improving broadband. 

Municipalities and municipal authorities are required to contribute a 50% match for their proposed projects; there is no match requirement for nonprofit organizations. 

Through the grant process, the county received 139 applications requesting more than $38.4 million. An evaluation team of county staff members reviewed each application to assess project eligibility and to prioritize those proposals recommended for funding.

A full list of grant recipients and award amounts is available on the county’s website, https://bit.ly/3Buzqrs.

Nonprofit awards

The county awarded $7,258,561 in IMPACT! Grant funds to 108 nonprofit projects across Franklin County. Projects fell into a variety of categories, including facility improvements, social services, educational programs, vocational training, sports and playground upgrades, housing needs, environmental improvements, cultural programs, historical preservation and first responder needs.

 

Municipal and municipal authority awards

Nineteen municipal and municipal authority projects received $2,999,600. Proposals addressed key infrastructure projects, including water, sewer, stormwater and broadband service. Other projects focused on improvements to outdoor spaces, resources for disadvantaged communities, physical and mental health programs, creating affordable housing, and redevelopment or revitalization of specific properties.

 

The county is in the process of contacting successful applicants in both categories to execute individual contracts and move forward with the next phase of the grant program.

 

In addition to the IMPACT! Grant Program, Franklin County had previously distributed over $8 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding throughout the community, including to businesses and nonprofits. The county had also previously partnered with South Central Community Action Programs to distribute more than $19.6 million through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and with the Franklin County Area Development Corporation to distribute $5 million in COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) funds.