The Center for Rural Development has awarded Flex-E-Grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to Harlan County Fiscal Court, Tri-Cities Heritage Corporation and the city of Lynch/Meridzo.

Harlan County Fiscal Court received a $10,000 Flex-E-Grant to develop a permanent stage and performance infrastructure in downtown Harlan for local events. The Tri-Cities Heritage Corporation has been earmarked $9,000 in grant funding to develop a planning project for Cumberland, Benham and Lynch. The city of Lynch/Meridzo plans to establish a city app with the $10,000 in funds received through the city’s Flex-E-Grant.

The projects were funded through The Center’s Developing and Implementing Community Strategies Program in partnership with the Department for Local Government and ARC.

“We are making a difference in the lives of people in southern and eastern Kentucky by investing in their future and economic development of our region,” said Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center. “Many of our rural communities and small nonprofit organizations lack the financial resources to move forward on these projects without funding assistance.”

The Developing and Implementing Community Strategies Program is committed to providing grants to assist local units of government and nonprofits from eligible counties with capacity building projects that will support economic development in distressed counties of southern and eastern Kentucky.

Other projects funded ARC Flex-E-Grants were Burkesville/Cumberland County Industrial Authority, $7,500; City of Wayland, $6,000; FOCUS film contest in Clay, Jackson, Lee, Leslie, and Owsley, $5,000; Johnson County Fiscal Court, $7,984; City of Salyersville, $7,850; Morgan County Fiscal Court, $7,500; Pine Mountain Regional Development Industrial Authority, $10,000; Stay in Clay, $2,000; Menifee County Fiscal Court, $7,500; Rockcastle County Development Board, $5,000; and Knox County Fiscal Court, $10,000.

Grants are subject to approval for up to $10,000, require a 20 percent match of total project costs and are to be completed within a six-month timeframe. Flex-E-Grant funds are made available on a reimbursement basis only.

For more information, contact Patti Simpson at 606-677-6000 or visit www.centertech.com.