alachua county covid relief fund

Shuping said that makessense because, similarly to the individual applications, a greater number of businesses are located within Gainesville city limits than elsewhere in the county. For the countys general fund, which provides resources for most county departments and constitutional offices, the millage rate would be reduced from 8.2729 mills about $8.28 collected by the county for every $1,000 that a property is a worth to 7.8961 mills, or about $7.90 collected. The United States Department of Treasury directly allocated the funds to states, and Florida received $1.2 billion to allocate to counties based on population. Alachua County Public Schools on Tuesday announced its efforts to bridge the digital divide with money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which couldpotentially provide enough funding to give thousands of students take-home laptops with built-in internet connections or hotspots. Lieberman also unveiled the countys tentative budget plan for the fiscal year 2021, which was significantly influenced by the economic fallout of COVID-19. About 53% of recipients livewithin Gainesville's city limits, while about a third live in unincorporated areas of the county. The county commissioners are breaking down the funds into six different categories ranging from individual assistance to business relief grants - with $21 million reserved for individuals on a first come, first serve basis. Listen below: Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman outlined CARES Act distribution during Tuesdays first special meeting, and then introduced the countys fiscal year 2021 tentative budget during the second meeting. An increase in property values means an increase in property taxes, which are the main revenue source for the county, contributing about $130 million to the $564 million budget. This second iteration of relief money follows the roughly $14 billion allocated to colleges in spring 2020 in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act,. COVID-19 Community Resource Portal This Portal is a partnership of local governments, first responders, educational institutions, hospitals, nonprofits, and many others. The second round of ERAP funds is 65% used so far; with a total of $8 million. Update or Upgrade Your Sustaining Gift Today! The relief plans remaining money will be allocated to things like medical expenses, public health expenses, and actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19-related measures. Students in kindergarten through 11th grade . About $500,000 of that will be set aside for future food delivery to vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens. In order to be eligible for the additional funds, it must use up this portion first. $21.1 million for Individual Assistance Grants, 2. She said the $500,000 could be used for rent money that the courts requirebe placed in escrow in eviction cases before a judge will even hear the cases. They decided not to renew my lease December 31 so at this point I havent found nowhere else to place my family. This roll back would include millage reductions, or reductions in property tax rates. These actually align really closely with the populations, which is what wed expect, Shuping said. COVID19 Economic Relief Assistance for Small Businesses Assistance for Small Businesses The COVID-19 public health crisis and resulting economic crisis have created a variety of challenges for small, micro, and solo businesses in communities across the country. For the law enforcement fund, the millage rate would reduce from 3.7240 mills to 3.5678 mills. Im just getting back into nursing, just getting back on my feet. Alachua requested about $200,000 and has received about $35,000. HHS has allocated $170.9 billion of the total $178 billion authorized by Congress for this Fund as of September 2021, including $14.8 billion used to support vaccine development and distribution.. What's behind the shortages of Adderall, Ozempic and other meds? Alachua County Budget Increasing By Nearly $78 Million, Despite the pandemic, a rise in Alachua County. City funding plans create opportunity, risk, Alachua County evictions are on the rise, with 188 cases still open, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Read more about the C.D.C.'s . The new positivity rate in Alachua County dropped from 30.7% to 27.3%. During a board of county commissioners special meeting Tuesday, Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman unveiled disbursement plans for the countys COVID-19 relief funds and a tentative budget plan for the fiscal year 2021, which starts Oct. 1. Alachua County Emergency Rental Assistance pay millions in rent and utility services to community, Equestrian show jumper from Central Florida dies during a competition. The crawl space scooter is built with 1/4 high grade. According to Lieberman, these initial funds must be spent before the county can receive the next set of funds. The first-round of grants will be up to $2,500 with the possibility of up to an additional $2,500 in the future as funding allows. Alachua County will disburse $46.9 million in CARES Act funds for COVID-19 relief, and according to a new budget plan, property taxes in the county could soon be lowered, too. