COVID-19 Response Program – Phase 3

NOTE: THE PHASE 3 APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED

NEXT STEPS: If you completed the application and submitted additional documentation EREP will review and determine if your application meets basic requirements. Your application and documents will then be sent to the community for their review and approval of potential grantees. Please expect 2-3 weeks from the 3:00pm May 5th deadline for recipients to be announced.

Phase 3 Overview: On Dec. 7, 2020, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and OCRA announced a third phase of COVID-19 Response Program is now open for applications. For this round, eligible applicants include non-entitlement and entitlement local units of government and can apply for up to $250,000. Phase 3 is a competitive process and communities that received an award in either previous phase may apply again.

  • Gibson County has been awarded $250,000
  • Posey County has been awarded $250,000
  • Warrick County has been awarded $250,000
  • Vanderburgh County has been awarded $250,000
  • City of Boonville has been awarded $250,000
  • City of Mount Vernon has been awarded $250,000
  • City of Oakland City has been awarded $180,000
  • City of Princeton has been awarded $250,000
  • Town of Chandler has been awarded $250,000
  • Town of Elberfeld has been awarded $250,000
  • Town of Fort Branch has been awarded $150,000
  • Town of Haubstadt has been awarded $250,000
  • Town of Lynnville has been awarded $125,000
  • Town of Newburgh has been awarded $250,000
  • Town of New Harmony has been awarded $250,000

If you have questions regarding Phase 3 grants please contact a member of the EREP’s Community Development Team at [email protected].

COVID-19 Response Program – Phase 2

Program Details

Note: Phase 2 is now closed.

Overview: Eight communities in Southwest Indiana were awarded Phase 2 COVID-19 Response Program grants from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Communities provided businesses grants up to $10,000. Recipients were announced on August 27th, 2020. Communities awarded Phase 2 grants are as follows:

  • City of Boonville has been awarded $250,000
  • City of Mount Vernon has been awarded $250,000
  • Town of Fort Branch has been awarded $250,000
  • Town of New Harmony has been awarded $270,000*
  • Town of Haubstadt has been awarded $150,000
  • Posey County has been awarded $250,000
  • Gibson County has been awarded $250,000
  • Vanderburgh County (excluding Evansville) awarded $250,000

*NOTE: New Harmony received $250,000 in grant funding as well as a generous $20,000 gift from the Kent and Laurie Parker Family Foundation for a total of $270,000. All funds were used to support small businesses in that community.

This grant provided $1.9 Million Dollars in funds to communities to assist businesses in retaining hundreds of low to moderate income (LMI) workers who have been affected by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Response Program – Phase 1

NOTE: Phase 1 is now closed.

Five communities in Southwest Indiana were awarded grant funding through Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Response Program from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Communities awarded and amount of grant funds received are as follows:

  • The City of Oakland City was awarded $100,000
  • The City of Princeton was awarded $250,000
  • The Town of Poseyville was awarded $150,000
  • The Town of Newburgh was awarded $200,000
  • Warrick County was awarded $250,000

A total of $950,000 in Phase 1 grants assisted 104 businesses retain 544 employees in Southwest Indiana, providing tremendous financial support and assistance to regional small businesses during the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overview: Phase 1 offered grants to businesses in high risk categories including: food and beverage, personal care, professional services, and retail sectors. Communities were encouraged to apply if they believed their employers meet the criteria of employing 51% or more low-to-moderate income (LMI) persons in aggregate. Grant funds were used for a combination of working capital, continued operation expenses, and/or to support remote work expenses that are immediate needs.