Carbon County is looking to help some entities that were not eligible for CARES Act funding in 2020 by providing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act funds the county has received.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners authorized the release of ARP funds to nine entities that had applied for lost revenue reimbursement but were not approved because they were not registered 501(c) 3 or 501(c) 19.

According to a funding distribution list released by the county, the following organizations will be reimbursed a total of $128,009.77.

They include: Aquashicola Fire Company, $26,000; Big Creek Grange, $10,000; Citizens Fire Company in Weatherly, $17,500; Jim Thorpe Sportsman’s Club, $11,700; Mahoning Township Lions Club, $10,000; Sokol Citizen Club of Nesquehoning, $19,179.77; Tresckow Hosey Inc., $13,130; Weatherly Hill Climb, $15,500; and Weatherly Youth Basketball, $5,000.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said that the reason these groups did not receive funding under CARES was because their registration didn’t allow the county to approve them for funds.

So when the county received ARP funding, Ahner said the board felt that these entities, if they had not received reimbursement from another funding source as a result of the pandemic, then they could apply for reimbursement under ARP funds.

“We just made the decision to do that,” he said.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that there were 11 denied organizations that would now be eligible based on the updated flexibility and nine responded that they hadn’t received reimbursement from other COVID funding sources.

In other COVID-related funding matters, the commissioners also approved applying for $1,046,437 through the Department of Community Economic Development for COVID-19 ARPA Whole Home Repairs Program.

The program aims to help homeowners and landlords who meet certain requirements to apply for up to $50,000 to improve their home.

Lukasevich said there are some details that will be worked out, including if the county will manage the program or contract it out.

More information will be provided after the county receives all guidance.