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CARES Act Mini-Grant Program Application - Round 2

FAQ | Application for Round 2 | Reimbursement Form

The new CARES Act Mini-Grant Program helps all types of libraries in Indiana respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stimulus funding for this grant comes to the State Library via LSTA funds from the federal appropriation made to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

LSTA CARES Act Grant funding (Public Law 116-136; 20 U.S.C.ยง9101 et seq.) is provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Indiana State Library to enable libraries to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, including by expanding digital network access, purchasing Internet accessible devices, and providing technical support to their communities.

The Second CARES Act Mini-Grant application period will be closing Friday, February 12, 2021 (11:59 pm).

The Indiana State Library’s CARES Act Mini-Grant Program Round 2 reimburses participating libraries up to $2,000 for expenses in the following categories:

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Facilities Supplies and Services, including
    • Masks, facial shields, gloves, sanitizer, and wipes
    • Plexiglass shields
    • Washable keyboards/mice, webcams
    • Curbside service stanchions/signage
    • And all other items related to preventing and protecting staff and patrons against COVID-19
  • Hotspots and Digital Inclusion Supplies and Services, including
    • Mobile devices
    • Signal boosters/antennae
    • Wireless routers and corresponding subscriptions with a specific subscription end date, not to exceed the grant period
    • Remote learning/videoconferencing platforms with a specific subscription end date, not to exceed the grant period
  • E-content, including
    • E-books, digital movies and music
    • Databases

Only items purchased within the grant term (May 6, 2020 – April 1, 2021) will be eligible for reimbursement. This includes data plans and service contracts.

FAQ

APPLYING

When is the deadline?

The second round of the CARES Act Mini-Grant applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m., February 12,  2021. You will receive notification of your application status via email.

If I was already awarded a mini-grant in the first round, am I eligible for a second grant in this round?

Yes. You will need to complete the application again to qualify.

If I haven’t claimed my funds from the first round, can I still apply for the second round?

Yes. Claims for reimbursement from both rounds of grants are due April 15th, 2021.

What is the grant term?

Because this is a reimbursement grant, receipts for allowable expenses dating from May 6, 2020 to April 1, 2021 will be accepted.

How many CARES Act Mini-Grants is my library eligible to receive per round?

Public libraries: One per library system for each round of mini-grants.
A public library system with multiple branches is eligible for one grant to share—not one grant per branch location in the system. A public library system that received a CARES Act mini-grant during the first round is eligible for a second grant.

Academic libraries: One per campus for each round of mini-grants.
An academic library is eligible to share one grant with libraries on the same campus or branch location. A college or university library system may apply for one grant per campus or branch location. An academic library system that received a CARES Act mini-grant during the first round is eligible for a second grant.

Can I save the application once I start and return later to finish it?

The applications must be completed in ONE SITTING. It consists of a handful of questions regarding your library, your contact information, and your agreement to follow grant guidelines, and should take less than five minutes to complete.

Must my institution be CIPA Compliant to receive a CARES Act Mini-Grant grant?

Projects which provide access to the Internet require compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA); this means Internet access must be filtered as required by the federal LSTA funding. You will be asked to check one of the following:

  • My institution is CIPA compliant
  • Grant funds will not be used to purchase items enabling access to the Internet
  • My institution does not require CIPA

For additional information about CIPA, please see  An Update on Filtering – Focusing on Use of IMLS Funds from the CARES Act (PDF).

If awarded, how will my library receive the grant funds?

Grantees will need to submit a single online Claims for Reimbursement form, along with emailing related receipts, to anfox@library.in.gov. Receipts for allowable expenses dating from May 6, 2020 to April 1, 2021 will be accepted. All receipts on or before April 15, 2021.

After you submit your completed reimbursement claim and receipts, you will receive the funds via an electronic funds transfer.

REIMBURSEMENT

Where do I find the Claims for Reimbursement form?

You can find the online form here.

What documentation do I need to submit after I fill out the Claims for Reimbursement form? 

To receive reimbursement, you must submit documentation that includes the following:

Indication of items purchased. This could be in the form of an itemized receipt, invoice, or quotation.

Proof of payment. Acceptable documentation includes:

  • A copy of a check
  • An ACH or EFT statement showing a direct deposit made to the vendor
  • A copy of a receipt indicating cash/check/card payment made

If an order is placed with an online vendor, we will need confirmation that the order was shipped. For example, the “order confirmation” generated at time of purchase on amazon.com will not be acceptable without additional documentation; it offers an itemized list of items and proof of payment, but shows the items as pending shipment. An invoice generated from amazon includes all of the above, as well as the dates that the items were shipped, and would therefore be acceptable on its own.

What if I run out of space on the Claims for Reimbursement form before I can enter all my receipts?

If you can’t fit all of your receipts on your first claims form, complete and submit a second form. We’ll match up the forms and process them as one claim.

What if I submitted a claim in the first round for an item that cost more than $1,400 – can I use the second round to get additional money towards it?

Yes. Any amount of money on an allowable expense from the first round that wasn’t covered by the original $1,400 can be claimed in the second round. Please check the box on the reimbursement form indicating that you are resubmitting an item for partial payment.

Should you have additional questions, please contact the LSTA Consultant, Angela Fox, at anfox@library.in.gov.