(BRISTOL, CT: December 9, 2020) – The City of Bristol recently announced investments in local organizations with a second allocation of funding provided to the City through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act.

This federal act provides funds to state, local, and tribal governments through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. A percentage of CARES Act funds were distributed to the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) for the CDBG program.

In the most recent round of CDBG CARES funding, the City of Bristol was awarded $382,741 in Coronavirus (CDBG-CV3) Funds intended to support non-profit organizations to prepare for, prevent, and respond to the Coronavirus as it impacts the low- and moderate-income population
of Bristol.

“This COVID funding is a silver lining to what has been a difficult year,” stated Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu. “To be able to pump over $300,000 into our local non-profits to help them continue to provide services is great.”

The proposed use of these funds was recommended by the Economic & Community Development CDBG Policy Committee and then approved by the City Council at the December 8 meeting. The funds will be awarded to the following local organizations:

$20,000 will partially fund the expansion of the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) program at Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center. This grant will enable the fees to be reduced for this program, allowing for scholarship and financial aid with the goal of reaching as many members of the community to promote self-care through an equine experience to reduce the mental health impact of the Coronavirus.

$75,000 will be awarded to the Imagine Nation Early Learning Center to purchase the additional supplies needed to meet COVID-19 requirements; to fund resources for staff and families that will support them to keep a positive emotional balance under stressful circumstances; to pay for benefits and compensation for staff and job security to employees; to keep tuition to families at an affordable level; to provide services to families to meet basic needs; to pay for repairs and maintenance of essential systems within the building; and to fund the unique, innovative, and quality programming for which the Imagine Nation Early Learning Center is recognized for.

$10,293 to the United Way of West Central to respond to and coordinate the local agencies’ responses related to homelessness.

$30,000 will be used by HRA to directly benefit 60 Bristol households. The funds will leverage the pre-existing services provided by HRA to assist COVID-19 affected households to remain sheltered in place and to obtain food.

$8,500 will be awarded to the New England Carousel Museum to be used to increase cleaning supplies to stock for a 6-12 month period, and to contract a professional cleaning service to deep clean the museum’s public spaces.

 $75,000 will be used by the Bristol Preschool Childcare Center to purchase necessary items needed to be in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines in order to continue to serve preschool children at all of its locations in Bristol.

$34,000 will be awarded to St. Vincent De Paul Mission to open a winter day center for its residents during the winter months in order to minimize the congregation of people outside the facility. This will minimize the number of people attending the community day centers allowing for more space to social distance.

$40,000 will allow the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol Family Center to continue to provide Club youth with before and after school programs and full-day distance learning support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will also be used to support adequate staffing levels, to help purchase personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.

$10,000 will be awarded to For Goodness Sake to hire a COVID Response Coordinator. This newly created position would be responsible for helping to provide furniture and household goods to individuals and families affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, including those that have lost jobs or housing.

$3,400 will be awarded to Zion Lutheran Church to help them to continue to provide meals to those in need in the Bristol community. Zion Lutheran Church currently serves 95% of its meals to people from Bristol with daily food distribution Monday throughThursday – serving on average of 300 persons a week.