Economy

People with Mental Illness & Minority Businesses to Benefit from QCCF Grants

WVIK, Quad Cities NPR | By Michelle O'Neill

Published December 10, 2019 at 5:00 AM CST

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People enjoy Mercado on Fifth, a Friday night, seasonal market in Moline, IL

submitted / Mercado on Fifth

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Vera French staff and supporters at a ribbon cutting for the new Carol Center on N. Harrison St., Davenport, May 2019 (file)

submitted / Vera French

The Quad Cities Community Foundation hopes two, workforce development grants will help transform the lives of local residents.

Kelly Thompson from the Quad Cities Community Foundation (file)

Spokeswoman Kelly Thompson says Vera French Mental Health Center will receive $100,000 to expand an employment support program for Scott County residents with severe mental illness.

It'll be implemented in partnership with Transitions Mental Health Services which already offers the services in Rock Island County.

Mercado on Fifth will also receive a $100,000 dollar grant from the Quad Cities Community Foundation.

Thompson says Mercado will spend the money on helping small, minority businesses by finding a permanent location to operate year-round.

Both grants are possible because of donations to the foundation's Quad Cities Community Impact Fund.

Past transformation grants have benefitted homeless agencies in Scott County, the United Way's Born Learning Initiative, Family Resources for coordination of services, the chamber's Q2030 action plan, the Robert Young Center, and the Child Abuse Council.