24/04/2020
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Rural Action, a 501c3 non-profit, has agreed to be the home for an emergency response fund to be used by local businesses, farmers and community-based organizations in Athens County to address the immediate impacts of this region’s coronavirus outbreak, as well as the impacts of mandated closures of local and state institutions.
As you all know, SARS Coronavirus 2 is sweeping the country, and in process, creating massive social and economic disruption. All Ohio schools are now required to remain closed for three weeks, and mass gatherings of all kinds have been banned. The most vulnerable members of our community are at risk of death from COVID-19, and these steps are necessary in order to slow the spread of the virus and allow health care systems to respond more effectively.
Hosted by Rural Action, the COVID-19 Response Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations in our region working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of this outbreak, as well as attempt to alleviate impacts for specific businesses, farms and others on a case-by-case basis. The fund is intended to complement the work of other local efforts, public health officials and local agencies and governments to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible.
The first phase of grants will work to address the economic impact of reduced and lost work due to the broader COVID-19 outbreak, the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations caused by COVID-19 related closures, and the needs of our local businesses. We anticipate that state and federal resources will become available to assist as well, and hope that the need for this local response will be reduced in the coming weeks.
A committee of individuals from several local organizations and non-profits will make funding decisions. Rural Action will not make those decisions independently, but will be able to accept tax-deductible donations earmarked for this purpose. The committee will proactively identify potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on potential recipients from community advisors, and recommend final awards. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases.
