COVID-19 Response
Cases shown below are listed with the most recently updated at the top.
Abingdon, VA
The Barter Theatre, a staple tourist attraction in Abingdon, VA, was forced to indefinitely close its doors when the pandemic hit. The Barter then created “Barter at the Moonlite,” repurposing a former drive-in movie theater in the community for performances. The venue serves as an innovative way to continue attracting tourists to the area.
Belmont, NC
Belmont paired an emergency small business loan program with the “Keep the Lights on in Belmont” program to drive residents to support local enterprises and raise funds for an emergency relief grant for downtown businesses.
Burke County, NC
The Carolina District pivoted its work in response to COVID-19 and subsequent demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and cloth face coverings, supplying hospitals and public-school systems, among other clients throughout North Carolina.
Caldwell County, NC
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute leveraged an existing relationship with Google to improve broadband access and obtain 75 Chromebooks.
Fayetteville, NC
The City of Fayetteville, NC expanded on an existing small business loan program to fund emergency grants intended to keep businesses from shutting down in the area. Through a dense network of partnerships, the City was able to target assistance to the businesses that needed it most.
Gaston County, NC
Leadership in Gaston County noticed that reports of child abuse significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistant county manager gathered community stakeholders to address process improvements for reporting to ensure the wellbeing of children and families.
Jacksonville, NC
Jacksonville, North Carolina has established the Utility Assistance Program in order to ensure that the city’s citizens have their basic needs covered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Bern, NC
New Bern, NC took a collaborative approach to maintain tourism and support small businesses, leveraging statewide resources and running several local programs to ensure that local businesses could reopen and position the town as a safe travel destination.
Person County, NC
Person County introduces a rapid short-term loan for local small businesses to combat economic downturn from COVID-19 and ensure the longevity of the community.
Puyallup, WA
Through the Winter Ready Funds Program, the City of Puyallup awards one-time $5,000 grants (a total of $150,000) to eligible local restaurant and retail businesses for purchasing equipment and making other necessary adjustments to be able to serve customers outdoors during the pandemic restrictions.
Center for Advanced Hindsight – Durham, NC
The Center for Advanced Hindsight (CAH) at Duke University partnered with the NC State College of Design, Cabarrus County, Catawba County, Gaston County, Haywood County, and Union County to use insights from behavioral science and design to improve community response to COVID-19.