The United Way of Lee County, in cooperation with the Lee Board of County Commissioners, today has launched a new online portal that will allow nonprofit organizations to apply for funds through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners on March 1 entered into an agreement with the United Way of Lee County to manage the distribution of up to $16.2 million of funding to nonprofit human service agencies for direct service delivery to the community. Applications are open only to 501(c)(3) organizations.

The County Commissioners also approved a $3 million grant for United Way of Lee County. These funds will be used to increase and enhance direct-service programs that are operated within United Way, such as United Way 211, WeCare, United Way Houses, Gifts-In-Kind and VITA. Additionally, the funds will be used to increase partnerships, collaborations, information technology, communication, data management and data security.

“We want to thank the county commissioners for their forward-thinking decision to allow our United Way to distribute these dollars,” said Jeannine Joy, president and CEO of United Way of Lee County. “Our United Way, with the help of our generous community, has raised and distributed more than $200 million dollars in our 64-year history. These ARPA grants will allow our local nonprofits the extra funds needed to address the unmet needs caused by the pandemic. This collective impact will produce transformational changes for our residents.”

The United Way’s Notice of Funding Availability process will accept applications for ARPA funding until 5 p.m., April 29. Applicants must be an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit and provide services in Lee County. Lee Commissioners are expected to vote on recommended allocations in June.

Officially called the Lee County Government/United Way Nonprofit Human Services Grant Project, the grants will be provided to qualifying organizations to deliver direct services that help with currently unmet needs caused or made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To start the application process, United Way asks prospective applicants to go to www.unitedwaylee.org/ARPA to register.

Registered agencies and organizations can direct ARPA grant-project questions to Fred Richards at ARPA@UnitedWayLee.org.

The collaboration with United Way is one portion of the Lee Board of County Commissioners’ ARPA commitment. Learn more at www.leegov.com/ARPA.

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