As our communities continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, ITC Great Plains has committed funding to economic development organizations with the charge for them to identify small businesses in their respective communities to receive support. The effort is part of ITC’s three-phase funding commitment to support relief agencies throughout its seven-state footprint.
“During these extraordinary times, ITC Great Plains remains committed to taking an active role in the communities we serve,” said Brett Leopold, president of ITC Great Plains. “Just as the coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted public health and so many aspects of our lives, small businesses, particularly those in rural communities, remain financially fragile. Given that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, we have identified organizations that provide meaningful support to struggling small businesses for our final round of disaster funding this year.”
Specifically, ITC Great Plains will provide funding to support the work of the organizations listed here.
Hugo Industrial Authority
Ottawa County Economic Development
Pawnee County Economic Development
Rush County Economic Development
Osborne County Economic Development
The second round of ITC Great Plains funding, supported agencies that provide mental health and substance abuse services throughout Kansas and Oklahoma, including Compass Behavioral Health, High Plains Mental Health Center and the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma.
The first round of ITC Great Plains funding supported Kansas and Oklahoma food banks, pantries and soup kitchens who reported a significant increase in demand for their services at a time when many are struggling to secure the supplies and resources needed to survive the national COVID-19 crisis. During this initial round of funding, ITC provided funding to support the work of the Kansas Food Bank, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Southern Branch and Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas.
Through its Charitable Giving Program, ITC awards grants to qualified 501 (c) (3) organizations that deliver charitable services in the counties where ITC operates. Grants support programs and projects that reflect ITC’s giving priorities: education, environmental stewardship, social services, health and wellness and arts and culture. ITC is streamlining the process for our upcoming grant cycles to focus on this relief effort. For more information, please click here.