City of Allentown Now Accepting Applications for Community Reinvestment Grants

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June 11, 2024 – The City of Allentown is now accepting applications for the newly created Community Reinvestment program. This initiative will award $800,000 in grants to Allentown non-profit organizations that serve City residents.

Funding will be awarded in the following categories:

  1. Eviction Prevention and Emergency Response
    • Seeking proposals to fund legal representation to prevent eviction and service providers to assist those displaced by unsafe structure situations or catastrophic circumstances.
    • Funding Available: $400,000
  2. Community Well-being
    • Providers offering training in mental health awareness and response, violence prevention, de-escalation, CPR, first aid, safety or substance use disorder awareness OR providers in need of similar training for staff.
    • Funding Available: $100,000
  3. Technology Enhancements
    • Providers engaging shelters and food distribution centers to participate in tracking software to enhance data collection on unsheltered individuals and food-insecure individuals. Applicants must have computer training skills and awareness of local systems/providers.
    • Funding Available: $100,000
  4. Essential Not For-Profit Operational Support
    • Funding to offset costs for essential non-profits meeting critical unduplicated service needs.
    • Funding Available: $200,000

Eligible organizations must be Allentown non-profits with 80% of the clients served being City residents or be willing to target these funds specifically to City residents. All non-profits must be in good standing with the City of Allentown and Lehigh County. Additional consideration will be given to those serving minority and under-served populations.

Applications will be accepted through Monday, July 15 via email to CommunityReinvestment@allentownpa.gov. Awards will be announced in mid to late August 2024.

A question and answer session for those interested in applying will be held on July 1 at 10am on Zoom at https://us05web.zoom.us/j/87570114636?pwd=N64CbWkzC0pCl7F9negfva5KJTj4SR.1.

The application is available in English and Spanish at www.allentownpa.gov/crf.

Background:

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan of 2021, for funding to counties, municipalities, and metropolitan cities. This plan provides for federal funding for eligible expenditures through December 31, 2026. The allocation for the fund must be completed by December 31, 2021. Revenue Replacement is an approved ARPA expenditure. Allentown City Council approved a bill that amends the ARPA Fund to provide for $1.2 million as a Revenue Replacement category of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) award. $800,000 of these funds have been appropriated to this newly created Community Reinvestment program within the City’s Community & Economic Development Department. $400,000 has been earmarked towards addressing the results of the City’s Housing Study.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Genesis Ortega
Communications Manager
Office of the Mayor
http://www.AllentownPA.gov