By Charles Owens, Bluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — More than 2,000 people have already applied for a new program that will provide a guaranteed monthly income for 16 months to 560 households in Mercer County.
The response to the Rural Income for Self Empowerment Guaranteed Minimum Income program, or RISE GMI, has been strong, according to Tony Solís Cruz, program manager for GiveDirectly.
“The response has been incredible with over 2,000 applications so far,” Cruz said. “We are hoping to have the applications continue to pour in over the next few weeks.”
The application period for the program opened on October 14 and interested residents can still apply at https://rise.aidkit.org/o/home
Once the application period closes, Cruz said GiveDirectly will randomly select and invite 560 eligible applicants to enroll in the program, which will provide monthly payments of $1,500 for 16 months to those who are chosen to participate with no strings attached.
According to GiveDirectly, the RISE GMI program is a tool to reduce poverty, build economic resilience and support opportunities such as entrepreneurship. Mercer County is one of three communities selected to participate in the program. There is no work requirement for those who are selected to receive the monthly cash payments.