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CERF Funds for Small Businesses/Nonprofits

By August 13, 2018No Comments

Announcing a new initiative from the Community Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) to support Durango and Silverton Nonprofits and Businesses.

So far, CERF has provided emergency bridge funding to more than 200 community members who experienced job interruption and almost 200 evacuees directly related to the 416 Fire. In addition, CERF is supporting the Community Emergency Assistance Coalition (CEAC), a collaborative multi-agency effort aimed at providing emergency assistance to individuals and families facing a financial crisis, to assist with long-term financial struggles that are a direct result of the 416 Fire.

Now CERF is launching a $100,000 grant initiative to support nonprofit fundraising efforts and infuse cash into local businesses impacted by the 416 Fire.

This is a win-win-win proposition. It enables nonprofits to strengthen relationships with local businesses by using grant funds to pay for items they usually ask to be donated. It improves the ability for nonprofits to meet budgets since we anticipate corporate sponsorship dollars to be down in the second part of 2018. It infuses cash into local businesses, and enables CERF to ensure the money raised by the community to support the community is spent in the community. Lastly, the local spending will increase sales tax revenue.

The process is simpler than it sounds, and the application should take 5-10 minutes.
Businesses affected by the 416 Fire are encouraged to apply to be on our vendor list. This includes event supplies, restaurants, hotels, recreation/adventure, boutiques and retail shops. (There are no strings attached — please apply!) In order to receive any of these grant dollars from nonprofits, businesses need to be on our vendor list.

Nonprofits located in Durango and Silverton are invited to apply to be given grant dollars that they agree to spend locally at businesses on our vendor list. (Free shopping spree – how fun!) Nonprofits will provide basic information found on your organization’s 990. In order to receive funds, nonprofits will also attend a one-hour professional development seminar.

Both the business and nonprofit applications close on August 30. Go to swcoda.org to learn more and apply.

Next steps:  The ripple effects of the 416 Fire will be with us for months, possibly even years. CERF is evaluating ways to maximize dollars raised to support the community around mudslide, rockslide, flash flooding and consequences to our waterways and agriculture.