North Miami COVID-19 Relief Announced By CRA

Miami FL

18 March, 2021

8:10 AM

Description

By Johania Charles Mar 16, 2021 North Miami residents and businesses facing financial hardship will be able to apply for a boost. The board of the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA) just approved $1 million of its annual funding to be distributed as COVID-19 relief grants. Of that amount, $500,000 will go toward supporting business; the other half will cover housing and utility costs for residents. Charged with the responsibility of eliminating obstacles that impede the city's economic, physical and social development, the NMCRA thought it best to provide additional financial assistance to its vulnerable populations and has tasked two nonprofits with administering the assistance. The Haitian Chamber of Commerce of Florida (HACCOF) and the Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce (GNMCC), trained by NMCRA to facilitate the application process, have opened their offices as designated pickup and drop-off locations for the applications. Small businesses can receive up to $7,500 to cover costs associated with running a business. Those who failed to get help through the Payroll Protection Program are encouraged to apply. Grant recipients NMCRA's previous grant cycle in December also may reapply, for up to $2,500 in assistance. As for residential grants, people who have received notices for eviction, foreclosure and nonpayment of utilities can apply to receive $4,000. Residents must provide documents to show proof of residency and hardship, such as past due mortgage statements, notices of arrears for homeowners association fees, outstanding utility invoices or any related housing fees. Both businesses and residents must lie within NMCRA property boundaries to qualify for assistance. That area comprises 3,250 acres or 60% of the city. According to Lumana Joseph, who sits on the board of both chambers, close to 66 businesses and 125 residents will be recipients of the grants on a first-come, first-served basis. HACCOF,located at 713 NE 125 St. North Miami,is offering application assistance in both English and Haitian Creole, while GNMCC – located at 13100 West Dixie Highway – can accommodate Spanish speakers. "What we found is that a lot of the business owners in this area aren't fluent in English," said Joseph. "We want to help make the process easier and so we will help explain exactly what they need in their own language." Though Joseph has her own physical therapy practice that qualifies for the grants being distributed by NMCRA, she decided not to apply as a means to streamline efforts to assist other business owners struggling to stay alive. "Our goal is to get the word out there and collect as many qualified resident applications as possible, " added Joseph. "As we get more staffing and as long as the funds are available, we are there to help as many people as we can." In a statement, North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, NMCRA chairman, said, "The COVID crisis continues to test the strength of our entire community, but we are resilient. … The City of North Miami is working tirelessly to safely reopen, but in the interim, our COVID grant programs will provide the necessary funding to help keep us afloat." At the onset of the pandemic, NMCRA awarded more than $2 million to residents and businesses hard hit by COVID-19. The agency expects that this next round of grants will further help those in need. For more information, call 305.891.7811. The Miami Times is the largest Black-owned newspaper in the south serving Miami's Black community since 1923. The award-winning weekly is frequently recognized as the best Black newspaper in the country by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.