The deadline is quickly approaching for Jefferson County businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools and local governments to claim their share of about $26.4 million in federal coronavirus relief aid. The deadline to apply is Nov. 10.
Officials have said they believe if any of the $26,406,492 the county has available is not spent before Dec. 30, it would have to be returned to the federal government.
Earlier this year, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help pay for unexpected expenses dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. States were allocated different amounts of money, and state officials then decided how much money each county would receive, largely based on population. Then, the counties were tasked with distributing funds to entities that apply for them.
County Executive Dennis Gannon said he’s anxious about the upcoming deadline.
“I’ve had this job for coming up on 24 months, and while I’ve been concerned about things, I don’t really worry about them,” he said. “But the thought there might be people out there we can help but they don’t know how to apply for this money – that has me awake at night worrying.”
Gannon said he believes most local governments – cities, school districts, fire and ambulance districts – know about the reimbursements and how to apply.
To date, the County Council has approved applications for 20 local government entities totaling $1,134,435.
In addition, two private schools – St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in De Soto ($15,102) and St. Joseph Catholic School in Imperial ($51,847) – have received reimbursements.
On top of that, the Jefferson County Health Department so far has received $1,435,051 in county CARES Act funding, covering unexpected expenses through July 31.
Gannon said guidelines issued by the Missouri Treasurer’s Office mandates counties designate at least 15 percent of their CARES Act funding to their local health agency, which means the Health Department would be in line for at least $3,960,974. “I’m hoping they get all of that,” he said.
Gannon said he also expects Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City to apply for funds.
“They’ve been on the front line, with some people devoting their time to nothing but COVID, which is a recoverable expense,” he said. “They also held popup test sites. They’ve been a big player in this.”
Gannon said he’s also spoken with agencies that help homeless people suspected of having the virus.
“They take them to the emergency room, and if they aren’t admitted but need to quarantine, they put them up at an approved hotel or motel,” Gannon said. “They’re given a fresh set of clothes once they’re approved to leave quarantine. If they are admitted, of course, there are other issues to be dealt with. There are a lot of costs associated with that, and I hope we’ll give them help with that.”
Businesses
and nonprofit groups
The Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation is processing applications from small businesses and nonprofit groups, and executive director Todd Tracy said his agency has its hands full with those.
“There seems to be something with each application that needs to be run down,” he said. “Sometimes, a business hasn’t given us the required information. A few have been perfect, but more often, it’s something missing here or there.”
Tracy recommends businesses considering applying for CARES Act funding go to the EDC’s website at jeffcountymo.org/colibri-wp/caresact.
“You can save yourself a lot of time and us a lot of time by looking on there first,” he said.
Tracy said a common problem holding up applications is the lack of legible documentation.
“Before you send a picture of your receipt, take a look at it and make sure it’s legible,” he said.
Businesses and nonprofit groups, including churches, may apply for two different types of relief.
The Business Safe Reimbursement Program provides reimbursement for items businesses bought to make employees and customers safer, such as face masks, personal protection equipment and cleaning supplies. Those reimbursements are capped at $5,000 per firm.
Tracy said as of Oct. 30, his agency is processing 70 Business Safe Reimbursement Program applications asking for $292,689.
“That doesn’t mean that’s what they’ll be approved for, but that’s what they’re requesting,” he said.
Another type of payment, the Emergency Relief Reimbursement Program, maxes out at $25,000, and is intended to provide relief for other expenses.
“If a business had to add people because they had to change their business model because of COVID, that might be something they could recover,” he said. “If they had to make software upgrades to cash registers, or purchase equipment to minimize customers touching items.”
To date, Tracy said, the EDC has received 133 applications for that kind of assistance, totaling $2,913,168 in requests.
The County Council so far as approved reimbursements under both programs to 20 businesses, for a total of $179,310.
“We were budgeted at roughly $4 million for businesses, and I think we’ll get in that ballpark,” he said.
Tracy said businesses with questions about whether an expenditure might qualify for reimbursement may send an email to his office at edcjeffcomo@gmail.com.