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. So I was $15,000 behind so ERAP really helped me out, said Alachua County resident, June King. A mill is $1 out of every $1,000 of a propertys taxable value, and in Liebermans recommendation, the county would collect fewer mills for the two funds mentioned. May 1The Community Foundation of Frederick County is accepting online applications for music instruction scholarships through May 31. Included in the Act was the creation of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which provided $150 billion in direct assistance across the nation to State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments. In addition to ARP ESSER, the ARP Act includes $3 billion for special education, $850 million for the Outlying Areas, $2.75 billion to support non-public schools, and additional funding for homeless children and youth, Tribal educational agencies, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives. Public health expenses include an initial $2 million in funding for purchasing protective equipment for health workers and disinfecting public facilities (including nursing homes). The school district will send students home with a hard copy of a short survey with questions for parents to answer about their child's access to the internet and device. Countys running out of funds doesnt mean the program is over, said April Shuping with Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPA firm. However, these rates are merely the county managers recommendation; the county commission is tasked with setting the tentative millage rates during its July 14 meeting. The crawl space scooter is built with 1/4 high grade. use federal COVID-19 relief dollars to cover any funding losses from the state . "It was a priority of this commission thatmoney be distributed directly to our local nonprofit agencies because A:they have a relationship and proven track record with serving folks in the community that needs it most and B:they can do things the city simply can not," Poe said. It is clear to me that building and nurturing strong partnerships within our community is a commission priority, Lieberman said. All rights reserved. The Act provided more than $2 trillion in funding for programs including, but not limited to, education, health and human services, labor, housing and agriculture. The county is also working on the Alachua County Regional Sports Complex, a project Lieberman said will generate over 1,000 jobs, $77 million in economic activity and over $12 million in tax revenues, annually. Commissioners decided individuals will be able to apply for up to $5,000 (per household), a jump up from the plans initial proposal of $2,500. Local share of FEMA expenses for county, municipalities, and constitutional officer employees responding to COVID-19. Newberry and Micanopy did not sign a subrecipient agreement with the county and are therefore not eligible to receive reimbursement funding for costs incurred due to the pandemic. 4182 Federal Register/Vol. After the first round of applications are reviewed, it could take up to two weeks until the funding is distributed. TOTAL AMOUNT DISBURSED: $1,387,493,832.96 out of $5,855,807,379.80. Based on the number of pending applications which includes more than 3,300 in different phases of the process Shuping said she expects the county to distribute more than $21 million to individual residents. Last year Alachua County managed to complete various community projects amid the pandemic including the Alachua County Agriculture & Equestrian Center in Newberry, the UF/IFAS Extension building and Cuscowilla Nature Park and Retreat. Businesses must be able to show documented loss of profit due to required closure or efforts to rehire furloughed or laid-off workers. As part of our ongoingoversee and regularly report on this The Big Picture Six COVID-19 relief laws enacted in 2020 and 2021 provided about $4.6 trillion of funding for pandemic response and recovery. I will make sure we are maxing out money to individuals even before giving it to businesses, he said. The county will receive $52 million in aid, and is in the process of planning how it will be spent. If local news is important to you, consider becoming a digital subscriber to the Gainesville Sun. Health News Florida | According to Lieberman, the funds will be shifted and reallocated to different programs and municipalities depending on need. for the 2022 fiscal year showed an increase in revenue and spending. The rest of the funds are split among residents living in other municipalities. https://www.wuft.org/news/files/2020/07/budget-audio-narration.mp3, Florida LGBTQ+ lawmaker to GOP: Im literally trying to exist, Eighth Circuit Court Judge Sean Brewer sworn in at investiture ceremony, Gainesville city commissioners seek clarity about Ironwood Golf Course finances, Gainesville City Commission votes to partially restore Boltin Center, Clinics Say Privacy Clause Protects Abortion Rights, Six former Florida Gators selected during NFL Draft, Hurricane Preparedness Week begins in Florida, The Point, May 1, 2023: Lawmakers approve change to resign-to-run law. $250,000 crisis intervention from trauma as a result of COVID-19. Alachua County posts Cares Act Grant application link, Application is now live for the Alachua County Cares Act Grant, Rent, mortgage, utility, internet, phone and car payment assistance, Daycare assistance for school-aged children, if school attendance is limited, Documented issue related to COVID-19 (i.e. (March 11), Gainesville officials approve $7 million in pandemic relief to dozens of local nonprofits, Alachua County seeks community help to bridge digital divide by taking internet speed test, School board approves 4 of 11 math textbooks after DeSantis' crackdown on critical race theory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Those are the people who are involved in these most vulnerable businesses.. GRUdid not have readily available the exact dollar figureof what is owed by only those city customers who had requested COVID hardship relief in the past, Warm said in a text message on Tuesday. Thanks to our prudent and responsible financial planning over many