Scranton offers $500,000 in grants to city artists, musicians, theatre companies, and more in arts community
From a press release:
The city of Scranton will offer $500,000 total in grants to artists and art organizations through a new application announced this week. Grants are part of the city’s $68.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“The many arts and performance groups that we work with have made it clear that their post-pandemic recovery is still not complete,” said Mayor Paige Cognetti at City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 29.
“While some have been able to access our previous nonprofit grants and other aid, others continue to need help to restore their operations. This grant process should be accessible to organizations of every size to support our creative community.”
Through an analysis of the local arts community, including recent economic reports and data gathered by The Institute, a Wilkes-Barre-based data analysis, research, and consulting organization, officials were able to determine that portions of the local arts community are considered impacted entities based on the percentage of employment they lost due to the pandemic. Those groups include:
- Independent artists, writers, and performers
- Theatre companies and dinner theaters
- Musical groups and artists
- Dance companies
Artists and organizations in those categories are invited to apply online for grants of up to
$45,000 through Neighborly. A webinar about the program will be held Thursday, March 7 at 2 p.m. Interested groups can join the Zoom meeting here.
Eligible organizations must be physically located in Scranton or provide evidence that they directly serve Scranton residents, have been operating prior to the start of the pandemic in March of 2020, and provide evidence of their employment numbers.
This announcement comes after senior White House officials brought their “Investing in America” tour to Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 27 to witness the city’s strategic use of federal funding and to award more than $540,000 to nine small businesses – Center City Print, Empanada King, Sanh Investments, Scranton Pilates, Scranton Premier Mart, Sho Laboratories, Sho Technology Solutions, Tiddlywinks Boutique, and Zummo’s Cafe.
Visiting officials included Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez and Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration Isabel Casillas Guzman. Grants were awarded through Scranton’s American Rescue Plan Act Small Business Startup and Expansion grant program.
“What an opportunity it’s been to show Director Perez and Administrator Guzman firsthand the impact that federal funding is having on our business community,” Cognetti commented at Zummo’s Cafe.
“This is the power of the federal government directly at the municipal level. We’re so thankful for the chance to share the day with them and to celebrate our most recent grant recipients.”
“This program has been an integral part of helping our business and others in the city of Scranton,” said Center City Print owner Alex Molfetas.
“It is such a unique opportunity to see federal funds help businesses expand and even hire more employees within our great city. Small business is the cornerstone of our country.”
In its spending plan approved by city council in May of 2022, the city allocated a total of $4.75 million to small business support programs. Applicants for Startup and Expansion funding can receive up to 25 percent of eligible costs in their startup or expansion project budget, with a $100,000 limit per business.
The city awarded $349,610 to five small businesses in January of 2023, $301,160.30 to another five businesses in March, and $556,588 to nine businesses in June. Tuesday’s awards total $540,231. Other applications received before the deadline last fall remain under review, to be awarded based on eligibility and on a first-come, first-served basis.
The ARPA of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill. The city of Scranton has received $68.7 million in ARPA funds to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its economic impacts. The stated mission of Scranton’s ARPA program is “to give people access to resources, rebuild the infrastructure systems that impact their everyday lives, and foster equitable wealth generation that targets the needs of Scranton residents.”
Incorporated in 1866, the city has a population of approximately 76,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Photo by Rich Howells/NEPA Scene
