Area counties take applications for $6M in coronavirus relief money

Two area counties will receive a combined $6.4 million in CARES Act funding to distribute to local governments and political subdivisions.

Grant applications will be accepted by Butler County and Ripley County officials through June 15 and June 19, respectively.

The CARES Act was passed March 27 by Congress to establish a Coronavirus Relief Fund.

Expenses incurred between March 1 and May 31 are eligible, according to a press release issued Thursday morning by Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission. OFRPC is administering the grant funds.

Both counties anticipate other rounds of funding at a later date for non-profits, and possibly small businesses, depending on availability of funds, said Crystal Jones, executive director of OFRPC.

Butler County received a total of $4.9 million in the first round of funding, and Ripley County $1.5 million.

Both counties anticipate making awards by the end of July.

Expenditures must be used for actions taken to respond to the public health emergency, Jones explained in a press release. Funds may not be used to fill shortfalls in government revenue to cover expenditures that would not otherwise qualify under the CARES Act.

All applications for funding must satisfy the requirements of the CARES Act and Treasury guidance.

“Applicants will be required to submit sufficient supporting documentation such as invoices, receipts and proof of payment,” Jones said in a press release. “The OFRPC will review the applications for completeness (including supporting documentation), compliance with the CARES Act requirements and Treasury guidance.”

Award recipients will be required to enter into a written agreement with the counties prior to disbursement of awarded funds, Jones said.

Over the course of the past three weeks, both counties have reviewed the requirements of the CARES Act and the guidance issued by the Department of Treasury and have been working with the OFRPC to identify community priorities, she said.

That guidance includes, Jones said, that payments may only be used to cover costs that: are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19; were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, for the government; and were incurred during the period that begins on March 1-Dec. 30, 2020.