Long Term Recovery Committee Receives Funding

 

 

The Monroe County Long Term Recovery Committee (MCLTRC) has received a grant from the 2008 Indiana Natural Disaster Fund (IND Fund) to help support recovery work from the storms and floods in 2008. Based on an assessment of the local recovery costs, Monroe County received $2,018,531 for individual assistance and nonprofit infrastructure assistance.

The grants come from the IND Fund, established with a $45 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to the Indiana Association of United Ways (IAUW). United Way of Monroe County, an IAUW member, proposed funding for projects to help individuals and families address their property losses and social service needs and to assist local nonprofits restore their facilities. The MCLTRC is administered by United Way of Monroe County.

Barry Lessow, Executive Director of United Way of Monroe County commented, “The floods in June and windstorm in September caused considerable damage to residences in Monroe County, impacting thousands of local residents. Families and individuals are still recovering from this disaster. We are very grateful to the Lilly Endowment and to the Indiana Association of United Ways for providing the resources to allow our community to recover from these storms.

 

Lessow continued, "The strength of Monroe County's response also impacted our ability to bring this funding back to our community.  Each committee member has put considerable energy into this process, proving that recovering from this disaster is a priority for our government, business, faith, and nonprofit sectors. Our team of case managers deserves great credit for its work to assist families hurt by the storms.”

According to Monroe County Long Term Recovery Committee Director Ashley Skooglund, “The committee and our team of case managers has worked diligently to fully understand the needs of local residents to develop solutions that help them through this difficult time. Case managers and volunteers made over 1,200 contacts. Each situation is different and the MCLTRC team is dedicated to assisting each of our 401 open cases.”

 

The MCLTRC has been funded by an earlier grant from the IND Fund, which provided for immediate assistance needs and supported the creation of an infrastructure of support groups to organize and carry out the recovery work. More than $3.5 million was awarded for that work in 50 counties.

 

For further information, contact MCLTRC Director Ashley Skooglund at 334-8370.

 

United Way of Monroe County is a nonprofit organization that improves people’s lives by addressing critical needs today and working to reduce those needs tomorrow.