Greene County and other local agencies are set to receive more than $51 million in coronavirus relief from the largest stimulus package in history.
Federal officials say the $2 trillion relief package for businesses, states and municipalities will be a welcome step to spur recovery after widespread closures put a strain on local economies and government budgets.
But it's still unclear how that money will be spent and whether it will be enough to save the hard-hit providers of goods and services.
Here's how much local government agencies stand to benefit from the package.
Greene County
The biggest beneficiary of the CARES Act isGreene County, which will receive more than $34 million to pay for "necessary expenditures" incurred due to the coronavirus, including addressing medical expenses, public health or economic supportbetween March 1 and December 30.
Appproved uses outlined by the federal government include
- COVID-19 testing
- coronavirus emergency medical response expenses
- public health communication costs
- acquiring or distributing protective supplies
- quarantine expenses
- maintaining jails or prisons
- providing paid sick and paid family and medical leave to public employees
- care for homeless populations
- food delivery for at-risk residents, including the elderly
- grants for small businesses to reimburse the cost of business interruptions
- unemployment insurance costs.
The moneycan not be used to fill shortfalls in government revenue, reimbursepeople fordonated items or pay for damages covered by insurance or Medicaid expenses, according to federal guidance.
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In a meeting Tuesday, county officials discussed a plan to hire a temporary employee with grant experience to make sure the money is distributed in line with federal guidance.They said some money would likely be given out to cities forresponses, but severalgrantsmay also go to local organizations tohelp with relief.
"We want to make sure we're consistent, that we're following the rules for the use of funds," Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon said. "We're going to have to have a process."
The Springfield-Branson National Airport
Springfield's airport will get more than $9.2 million from the federal government to be used "for any purpose for which airport revenues may be lawfully used,"according to guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration.
As part of receiving the grant, the airport must continue to employ, through Dec. 31, at least 90 percent of its workforce.
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Approved uses contained in a federal FAQ include improvements to roads or rail, paying for long-term contracts such as shuttle buses, janitors or security, paying for an easem*nt to fly over certain spacesor paying off approved debts.
The announcement came after the airport has seen huge passenger declines due to the coronavirus pandemic.
City Manager Jason Gage said Tuesday the airport's board approved three months' rent deferrals for all terminal tenants after seeing a 95 percent drop in passengers in April.
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City Utilities
The city's utility provider received $7.6 million for transit services related to the coronavirus.
The grant can pay for personal protective equipment for staff, operator salaries, fuel and other needs for the city's bus services, according to a press release from U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt.
"This grant funding will help provide some relief from the financial strains the coronavirus has had on local transportation services," Blunt said in the release."And, most importantly, it will help provide personal protective equipment to keep people safe."
Housing programs
The Springfield Housing Authority is set to receive nearly $90,000 for its section eight housing programand OACAC's services in Dallas County are set to receive nearly $70,000from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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Approved usesinclude
- buying cleaning supplies and/or services to sanitize some units
- relocating participating families to health units or other designated locations for testing, hospitalization or quarantine
- providing child care for children of some staff that may not have otherwise been incurred, according to a department news release.
The Springfield Housing Authority is also receiving nearly $240,000 for its public housing programs, for a total of $383,495.
"I'm very proud of HUD stepping up to the plate and giving us waivers of some of their requirements as well as the additional funding during this pandemic," the Springfield Housing Authority's executive director Katrena Wolfram said in an email.
Katie Kull covers local government for the News-Leader. Got a story to tell? Give her a call at 417-408-1025 or email herat kkull@news-leader.com. You can also support local journalism atNews-Leader.com/subscribe.
