The Regional Development Authority approved 10 emergency grants totaling $215,680 to support local nonprofit organizations’ response to the pandemic.
The RDA board also approved a $100,000 grant to the Quad Cities Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, so that a total of $316,680 has been contributed to pandemic relief from RDA.
The grants include:
Cafe On Vine (food), $2,000.
St. Anthony Catholic Church (food), $2,400.
One Eighty (food and household relief), $18,980.
Quad City Veterans Outreach Center (food and vulnerable population care), $14,300.
Community Action of Eastern Iowa (food), $15,000
Community Health Care, Inc. (curbside health care), $33,000.
Family Resources, Inc. (vulnerable population care), $25,000.
Humility Homes and Services, Inc. (vulnerable population care), $30,000.
River Bend Foodbank (food), $50,000.
Supplemental Emergency Assistance Program - Alternative for Older Adults (household relief), $25,000.
The authority board decided to cancel the spring 2020 grants cycle and get dollars out more rapidly than RDA’s normal May funding distribution date. A small group of prior grantees that serve vulnerable populations were invited to apply for rapid response funds. Instead of requiring a separate grant application from those agencies, RDA reviewed existing applications from the Quad Cities Community Foundation’s Disaster Fund.
“This approach helped to save time for the nonprofits working on the front line of this challenge. At the same time, this kind of alignment among funders helps to prioritize critical needs as they are identified by nonprofit leaders,” said RDA CEO Matt Mendenhall.
RDA’s future granting capacity will depend on when the casino can reopen.
Contributions to the QC Community Foundation Disaster Fund can be made online at qccommunityfoundation.org, or by contacting Anne Calder at annecalder@qccommunityfoundation.org, (563) 326-2840, or by mail with checks made out to Quad Cities Community Foundation to: Quad Cities Community Foundation, attn. Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund, 852 Middle Road, Suite 100, Bettendorf, IA 52722.