County to receive state set-aside funding

Van Wert independent/FEMA board information

Although Van Wert County will not receive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for 2011, it has been allocated $3,694 from the state set-aside funds, said United Way of Van Wert County Executive Director Deb Russell, who is also the local FEMA board president.

“We have received a letter stating funding has been submitted by our state organization and we are waiting for approval at the state level,” Russell said. “This is a far cry from the $33,394 we received in 2010, but we will take every penny we can get to help fund food and shelter in the county.”

The local board is responsible to distribute funds to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high need areas around the state. The local FEMA board is made up of Andrew McMahon of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Sue Linton of First United Methodist Church, Van Wert County representative Mike Jackson, Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission representative Angie Franklin, American Red Cross Director Edie Laukhuf, Major Judy Barter of The Salvation Army, Crisis Care Line/House of Transition Director Kathy Boaz, Jamie Evans of the YWCA, Annette Balyeat and Russell.

That board will determine how the funds awarded to Van Wert County are distributed among emergency food and shelter programs provided by local service organizations in the area. The local FEMA board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds. Under the terms of the state Set-Aside funds, the local board must allocate funds based on the following criteria:

• an organization must be a private, voluntary, non-profit or unit of government,
• have an accounting system,
• practice non-discrimination,
• have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/ or shelter programs
• if it is a private voluntary organization, it must have a voluntary board.

Any qualifying organization is urged to apply by calling the United Way office at 419.238.6689 to receive an application. Deadline is Thursday, September 15, at noon to submit an application.