ArtsFund, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, will begin distributing $10.78 million in recovery grants to 702 nonprofits in 34 counties throughout the state this week, including eight in Grays Harbor County.
The Nonprofit Community Relief grant program announced May 3 was designed to provide critical funding to nonprofit arts, cultural, science, and heritage organizations; neighborhood associations; sports and recreation nonprofit groups; and veterans service organizations impacted by the pandemic.
Grays Harbor County grant recipients include:
7th Street Theatre, $10,000
7th Street Kids, $7,500
Downtown Aberdeen Association, $2,500
Coastal Interpretive Center, $22,500
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, $22,500
North Beach Artists Guild, $17,500
Polson Park and Museum Historical Society, $12,500
Westport South Beach Historical Society, $20,000
“At their core, nonprofits are driven by people serving people, and their dedication throughout the pandemic has sustained countless communities by providing their constituents with needed relief and recovery services,” said Michael Greer, ArtsFund President and CEO.
“ArtsFund is proud to partner with Commerce in recognizing the important role nonprofits, and in particular arts and culture, play in sustaining thriving and vibrant communities.”
Nearly 90% of all recipients expect their post-pandemic earned revenue to be reduced by more than 30%.
Grant funds may be used to cover expenses that were incurred between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 due to financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant recipients cite the top uses for funding, in order of priority, include staff salaries, programming, rent/mortgage, and reopening education and awareness communications.
Applicants were invited to request between $2,500 and $25,000. Grants are being awarded to every eligible organization that applied, covering over 91% of the total funds requested.
“These funds provide critical financial resources to keep people employed and active in strengthening communities and their local economies,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown.
“As we all reimagine our futures together, the positive economic impact of these community-focused grants will help to keep momentum going into the next stages of recovery.”
