Grant Funding for Local Nonprofits

Application period ends Oct. 28

Several local nonprofit organizations described the services they provide and their need for funding back in January when the County of Door held a public hearing to get feedback about how to spend $5,374,185 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.

The ARPA money can be spent on a range of government operations that fall under broad categories that address public-health emergencies and negative economic impacts, serving those hardest hit or improving access to infrastructure.

Still, county officials viewed donations to outside organizations as a premature path to follow, absent an equitable method for distributing the funding and a mechanism for monitoring its use.

During the intervening months, the county has come up with that way. The Door County Board of Supervisors authorized a program last month that reserves $200,000 in ARPA money for grants to local nonprofit organizations that provide services to “expand and enhance behavioral health and a broad range of related programs and services in Door County.”

Any nonprofit may be eligible to apply if it serves Door County residents or businesses and is in good standing with the state of Wisconsin. Nonprofits that provide benefits outside Door County may also apply, but only activities within the county are eligible for reimbursement under the grant program.

The broad range of eligible services include alcohol- and drug-abuse programs, behavioral health programs, and programs that assist with food, housing, child care, job training and other eligible impacts and needs. Grant funds awarded through the program must be expended no later than Dec. 31, 2024.

Grant applications must be received by Oct. 28, 2022. The application is available at co.door.wi.gov/163/Health-and-Human-Services. Applications may also be submitted by email to [email protected] or mailed to the Door County Health and Human Services Department, ARPA-FRF Application (Nonprofits), Attn: Shannon Lauder, Government Center, 421 Nebraska St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235.