Bradley to award wellness grants

Friday, July 8, 2011

Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Bradley County has $184,000 it can award this year as grants to capital projects that promote the community's health, wellness and quality of life.

Both the county government and United Way of Bradley County award grants each year from interest income earned off the proceeds from the 2005 sale of the county hospital.

County Commissioner Adam Lowe said Tuesday the county's portion of the proceeds earned more than $173,000 during 2010. Minus 15 percent required to be reinvested in the fund so it does not erode, that left more than $147,000. But, Lowe said, there also is unused grant money from 2008 and 2009 available.

The commission approved making the money available for grants awarded at the end of the year.

United Way recently reported $450,000 available for grants to programs that promote community health, wellness and quality of life, as well.

The United Way's investment group, led by Art Rhodes, announced the agency's total this year is a $50,000 increase over previous years.

"That could be enough to help a couple of agencies," United Way spokesman Allen Mincey said. "You never know."

Matt Ryerson, United Way's vice president of community investment strategies, conducted three workshops the past two weeks for organizations interested in applying for either grant fund. The deadline for grant applications is 5 p.m. on July 22.