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Raatz: Senate District 27 awarded more COVID-19 response funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jesse Cordray, Press Secretary
Jesse.Cordray@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498

Emma Balzer, Press Secretary Intern
Emma.Balzer@iga.in.gov

Raatz: Senate District 27 awarded COVID-19 response funding

STATEHOUSE (April 22, 2021) — Senate District 27 was recently awarded funds to help communities continue to address the impact of COVID-19, said State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond).

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced an additional 80 Hoosier communities will receive more than $18.6 million in federal grant funding to support mental health services, child care services, public Wi-Fi locations, food bank/pantry services, and grants and loans for small businesses to retain employees through the third phase of the COVID-19 Response Program. Lt. Gov. Crouch previously announced 112 grants to 62 communities in phases one and two of the COVID-19 Response Program, which totaled more than $20.9 million in funding.

In Senate District 27, the following communities were awarded funds:

  • The town of Brookville was awarded $250,000 to provide grants to small businesses and expand Wi-Fi to the residents of Brookville.

  • The city of Connersville was awarded $250,000 to provide funds to either reopen a business, continue operations, expand payroll, restock inventory or pay for remote work technology. Additionally, funds will be allocated to create three new Wi-Fi hot spots in the city.

  • Fayette County was awarded $250,000 to create a grant program that will aid the county's hardest-hit manufacturing, retail and service sector businesses.

  • Randolph County was awarded $250,000 for daycare funding to provide scholarships to low-income families, provide payroll assistance, purchase PPE and assist daycare centers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Union County was awarded $250,000 to provide grants for working capital for businesses to reopen or continue operations, restock inventory, expand payrolls or pay for remote work technology.

  • Wayne County was awarded $250,000 to award grants to county businesses to reopen a business, continue operations, expand payroll, restock inventory or pay for remote work technology.

"In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an immense strain on many communities throughout the state, making grants like these extremely helpful to getting these businesses back on the right track," Raatz said. "I'm grateful for the opportunities that these grants present to our small communities and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes they will have."

For additional information on the program, click here.

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