City Announces CARES Act Funding
Mayor Andrew J.
Ginther, along with City Council President Shannon G. Hardin and Councilmember
Shayla Favor, announced that the city of Columbus has received $157 million in
federal funds from the CARES Act to provide assistance in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our city and our residents have
been greatly impacted by COVID-19. The City has spent significant money on
COVID-related efforts including homelessness and food insecurity, as well as
overtime for police, fire and public health. At the same time, our revenues to
provide core city services are down because of high unemployment,” said Mayor
Andrew J. Ginther. “We will be using these new funds prudently to best address
the community impact of COVID-19.”
The CARES Act funding must be used
for expenditures necessary to address public health issues due to COVID-19 and
cannot be used to replace revenue. Funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2020.
Columbus will divide funds into three categories to best serve the needs of the
residents:
- $80 million for direct spending for COVID-19
expenses such as medical expenses for testing, EMS response, personal
protective equipment (or PPE)
- $51 million for human services such as shelter
for those experiencing homelessness, food and rental assistance
- $26 million for economic impact such as small
business assistance and technology for teleworking
Columbus City Council will vote on
Monday to accept and appropriate the funds.
"The needs facing families,
unemployed workers and small businesses are real and immediate, and City
Council is proud to work with Mayor Ginther and community agencies to use these
CARES funds for those impacted by the pandemic," said Council President
Hardin. "We are committed to
support for the new needs caused by COVID-19 in the short and long-term as the
world transitions during this crisis, and our priority must be on putting
families and small businesses first."
Councilmember Shayla Favor announced
that Council will vote on Monday on $3 million for a Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
Program to provide urgent relief to those residents struggling to stay in their
homes.
“The economic and financial impact
of COVID-19 on Columbus families has been devastating, leaving many unemployed
and without the ability to pay rent,” said Councilmember Favor, Chair of the
Housing Committee. “By providing direct rental assistance to those in need, we
are helping to stabilize families and keep them housed, not only preventing an
onslaught of evictions, but helping to ease the burden on our shelter system.”
Impact Community Action has been
selected to directly distribute the rental assistance dollars to those impacted
by COVID-19 and to other partners that already have rental assistance programs
including Columbus Urban League, COMPASS, COAAA and Physicians Care Connection.
Mayor Ginther also announced the
formation of a Recovery and Resiliency Advisory Group to help Columbus bounce
back from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic and prepare for the next
crisis. Members of the advisory board will be finalized in the coming weeks.