LITTLE ROCK — City of Little Rock residents impacted by the March 31 tornado may now apply for individual grants from the City’s Little Rock Cares fund to assist in their recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Residents should go to heartaruw.org/recovery-grant to complete an application for assistance. The application period ends Sept. 15. After that, a volunteer committee of Little Rock resident reviewers will screen the applications and make awards. Heart of Arkansas United Way is the third-party administrator responsible for the application and grant process.

Donors contributed nearly $600,000 to the Little Rock Cares fund in the aftermath of the EF3 tornado. The City anticipates about $400,000 from the fund will be distributed through individual grants. The remainder was set aside to support nonprofit and community organizations that provided immediate assistance after the storm.

“Little Rock Cares is a means to get tornado survivors in our City a little further down the path toward full recovery and normalcy,” said Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. “We hope these grants will offer some meaningful relief to affected residents who still have unmet needs. As I’ve said before, I’m grateful to corporate and individual donors from around the world. Every penny of their contributions will directly support tornado relief efforts in the state’s capital city.”

Eligible applicants for Little Rock Cares grants will have unmet needs that include, but are not limited to, primary dwelling, lost wages, transportation, health/injury, food, or furnishings. Grant amounts will vary depending on prioritization by resident reviewers.

Applicants must be residents of Little Rock who were impacted by the March 31 tornado. Proof of residency and other documents such as insurance status and FEMA approvals or denials will be required during the application process. All applications received by the Sept. 15 deadline will receive consideration. Funds will not be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Grants are expected to be distributed in December.

For more information, email recoverygrant@heartaruw.org. Applicants may also receive assistance by phone on Mondays and Wednesdays during the application period by calling (501) 838-9482 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on those days.