(BLOOMINGTON) – In light of the COVID-19 emergency, City of Bloomington Common Council’s Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Committee Chair Susan Sandberg has extended the 2020 grant application deadline until Monday, April 13 at 4 p.m.
A new schedule of committee meetings and agency presentation dates has not yet been determined but will be announced as soon as possible and posted to the committee’s website, where funding criteria and applications are also available.
This year, the committee will distribute $311,000 to social services agencies for projects that have made a difference in the lives of City residents in need. While the committee continues to prioritize requests to meet ongoing basic needs (food, shelter or healthcare) and other support services to vulnerable City residents, it recognizes the pressing need that agencies serving those populations may have for operational and bridge funding. Requests from agencies seeking relief or reimbursement for expenses they have incurred as a result of COVID-19 will be treated as requests for bridge funding or for general operational funding and will be considered by the committee.
“The Committee thoroughly considers each application for the probability of success and maximum impact so that tax dollars are spent efficiently and effectively,” said Sandberg.
Started by, and named after, former Councilmember Jack Hopkins, this funding program began in 1993. Since its inception, the Bloomington Common Council and Mayor have provided over $4.45 million to social service agencies serving Bloomington residents. The committee is composed of four members of the Bloomington Common Council and two City residents with experience in social services. Council members serving include Sandberg (Chair), Matt Flaherty, Sue Sgambelluri, and Ron Smith. The citizen appointments are Tim Mayer and Mark Fraley.
