On or about March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law 116-136, (hereinafter referred to as the “CARES Act”) to facilitate the provision of federal assistance and relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Title V of the CARES ACT established the “Coronavirus Relief Fund” and appropriated $150 billion in such fund for Fiscal Year 2020 to provide direct assistance to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments to fund certain necessary and allowable expenses incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19.
By utilizing a population-based formula described in the CARES Act, the State of Florida was allocated $8.328 billion, of which amount 55% ($4.58 billion) was reserved for the state and 45% ($3.747 billion) was reserved for direct payments to eligible local government jurisdictions that exceed 500,000 in population. On June 10, 2020, the Governor of the State of Florida announced that the State would disburse up to $1.275 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds to counties with a population below 500,000 using a phased approach through FDEM. Escambia County and FDEM entered into FDEM CARES Act Funding Agreement providing 25% of the County’s total Coronavirus Relief Fund allocation directly to the County. Through the CARES Act Agreement, the County has received $14,321,324 from the Florida Division of Emergency Management which represents 25% of the County’s total potential reimbursement amount of $57,285,296.
Public assistance funding for COVID-19 Emergency Protective Measures is also available
through the FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program.
Currently, Escambia County has received the following notifications or awards in relation to the CARES Act.
| Source of CARES Funds |
Purpose |
Amount |
| US Dept of the Treasury |
FDEM CARES Act Agreement – 25% |
$14,321,324.00 |
US Dept of Health and Human
Services |
Provider Relief Fund - EMS |
$395,998.00 |
| US Dept of Justice |
Coronavirus Emergency
Supplemental Funding Program – Jail
and Sheriff
|
$370,107.00 |
| FEMA |
EMPG COVID-19 Supplemental |
$19,949.43 |
|
CARES ACT through FL
Housing
|
CARES CRF FHFC Housing –
includes City
|
$903,834.00 |
|
US Dept of Housing & Urban
Dev
|
CDBG Coronavirus Funds |
$872,881.00 |
|
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA)
|
5307 CARES Act for Operating and
Capital Assistance
|
$10,137,924.00 |
| US Dept of Transportation |
Formula Grants for Rural Areas
ECAT
|
$541960.00 |
|