Sheridan County accepts applications for relief fund money

Sheridan County is accepting applications for the Community Charitable Relief Fund, a program designed to allow nonprofit organizations to seek reimbursement for expenses relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Nonprofit organizations, including churches, that qualify as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code can seek reimbursement of expenditures related to providing goods, services or payment to the public,

The program rolled out of Governor Mark Gordon’s office earlier this week, and County Commission Chairman Nick Siddle said Sheridan County expects to receive $600,000 for distribution under the program. The deadline for organizations to apply is 5 p.m. next Tuesday, Dec. 29.

Sheridan County can issue funds under the program to a qualifying organization that’s within the jurisdiction of Sheridan County, if the expenditures were made between March 19 and Dec. 29 of this year and the expenditure was incurred to directly provide goods or services to people impacted by COVID-19 within Sheridan County and the goods or services were provided at no cost to the recipient.

Eligible goods and services include food, clothing, mental health and counseling services, childcare, transportation, job training, tutoring assistance to students struggling with remote learning, legal assistance, temporary housing, COVID-testing, COVID-related cleaning services, social or case management services, in-home early child development services and community health services.

Nonprofit organizations are also eligible for funds under the program if they provided direct payment to an individual or family in Sheridan County to cover costs related to basic needs related to, or arising from, the COVID-19 pandemic. This can include costs for housing; utilities; internet needed for telework, telehealth or distance learning; food; clothing; childcare; or medical expenses, including medical debts.

Also eligible are the organization’s operational costs of providing goods, services or direct payments to the public within the county. This is limited to expenditures for personal protective equipment, testing for personnel, cleaning services for the organization’s service location, modifications to the organization’s service location and equipment to allow staff to work remotely.

The application and complete set of rules for applying for funds can be found online at https://www.sheridancounty.com/governors-office-community-charitable-relief-fund/.