CARES Act Funding Fall Applications Open Through Aug. 31

Joliet Junior College students can support their education this fall by applying for funding through the CARES Act. The applications are open for submission through Aug.31. President Trump signed the CARES Act into law on March 27, 2020. The Act provides broad-based economic relief in response to the COVID-19 national pandemic.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) was established and funded by the Act. The fund was created to fund emergency financial aid grants. A part of the allocated funding to JJC will be awarded to students who are experiencing expenses due to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

For the summer session, 550 students were given a total of $534,600 in CARES Act funds by the JJC. The application period is open through Aug. 31. The funds will be awarded and dispersed in early September. $2,000 is the maximum award available through this program that would be distributed in $250 increments.

Go to JJC’s CARES Act website to learn more about the CARES Act and HEERF, including answers to frequently asked questions. Each summer, JJC itself offers financial assistance in a number of ways, including need- and merit-based scholarship. The College grow its Student Emergency Fund during the pandemic.

The college had established the Smart Start Scholarship for incoming freshmen, and connected students learning remotely through the free loaner laptop program.