years, Lieberman said, we can implement this decision while continuing to provide the same level of excellent programs and services.. Stephanie Bailes, CEO and executive director of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, appearedemotional before emphatically stating all the work Cade employees do in the community, including providing 900 community memberships, free classes at local YMCA locationsand hosting graduation for PACE Center for Girls. a $101.5 billion state budget in April, a nearly $10 billion increase in spending from the last fiscal year. The fiscal year 2021 budget plan will be publicly discussed and amended by the board of county commissioners for the next two months, culminating in its adoption on Sept. 22. Should the proposal be adopted, funds will go toward projects such as developing a new administration building, providing affordable housing and land conservation. Lieberman also unveiled the countys tentative budget plan for the fiscal year 2021, which was significantly influenced by the economic fallout of COVID-19. Its the constant reevaluation of the criteria that were using to make sure that we get it to as many people as possible in the time thats allotted, she said. $2.5 million for any other COVID-19-related eligible expenses reasonably necessary to the function of government. All rights reserved. A mill is $1 out of every $1,000 of a propertys taxable value, and in Liebermans recommendation, the county would collect fewer mills for the two funds mentioned. The survey also can be completed online at www.sbac.edu/techsurvey,and also willbe available via text and email. Commissioner David Arreola also expressed disappointment with a lack of funding for some groups. News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. Heres a breakdown of how the money is likely to be dispersed: individuals, $21.8 million; businesses, $2.8 million, not-for-profit assistance, $2.3 million; county government, $2.3 million; other government entities, $7.7 million; administration $2.4 million. Commissioner Mike Byerly spurred the efforts to bump up the dollar limit for which people could apply. Distribution will just be paused to make sure that each of the smaller perhaps less technology driven areas have a chance to get their applications in an processed.. Tenants have to be at or below 80% of the average median income for Alachua County which is at $39,000 yearly for one person. To be held in reserve for programs not yet determined and expenses not yet anticipated. How GoFundMe Works; Why . The United States Department of Treasury directly allocated the funds to states, and Florida received $1.2 billion to allocate to counties based on population. During the first round of funding, only $2,500 of the total $5,000 will be available to each household. This website tracks only actual disbursements of the $5.86 billion deposited into the Florida Treasury. Mayor Lauren Poe on Thursday thanked Congress and President Joe Biden for taking an "unprecedented step" of providingthe funding directly to cities across the country. Here is a breakdown from the County on where the funds will be going: 1. But which customers may or may not qualify for the utility financial assistance is still a question mark, officials said. In response to the economic downturn, she recommended roll back rates for the countys general tax fund and the Municipal Services Taxing Units law enforcement fund. Gainesville has requested $2.9 million and has so far received about $749,000. More than $15.5 million of grant money has been spent to process applications and payout bills to qualifying residents. This would ultimately result in a difference of $504,226 in comparison to the funds projected revenue for this fiscal year. The longer we waitto get money in the hands of people, the worse those folks' situations will be, she said. 1026. Other local government agencies that requested aid include the health department, which has requested $1.85 million that has not yet been dispersed; the school board, which has received $750,000 out of the $2.05 million requested and the sheriffs office, which has received nearly $200,000. If not expended by October 30, 2020, this amount shall be redistributed to other categories. Coverage of the coronavirus pandemic on Health News Florida. Medical expenses will receive $2 million initially, with $1.25 million reserved for the Alachua County Department of Healths contact tracing specialists, epidemiologists and other medical staff. Example: Social distancing markers, signage, modifying counter areas, etc. Citizens can apply for up to $5,000. In the meantime, Mayor Lauren Poe said Tuesday that this potential first round of financial utility assistance is already approved, and he urged people who have struggled to pay their utility bills due to the pandemic to contact Gainesville Regional Utilities about possibly getting assistance. School Board gets aid, but crowding, HyFlex teaching remain sore spots, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. A majority of those funds about 72% are for Gainesville-based businesses. High Springs requested about $100,000 and has received about $24,000. The Alachua County Commission at a special meeting Tuesday afternoon unanimously backed a plan for allocating $46.9 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act funds. Commissioner Mary Alford also suggested using some additional funding to make improvements to the county administration building, which is being used more now than it had been for several months, since commission meetings have resumed a hybrid, online and in-person structure. But I would say that anybody who falls in that (COVID hardship) category could be eligible.. Ken Cornell, chair of the county commission, said this is considered an "emergency action" not an "emergency order," meaning the county can not enforce mandates like masking or vaccinations. