Clare, Gladwin, Mecosta, and Osceola Counties Receive Funding for Emergency Food and Shelter

Clare County has been awarded $13,323, and an additional $41,178 by the American Rescue Plan Act; Gladwin County has been awarded $10,025, and an additional $30,986 by the American Rescue Plan Act; Mecosta County has been awarded $16,680, and an additional $51,553 by the American Rescue Plan Act; and Osceola County has been awarded $9,212, and an additional $28,473 by the American Recovery Plan Act, from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

A Local Board is charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. The Local Board will determine how the funds awarded to each county are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must their local Board Chair.

Clare County: Cherri Swanstra, Clare County EFSP Board Chair, at cswanstra@mmcaa.org for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is February 28, 2022. The Local Board Meeting will be held on March 1, 2022 at 2:00pm via Zoom.

Gladwin County: Cherri Swanstra, Gladwin County EFSP Board Chair, at cswanstra@mmcaa.org for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is February 28, 2022. The Local Board Meeting will be held on March 1, 2022 at 1:00pm via Zoom.

Mecosta County: Diane Long, Mecosta County EFSP Board Co-Chair, at br@projectstarburst.org. The deadline for applications to be received is February 28, 2022. The Local Board Meeting will be held on March 3, 2022 at 1:00pm via Zoom.

Osceola County: Malinda Coss, Osceola County EFSP Board Co-Chair, at Malinda.Coss@usc.salvationarmy.org. The deadline for applications to be received is February 28, 2022. The Local Board Meeting will be held on March 3, 2022 at 2:00pm via Zoom.

Attendance for new applicants is required.