Gov. Lee announced yesterday (July 21) that the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group – a bi-partisan group of Tennessee General Assembly members, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, and Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley – has developed the Tennessee Community CARES Program for nonprofit grant partners. “Grant partners” will have access to $150 million in federal funds that they will in turn sub-grant to nonprofits seeking to use funds in support of efforts to provide relief from the the impacts created by the COVID-19 disease and pandemic. The relief will be administered through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. For details, please view the official announcement.

Among other things, sub-grants will be awarded for the following uses to alleviate impact caused by the COVID-19 disease and pandemic: 

• Support for school-aged children and families related to education needs created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 outbreak
• Workforce training
• Emergency food assistance 
• Case management or assistance in accessing an eligible state or federal public benefit
• Care for at-risk or vulnerable populations to mitigate COVID-19 effects and/or enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions
• Emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness, eviction, or foreclosure
• Other similar services designed to mitigate the negative health or economic impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency
• Providing uncompensated care or assistance for individuals with disabilities or other vulnerable populations to address new financial, health, or educational challenges in response to COVID-19

Partner Nonprofits to Serve as Grant Administrators

The Department of Human Services is announcing an invitation for partner nonprofits to serve as grant administrators. Grant administrators will be required to submit a proposal to the Department no later than 12 p.m. CDT, Thursday, July 23, 2020, describing their ability to administer sub-grants to eligible nonprofits. 

Nonprofits Seeking COVID-19 Financial Relief

Nonprofits wishing to apply for grants from the grant partners to provide direct services can access instructions for grant proposals from the Department of Human Services and its partner nonprofit grant administrators on August 1, 2020. Grant applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis with monthly reporting requirements and a de-obligation date of November 15, 2020.