The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce two new grant programs funded through the CARES Act: the Safe Learning Settings grant program and the Non-Profit Organization grant program.
Both programs were approved at the September 3rd regular Freeholder meeting. Each program has been allocated $4 million in CARES Act funding.
“During these times there is an immediate need in our community for financial assistance,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I am pleased that we are able to provide these funds through the CARES Act to provide relief for non-profits, and families in need of child care.”
As part of Union County’s response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency, the Union County CARES Act Safe Learning Settings Grant will support child care costs for working Union County families. This program will offset child care costs to help parents continue to work.
To be eligible for the Safe Learning Setting grant applicants should meet the following requirements:
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- household must be comprised of at least one adult and one school age child – 5-13 years old at the time of application;
- school age child(ren) must be enrolled in a public school district within Union County;
- Adults in the household must be working or attending school and child(ren) must be enrolled in the USDA Free or Reduced Meal Program;
- Families must be ineligible for state/local subsidy program or other duplication of services.
There are approximately 593 slots available and applications will be rewarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The County is working with licensed childcare centers throughout the area.
Families interested in applying for the Safe Learning Settings Grant should visit https://ucnj.org/safe-learning-settings-grant-family-application. The program will also have the added effect of preserving and extending operations of high quality child care programs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for the children and families in Union County.
“The integral role that our non-profit providers, schools, child care facilities, and educational programming play in assisting the Union County community year round is evident and now more than ever we need to work alongside these institutions in the best interest of our residents as we battle Covid-19 together,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados, who is the Chairman of the Fiscal Committee and the liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council.
Freeholder Granados added, “The Safe Learning Grant will assist families tremendously with students whose school districts have adapted to the new norm with virtual/hybrid learning and the Non-Profit Grant will help our non-profits continue to provide social and support services that are beneficial to many of our fellow community members.”
The Union County CARES Act Non-Profit Grant will be used to support the on-going work of approximately 200 local non-profit organizations that provide critical services that support the County’s prevention, preparation, and ongoing response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. It will provide them with the financial support they need to continue to reopen, or remain open safely, to provide county residents with much needed supports and services during the pandemic.
To qualify for the Non-Profit grant each applicant must:
- have an office physically located and operated in the County of Union;
- have evidence that the organization serves County of Union residents;
- have evidence of local needs specific to COVID-19 impacts;
- be operating and registered with the State of New Jersey as a 501(C)(3); and
- disclose if the Non-Profit has received any other CARES funds, how much was allocated, and what the funds were expended on.
To access the Non-Profit Grant application and grant Information Sheet visit https://ucnj.org/non-profit-grant-application.
For additional information and questions about the CARES Act Non-Profit Grant, contact the Union County Department of Human Services Action Line at (888) 845-3434 / (908) 558-2288 or email uccaresnonprofit@ucnj.org.
For additional information and questions about the CARES Act Safe Learning Settings Grant, contact the Union County Department of Finance at UCCARESSLSG@ucnj.org or by calling (908) 558- 2367.
For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and a list of locations for walk-up tests, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.
For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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