(Omaha, NE) -- More than 50 Omaha non-profit agencies will receive American Rescue Plan Act funds through a grant program created by the City of Omaha.
The City partnered with United Way of the Midlands and the Omaha Community Foundation to administer $15 million to qualifying organizations. The program requires a direct response to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 and support programs to provide job assistance and reduce and respond to increased violence due to the pandemic. A total of 244 applications were received for funding.
“We have the opportunity to provide direct aid to organizations that support individuals and families,” said Mayor Jean Stothert. “Together, United Way of the Midlands and the Omaha Community Foundation selected agencies that will expand or enhance existing programs that address impacts of COVID-19. We will make an immediate and direct impact on the citizens of Omaha.”
City leaders say the grant program represents the largest single investment of funding the City of Omaha has ever made in the non-profit community.
United Way of the Midlands received $5 million to award to organizations that address basic needs including access to food and shelter, services for persons experiencing homelessness, access to health care, behavioral and mental health services, health promotion and education, financial literacy and family support. The Omaha Community Foundation received $10 million dollars to distribute for eligible programs including youth programs, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, OCF has worked to respond to both urgent and long-term needs focused on sustainability and strengthening our community,” said Donna Kush, president and CEO of the Omaha Community Foundation. “With this grant program, we used one of our successful grantmaking models and engaged a resident-led committee to ensure investments in the community are impactful. We are grateful to the City of Omaha and United Way for the opportunity to collaborate on these significant investments in our community.”
“As the pandemic tested our community, exposed barriers to opportunity, and widened gaps for many families, it also highlighted the resiliency of nonprofit organizations and the populations they serve. Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Stothert and the City of Omaha, our community had the loudest, most important voice in determining how to direct ARPA dollars where they are needed most. This unique and impactful funding will strengthen our collective ability to respond and recover from the challenges presented by COVID,” said Shawna Forsberg, president and CEO, United Way of the Midlands. ”United Way of the Midlands and our volunteer network have been honored to facilitate this process on behalf of the City, and serve in this position of trust alongside the Omaha Community Foundation.
GRANT AWARDS
- 100 Black Men of Omaha Mentoring - $50,000
- AIM Institute Accelerated Technical Training - $154,354
- Bluebird Cultural Initiative Behavioral & mental health support services - $220,640
- Boys & Girls Club Great Futures Program - $213,041
- Carole’s House of Hope Transitional housing, mental health services for homeless young mothers - $150,000
- Catholic Charities-Archdiocese of Omaha Domestic violence services - $176,373
- Charles Drew Health Center Community-based crisis intervention - $600,000
- Child Saving Institute Pediatric & adolescent mental health services - $299,436
- Center for Holistic Development Family Engagement and Resource Connection - $268,000
- City Sprouts Urban Farming Summer Internship - $200,000
- Completely Kids
- Weekend Food Program - $100,000
- Youth & Family Mental Health Services - $60,000
- Out of School Time for vulnerable youth - $400,000
- Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixam Maya Health Initiative - $432,600
- Empowerment Network Omaha 360 & Step-Up - $358,475
- ENCAP Rent, utilities, medical expenses - $100,000
- Family Housing Advisory Services No charge tax preparation services - $160,000
- Food Bank for the Heartland Food access - $158,494
- Girls Inc., of Omaha The Girls Inc. Experience - $300,000
- Greater Omaha Attendance and Community navigation program - $70,000
- Learning Services Heart Ministry Center Fresh Start program - $200,000
- Heartland Family Service
- Counseling-behavioral health - $137,500
- Nebraska Family Works - $500,000
- Heartland Hope Mission Hunger & homelessness prevention - $160,000
- Heartland Workforce Solutions American Job Center South - $600,000
- Hope Center The Hope Employment & Learning Academy - $100,000
- Immigrant Legal Center Legal Services for survivors of crime, violence, human trafficking - $330,000
- InCommon Community Youth Program Development - $183,626
- Intercultural Senior Center Food pantry for older adults - $160,000
- Kids Can Mentoring - $200,000
- Kim Foundation Suicide prevention campaign - $120,000
- Latino Center of the Midlands Youth internships - $148,832
- Legal Aid of Nebraska Legal Services FamiIies in Crisis - $244,404
- Lutheran Family Services
- Behavioral health programs - $303,680
- Centers for Healthy Families - $40,000
- Mentor Nebraska Mentoring - $94,200
- Nebraska Medical Center Encompass Omaha-violence intervention program - $400,000
- Nebraska Methodist Hospital Counseling Foundation - $187,000
- New Visions Homeless veterans services - $120,000
- No More Empty Pots Community Harvest - $250,000
- North Omaha Area Health Mental health outreach program - $320,000
- NorthStar Foundation Student support services - $110,000
- Ollie Webb Center, inc Supportive employment program - $89,418
- Omaha Home for Boys
- Mental & behavioral health services - $90,000
- Jacob’s Place Transitional Living Program - $100,000
- Branching Out Independent Living Program - $260,000
- PACE Violence prevention & mentoring - $360,000
- Partnership for Kids College and Career Readiness Program - $500,000
- One World Community Health Ctr
- Access to behavioral health care - $120,000
- Social Assistance Team - $240,000
- Medical care for uninsured adults - $150,000
- Medical care for uninsured children - $100,000
- Santa Monica Inc Residential Treatment for women with addictions - $100,000
- Siena Francis House
- Case management services - $242,000
- Emergency shelter program - $372,000
- Miracles Recovery Program - $95,169
- Stephen Center Emergency shelter program - $100,000
- The Bike Union Mentoring Project Apprentice program - $100,000
- The Salvation Army Utility Assistance - $80,000
- The Simple Foundation Safe Place to Play and Learn - $426,959
- Togetherlnc.
- Rapid Rehousing Program - $150,000
- Food programs and access - $100,000
- Urban League of Nebraska Community Coach Enhancement Program - $300,000
- Visiting Nurse Association Maternal Child Community Home Visitation - $113,272
- Whispering Roots, Inc. Emergency food production and delivery - $200,000
- Women’s Center for Advancement
- Emergency housing support for domestic abuse victims/survivors - $78,000
- Provide financial support for domestic abuse victims/survivors - $57,000
- Safety & mental health services - $250,000
- YouTurn Make a 180 Against Violence - $245,473