Holyoke receives $25,000 from COVID relief fund

The community of Holyoke will soon see some relief from COVID-19 economic hardships, thanks to the Colorado COVID Relief Fund. Phillips County Economic Development director Trisha Herman and Holyoke Chamber of Commerce director Holly Ferguson applied for the grant and recently received word that $25,000 is being awarded to benefit the community.

Haxtun Chamber of Commerce applied for and received its own funding for the community of Haxtun.

The goal is to put the money directly back into the community, Herman explained. They are currently in the process of determining where exactly the funds will be allocated. Some money is expected to go into the chamber’s food delivery service that is helping local restaurants. Help Holyoke, a fund for employees and business owners affected by coronavirus closures, is expected to receive money as well.

The school district’s spending to providing internet access for students is yet another area the two are considering.

Businesses that have incurred expenses related to the coronavirus may also find relief. For example, money spent to install plexiglass dividers between customers and cashiers could be reimbursed, as could additional spending on take-out materials, cleaning supplies or personal protective equipment.

Community members with ideas for where the funds should go are encouraged to contact Phillips County Economic Development or Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

Both Holyoke’s and Haxtun’s awards were part of the second round of COVID relief funding in which a total of $3.6 million was distributed to 165 community-based organizations that are serving Coloradans who are being hit  especially hard by COVID-19 in all 64 Colorado counties.

The fund received 780 applications requesting more than $17 million, and through the first two rounds, $8.4 million in funding has been distributed to 371 organizations across the state.