The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) and the Bernard McDonough Foundation (BMF) have announced $700,000 in grant awards through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Recovery Grant Program, funded through the City of Parkersburg. The ARPA Recovery Grant Program in investing in projects, led by nonprofit organizations, that respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative impact on residents of the City of Parkersburg. Grants are supporting projects that build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery; that are transformational, resulting in long-term growth and impact; and/or that address financial hardships experienced by nonprofit organizations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants are made possible through allocations, totaling $700,000, from the City of Parkersburg’s ARPA funding.

“Parkersburg area non-profit organizations have remained steadfast in their commitment to providing critical supports to our most vulnerable populations over the past two years of the pandemic,” said Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce. “The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and Bernard McDonough Foundation are not only competent in grant administration, but have proven to be diligent, thoughtful, and responsive in their COVID resiliency application and vetting process to ensure federal programmatic compliance. These two organizations have been doing important work in this field for decades and have thus fostered strong ties to the non-profit sector. The City of Parkersburg is pleased to have partnered with two incredibly competent non-profit organizations to administer this important program.”

The following organizations have been awarded grants:

  • Actors Guild of Parkersburg: $20,000 for operating support to address financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Artsbridge: $8,800 to address mental health issues through the provision of Art Connections and Art After Dark programming.
  • Blennerhassett Historical Foundation, Inc.: $45,000 to improve ventilation in a portion of the Blennerhassett Museum through the installation of a new HVAC system.
  • Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg: $50,000 to improve ventilation through HVAC upgrades in the facility.
  • Camden Clark Foundation: $30,000 to address financial losses for the Pink Mammogram Fund, which assists women in obtaining mammograms and follow up procedures.
  • Children’s Home Society of WV: $25,000 to purchase furnishings for the Arthur N. Gustke Shelter and foster care visitation program to facilitate social distancing.
  • Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley: $50,000 in operating support for programming to help individuals break the cycle of poverty and to assist low- and moderate-income individuals with pandemic recovery.
  • Community Resources, Inc.: $50,000 to support a transportation program for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with substance use disorders.
  • Consumer Credit Counseling Services: $50,000 in operating support to expand staffing to include a Program Resource/ Development Manager.
  • Downtown PKB: $10,000 to address downtown development through vacant property tours, a faux storefront initiative, and a signage improvement project.
  • House to Home – Parkersburg Area Coalition for the Homeless: $50,000 in operating support to provide services to individuals who are unhoused.
  • Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet: $29,000 in operating support to address financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home: $50,000 in operating support to provide services that assist individuals with substance use disorders in their recovery.
  • Old Man Rivers: $35,000 in operating support to address food insecurity.
  • Parkersburg Art Center: $18,500 to install a HEPA filter in the clay center to improve air quality and to support marketing efforts to address losses in revenue from event rental space.
  • SW Resources, Inc.: $37,000 to install a controlled access system to reduce touch points in high touch areas and improve security.
  • The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley: $50,000 in operating support to address financial losses and to expand services to people with disabilities.
  • The Salvation Army: $41,700 in operating support to address financial losses and to provide services to individuals who are unhoused, low-income, and/or who experience food insecurity.
  • Wood County Society: $50,000 to install a generator in order to serve as a center for people with disabilities in the event of an emergency.

For questions or more information, contact Marian Clowes at the PACF, marian.clowes@pacfwv.com, 304.428.4438 or Bob Boone at the BMF, rboone@mcdonoughfoundation.org, 304.424.6280.