STERLING, COLO. – Northeastern Junior College is planning to disburse $434,180 in funds it received out of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act passed by Congress earlier this month.

“We’re thankful we can help relieve some of the financial distress this pandemic has caused to our students,” said Jay A. Lee, president of Northeastern. “We have all but closed the physical campus since mid-March, forcing students to complete courses online, abruptly move out of residence halls, and make radical life adjustments in a very short amount of time. These funds, which we will disburse in the form of grants to individual students, should help ease some if not all of the financial pain they have had to endure as a consequence of adapting to the pandemic’s impact.”

Grants of up to $1,000 will be available to students who incurred unexpected costs due to the pandemic, including any of the following:

• the purchase of a computer to participate in remote learning versions of classes;

• necessary upgrades to home internet service to participate in remote learning;

• payments for new or additional course materials;

• housing rental, food or childcare costs; and

• healthcare expenses specifically related to COVID-19.

Northeastern will also provide help to students who are struggling to pay any Northeastern expenses or are in need of financial assistance to take classes at Northeastern in an upcoming term. Funds, when approved, will be processed through each student’s BankMobile account. More detail about eligibility and how to apply for grant relief from the college is available at https://www.njc.edu/northeastern-cares.

Northeastern Junior College is one of Colorado’s largest two-year residential colleges. It is part of the Colorado Community College System, and is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Northeastern offers a wide variety of degree and certificate programs, along with career and technical education and community/adult education classes. Northeastern offers four-year degree programs through participating four-year colleges.