Nevada City, CA September 9, 2020 – The Nevada County Relief Fund (NCRF) approved its third round of funding, allocating $220,000 in grants towards small businesses and nonprofits that continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 26 small businesses and 10 safety-net nonprofits will benefit from State Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF), part of the $3 Million total set aside by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. The Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation will steward $25,000 for safety net nonprofits on the eastern side of the County.

“We are honored to yet again do what we can to help our small businesses that continue to feel the effects of the pandemic, and which are now impacted by the Public Safety Power Shutoffs. The resilience shown by our community, and the creative ways people are adjusting to this pandemic is humbling”, states Alison Jones-Pomatto, a member of the Community Advisory Council, which provides fundraising and oversight for NCRF efforts. 

The need far outweighed availability of funds. Six months into the pandemic, third round requests totalled approximately $1.4 Million- far and above what was available to disperse. To Julie Baker, another CAC member, this suggests a continued and sustained need for the Fund. “We are looking next at how to sustain resilience in a community that may well be feeling ongoing effects of rolling crises,” stated Baker. “Clearly, the need is there and the community will need to continue to step up and raise money to support each other.”

Since its launch with a $100,000 “challenge grant” from the County of Nevada, the community-based, public-private partnership has raised over $500,000 and provided grants to 79 small businesses and 31 nonprofits. NCRF was also able to quickly launch and raise close to $30,000 for survivors of the Jones Fire. In collaboration with the Department of Social Services, the Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund will provide short-term assistance to fill immediate needs such as temporary accommodations, groceries, gas, or make repairs necessary to help get people rehoused.

About the Nevada County Relief Fund

The Nevada County Relief Fund was created through a partnership between the County of Nevada, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation (the Fund’s fiscal sponsor), Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, the Sierra Business Council, Center for Nonprofit Leadership, and the Economic Resource Council. In conjunction with Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund, the purpose of this effort is to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis by directing vital resources to our most vulnerable neighbors, and support our small, rural businesses.  

The Fund was established in April 2020 with a $100,000 “challenge grant” from the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. Since then, it has gained traction as a reliable way to give back to our unique small businesses and nonprofits that have been stretched to meet extreme community needs.  

Round Three Small Business and Nonprofit Microgrants

  • Truckee Downtown Merchants Association $8,000
  • Grass Valley Downtown Association $8,000
  • Nevada County Arts Council $7,175
  • Music in the Mountains $7,000
  • Mountain Pastimes $5,000
  • Heathered Yarn Co $5,000
  • Culture Shock Yogurt, Inc $5,000
  • The Aerial Lab $5,000
  • Revival Float & Wellness $5,000
  • Headwaters Science Institute $5,000
  • Common Goals, Inc. $5,000
  • Golden Empire Grange #806 $5,000
  • Western Gateway Rec & Park Dist $5,000
  • Samba Sports Arena $5,000
  • Arts For The Schools $5,000
  • Grass Valley Farmers’ Market $5,000
  • EATS Cooking Company $5,000
  • Sierra Streams Institute $4,000
  • Nevada County Habitat for Humanity $3,325
  • Sweetland Pottery $2,500
  • North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center $2,500
  • Brad Henry Pottery $2,500
  • Nevada City Classic Cafe $2,500
  • Mountain Pilates & Wellness $2,500
  • Twin Soles Ashiatsu and Massage $2,500
  • Damselfly Organic Clothing $2,500

Round 3 Nonprofit Safety-Net Grants

  • The Friendship Club $15,000
  • United Way of Nevada County $13,000
  • Gold Country Senior Services $13,000
  • The Salvation Army $10,000
  • Penn Valley Seventh Day Adventist Church $10,000
  • North San Juan Community Center $8,300
  • Sierra Harvest $8,200
  • SPIRIT Peer Empowerment Center $6,500
  • tkMomentum $5,500
  • Anew Day $5,500
  • Northern Mines Alano Club $5,000