The Baker-Polito Administration launched a
targeted initiative to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in communities across
the Commonwealth with the highest number of positive cases. The initiative
initially focused its support efforts in Chelsea, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, and
Revere. Additional communities, including Framingham, Brockton, Holyoke, New
Bedford, Salem, Saugus, Winthrop, and Worcester have also received support
through the COVID-19 Enforcement and Intervention Team (CEIT).
The goal of COVID-19 Community Grants is to reduce COVID-19
infections, morbidity, and mortality among Black, Latinx, and other people of
color in the hardest-hit cities in the Commonwealth. COVID-19 Community Grants
are intended to engage community- and faith-based organizations in the
development and delivery of effective messages and to further support hard-hit
communities with education, training, and funding to effectively meet their
communities’ specific needs.
What will the COVID-19 Community Grants support?
Funding will support community-based
organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to:
- Educate impacted populations,
in coordination with CEIT, to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19,
including messages about physical distancing, mask wearing, and other
risk-reduction behaviors and activities.
- In coordination with CEIT,
develop and provide training and messaging on COVID-19 prevention and risk
reduction activities for staff, volunteers, and members who provide
support and in home services (e.g., meals assistance, wellness checks,
etc.) to people at higher risk of severe illness.
Funding Information
Grants in the range of
$10,000 to $50,000 will be awarded, and grant funds must be spent by February
28, 2021. A total of $650,000 is available for the grant period of November
2020 through February 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Massachusetts-based CBOs and FBOs serving
communities of color, with particular emphasis on people with co-occurring
mental health and substance use disorder, a history of incarceration, who are
pregnant or post-partum, are experiencing homelessness and housing instability,
live in multigenerational housing, have a disability(-ies), and/or have limited
English proficiency (LEP) residing in the impacted cities and towns listed
below:
- Boston, specifically
Dorchester, East Boston, Chinatown, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill and
Roxbury
- Brockton
- Chelsea
- Everett
- Framingham
- Holyoke
- Lawrence
- Lowell
- Lynn
- Malden
- Methuen
- New Bedford
- Randolph
- Revere
- Salem
- Saugus
- Springfield
- Winthrop
- Worcester
Post Date - 24-Sep-2020