Wilmington to use American Rescue Plan funds to help nonprofit and arts groups

The financial outlook for Wilmington-area nonprofits and arts groups got a boost on Thursday when the city of Wilmington announced $700,000 has been earmarked for those organizations.

During a press conference outside of the old entrance to Thalian Hall on Princess Street, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said "nonprofits have been challenged" by the pandemic and that "this money will go to people right here in Wilmington."

The money is coming out of $26 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, which President Joe Biden signed into law in March. The city got half of the money earlier this year, with $9 million already allocated toward such economic assistance efforts as relief for area small businesses.

Of the $700,000 taken from the ARPA money, $500,000 will be administered as grants to nonprofits through the Cape Fear Area United Way, with $200,000 going to arts groups through the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County.

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United Way Cape Fear Area Director Tommy Taylor said that "nonprofits have taken a big hit" locally, and the grants of between $10,000 and $50,000 will go to "repairing the non-profit infrastructure."

"There is a huge influx in need for financial assistance," Taylor said. 

Groups that address domestic violence, for example, saw "a huge surge in domestic violence" at the same time most nonprofits were having to cancel annual fundraisers due to the pandemic. Organizations that rely on volunteers were "unable to function in the same way" because so many fewer people were volunteering.

Taylor said  "it will be competitive" in terms of who gets the grants, but that the priority will be "to help those hit the hardest."

Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County Director Rhonda Bellamy said her group just finished distributing $260,000 in state grants last fall, but added the arts community has sustained at least $2.5 million in losses due to the pandemic.

Those losses are likely to continue, she said, "until we are able to get a handle on COVID-19. People are being cautious in terms of returning to indoor venues."

Bellamy added that many groups "were operating on thin margins already" before the pandemic.

Wilmington Mayor Pro-Tem Margaret Haynes said a strong arts community is vital both in "it helps with our quality of life" and is also a factor in attracting businesses and new workers to the area.

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Nonprofit groups can go to UWCFA.communityforce.com to apply through Oct. 31.

Grants, which will be considered by a committee of community members and officials, are intended to provide relief to groups that suffered either loss of revenue or increased expenses due to the pandemic. Preference will be given to groups with programs designed to assist the communities they serve in terms of education, finances or health.

Arts groups can apply at ArtsWilmington.org starting Oct. 1 and through Oct. 31.

Priority for grants, determined by a volunteer committee, will go to groups focused on populations limited in their ability to experience the arts by economics, ethnicity, geography, disability or other factors.

Contact John Staton at 910-343-2343 or John.Staton@StarNewsOnline.com.

How to apply

• Nonprofit groups can go to UWCFA.communityforce.com to apply through Oct. 31.
• Arts groups can apply at ArtsWilmington.org starting Oct. 1 and through Oct. 31.