Maricopa County to award nearly $14M in federal COVID-19 aid to 82 nonprofits

PHOENIX — Maricopa County announced Tuesday nearly $14 million of federal COVID-19 relief aid will be awarded in grants to 82 human services-centered nonprofit organizations.

The funding, which comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and approved by the Board of Supervisors, will go to a variety of organizations that help kids, at-risk adults, individuals with specials needs and seniors with critical support including food, shelter, clothing as well as health and mental health needs, the county said in a press release.

A full list of the organizations receiving a grant is available online.

“During the course of this pandemic, we’ve seen individuals and families who’ve never sought public assistance before in need of it now,” Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates of District 3 said in the release.

“What these grants do is allow us to help the helpers, to get additional resources to the organizations who can provide that meal, or that safe space, or that connection that will allow someone to improve their situation.”

The county received $435 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, with nearly $415 million of that having been allocated and just about $116 million spent, according to a dashboard that tracks rescue fund spending.

A similar process occurred in 2020 with CARES Act funding when 69 local nonprofits received grants from over $400 million in relief funds given to the county, according to the release.

The organizations can use no more than 10% of the grant for administrative costs, the county said.

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