The Chautauqua County Crisis Response Fund: COVID-19 recently awarded $600,000 to 40 local nonprofit organizations who have suffered severe financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.

“We know the need is great across nonprofit organizations,” said Vince Horrigan, decision committee chairman. “Over the past several months, our committee of volunteers from across Chautauqua County has been working diligently to get funds out into the community.”

This phase of funding from the Crisis Response Fund focused on providing general operational support to nonprofits that have either lost significant revenue or experienced increased demand for services during this time. Priority was given to organizations that will play a key role in community-wide recovery or that contribute to the quality of life in the region.

“We recognize that these funds are not going to meet every need right now,” Horrigan explained. “In making funding decisions, our goal was to help get nonprofits out of crisis mode. These grant dollars will be an important piece of what their COVID-19 recovery plan looks like.”

Organizations receiving funding include: 1891 Fredonia Opera House; Adams Art Gallery; Allegheny Highlands Council BSA; Audubon Community Nature Center; Camp Gross Foundation; CASA of Chautauqua County; Chautauqua Adult Day Services, Inc.; Chautauqua Blind Association; Chautauqua Children’s Safety Education Village; Chautauqua County Humane Society; Chautauqua County Land Bank; Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center; Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet; Chautauqua Striders; Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System; Community Helping Hands; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County; Dunkirk Historical Museum; Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels; Family Service of the Chautauqua Region; Fenton History Center; Greystone Nature Preserve; Infinity Visual and Performing Arts; Jamestown Center City Development Corporation; Jamestown Community Learning Council; Lily Dale Assembly; Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County; Lucille Ball Little Theatre; Meals on Wheels of Jamestown; Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County; National Comedy Center; Prevention Works; Reg Lenna Center for the Arts; St. Susan Center; The Relief Zone; Roger Tory Peterson Institute; WCD Boys & Girls Club of Jamestown; YMCA of Jamestown; YWCA of Jamestown and YWCA of Westfield.

During a previous phase of funding, the Chautauqua County Crisis Response Fund provided nearly $300,000 to community-based organizations to help meet immediate, emergency and basic human needs in Chautauqua County. Grants were awarded to frontline organizations providing basic human needs, health and safety, and helping vulnerable populations access essential resources. Additionally, micro grants have been awarded to organizations to assist with costs related to reopening.

Since its creation in March, nearly $900,000 has been granted to organizations across Chautauqua County. Remaining funds will continue to address emergency and basic needs as they exist throughout the summer months.

The fund is administered by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County on behalf of a coalition of philanthropy, government and business partners, including the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and United Way of Northern Chautauqua County.

TWO NEW CASES

Two new COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday in Chautauqua County, bringing the total to date to 125. The new cases, according to the county Health Department, involve a man in his 40s and a woman in her 50s.

There remains nine active cases, as well as 130 county residents under quarantine/isolation, no hospitalizations, 109 recoveries, seven deaths and 13,148 negative test results.

According to county Health Department statistics, of the 125 total cases, 56 have been reported in the north county, 10 in the eastern portion, 23 in the western portion and 34 in the south county.