The United Way of River Cities is accepting Letters of Intent for both Safety-Net Service Grants and Impact Grants.

Applications are due Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. and can be completed through an online system by accessing United Way of River Cities’ homepage and clicking through the first banner on the page.

Any 501(c)(3) non-profit health or human service organizations in Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln and Mason counties, West Virginia or Lawrence county, Ohio, are eligible to apply for the grants.

According to director of community impact, Andrea Roy the Safety-Net Service Grant and Impact Grant have distinct purposes.

“It’s meant to fund programs that take care of basic needs,” Roy said of the Safety-Net Service Grant.

Roy said the Impact Grant funds longer, farther-reaching programs. Roy said people applying for Impact Grant funding must meet a needed issue determined by data. Some examples of needed issues are education, income and health.  Applicants can see the list of required needed issues on the application.

According to Roy, the Community Investment Council grades applications by a rubric and sends their recommendations to United Way’s board of directors.

Applicants who meet the requirements of either grant will be asked to submit another application, which will be due by April 25 at 5 p.m.

Lydia Waybright can be contacted at [email protected].