News

Flat Rock awards $1M in rescue plan money

By Lightning Reports, Published: March 9, 2023

FLAT ROCK —Henderson County's emergency medical services and three fire departments received $565,000, businesses were awarded $179,000 and village personnel will split $109,000 in premium pay based on the Flat Rock Village Council's distribution of American Rescue Plan Act money.

The Flat Rock Village Council on Thursday announced the awarding of grants that provide financial support to public service providers countywide and Flat Rock-based independent businesses and nonprofits impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Village of Flat Rock received $1,078,153.45 in ARP funds.

Supporting public service providers that work throughout the county was particularly rewarding for the council, the village said in a news release. The Village Council worked with the County Commissioners to fund on a 50-50 basis a quick-response vehicle for the county's Emergency Services. The Village Council also awarded an additional grant to EMS for a state-of-the-art training simulator.

In addition, the three fire departments that cover the Flat Rock area — Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue, Valley Hill Fire & Rescue and Green River Fire & Rescue — received substantial funding to update equipment used in the vital life-saving services they provide.

After reviewing all submitted applications, the Council approved the following grants:

General government service grants

• Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue, $320,000
• Valley Hill Fire and Rescue, $125,000
• Green River Fire and Rescue, $50,000
• Henderson County Emergency Services, $70,000

Flat Rock-based independent business and nonprofit grants:

• Flat Rock Playhouse, for Covid-related expenses (HVAC, carpeting, sanitizing, testing), $103,748
• Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, Inc. to help maintain access to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site with passenger vehicle service while the lake bridge is repaired, $37,500
• Ladies Aid Society of Flat Rock Inc., to continue providing assistance to local nonprofits helping residents with basic needs, $17,500
• Pinecrest Presbyterian Church, for Covid-related expenses (installation of air purifier), $7,727
• Cuisine Team, qualified award for severely impacted sole proprietor business, $12,500

Village service grants:

• Premium pay for village employees, $109,004
• Consultation/administration costs for the grant program through Land of Sky Regional Council, $15,000
• Stormwater project along Dye Creek, a remediation project in the Park at Flat Rock, is set to begin in fall of this year, $210,000

All grants awarded followed federal and state regulations. The business/nonprofit grants were also required to demonstrate a 20 percent reduction in revenue from a base year prior to the pandemic emergency to the following year. Mary Roderick, Ph.D. with Land of Sky Regional Council, is working with the Flat Rock Village Council and staff on administering these grants.