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Alachua County is now under a declared state of emergency due to COVID-19. The $46.9 million in relief funds comes from the federal governments CARES Act, but Alachua County will receive the funds in quarters, starting with $11.7 million to be used for the next six months. 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399, Copyright 2023 Florida Department of Financial Services. Alachua County Reveals Future COVID-19 Relief And Budget Plans By Thomas Weber July 8, 2020 Coronavirus, Government and politics Alachua County will disburse $46.9 million in CARES Act. Commissioner Mike Byerly spurred the efforts to bump up the dollar limit for which people could apply. Jim Harriot, deputy county manager for public works and growth management, said the county is already looking into the costs of adding ionization technology in the HVAC system, which has been used elsewhere to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. During the pandemic, Alachua County has also been the recipient of federal aid money. $3.3 million for expenses of actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19-related public health measures, 8. The budget proposal comes at a time where many are worried local economies are suffering from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. billion: $5.86 billion was deposited into the State Treasury as General Revenue and approximately $2.47 billion was allocated to 12 of the largest counties directly by the U.S. Treasury. Saturday , April 22 2023 WUFT TV/FM Pleasant United Methodist Church, Inc. - $10,000, Neighborhood Housing & Development Corporation - $750,000, North Central Florida YMCA, Inc. - $300,000, Pace Center for Girls, Inc. Alachua - $300,000, Rebuilding Together North Central Florida - $20,000, River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding - $98,400, University of Florida Mobile Outreach Clinic - $300,000. 20% of this will be available during the first round of the countys CARES Act funding. These include maintaining the county jail, along with caring for the isolation and medical needs of the homeless population. The other $750,000 will be allocated to things like expansion of testing sites and emergency transport costs. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -Two waves of federal funds sent millions to Alachua County residents for rent and utility expenses. $750,000 allocated to other medical expenses to include, but not be limited to: Last Thursday, the commission agreed to spend up to $250,000 for COVID utility assistance and $500,000 for legal help to prevent people from being evicted. We particularly need to hear from the families of students who dont have access to the internet at home, either because they lack a device, connectivity, or both, Johnson said in a news release. The county also received $17 million from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Sexton said. Tenants have to be at or below 80% of the average median income for Alachua County which is at $39,000 yearly for one person. Officials also voted to discuss how to spend and split a remaining$18,000 pot of money between the organizations at next week's general policy meeting. Any new allocations announced by the Governor's Office or the Florida Legislature would not appear in these numbers until payments are actually The most reliable way I think we have to get the money to the people who are in the greatest need is not via the filter of a business its through an inpiduals ability to demonstrate, I havent been able to pay my rent in three months, because I lost my job on March 17, he said. The community level of Covid-19 in Alachua County is low based on cases and hospitalizations, according to the most recent update from the C.D.C. $500,000 cost to enforce public ordinances in place to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Coronavirus Relief Fund The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. made. Other initiatives in the budget plan included raising the minimum wage for county workers from $14 to $14.50 an hour, continued construction of a county agricultural and equestrian center and development of new county infrastructure, such as an administration building to consolidate much of the countys downtown operations in a single location.. Commissioner Mike Byerly said getting money into the pockets of laid off residents should be a priority. Source: www.diychatroom.com. $800,000 maintaining the county jail, including as relates to sanitation and improvement of social distancing measures, to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions. About $2.7 million went to small businesses, $6.3 million went to government agencies, about $2.7 million went to nonprofit organizations conducting COVID-19 aid and about $11 million went to the countys COVID-19 relief efforts. Source: www.ridgidforum.com. The countys revenue from both gas sales and the bed tax, a tax hotels and temporary lodgings charge travelers, was significantly reduced at the end of the 2020 fiscal year and beginning of the 2021 fiscal year, said Tommy Crosby, Assistant County Manager. Under the countys plan, eligible households may receive up to $5,000 to cover rent or mortgage, car, utility, phone and internet payments they are unable to cover. 10/Friday, January 15, 2021/Notices 1 As noted previously on Treasury's website, on June 30, 2020, the guidance provided under ''Costs incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020'' was

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