The state’s website contains the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Kentucky.
CARES Act Funding for Local Governments
Gov. Andy Beshear announced a $300 million award to city and county governments as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to reimburse local governments for expenses incurred in response to the public health emergency caused by the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
These funds will be administered by the Department for Local Government (DLG) and can be used for reimbursements only to eligible cities and counties for COVID-19 related expenses incurred from March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020.
Eligible expenses:
- Are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to
the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19); - Were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 (the
date of enactment of the CARES Act) for the State or government; and - Were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30,
2020.
Potential expenses include:
-Payroll expenses for public safety, public health, health care, human services, and similar employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID19 public health emergency
-Public health expenses
-Medical expenses
-Expenses of actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 related public health measures
-And more
For more information and guidance on eligible reimbursement expenses from the CRF, read Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions.
To apply for reimbursement, eligible local governments must complete an application with expense documentation.
To see what your community’s preliminary reimbursement amount is, please click here.
Email DLG.CRF@ky.gov if you have any questions or contact Danielle Story with KIPDA at danielle.story@kipda.org.
FEMA Resources
Under President Trump’s COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, FEMA may provide reimbursement for emergency protective measures through its Public Assistance Program. Local governments and certain private non-profit organizations (ex: hospitals, schools, churches, etc.) that assist with COVID-19 emergency measures are eligible.
Kinds of things that could be eligible:
- Emergency operation center costs
- Training specific to emergency
- Disinfection of eligible public facilities
- Technical assistance on emergency management and control of immediate threats to public health and safety
- Emergency medical care
- Temporary medical facilities and/or enhanced
- Specialized medical equipment
- Emergency medical transport
- Non-deferrable medical treatment
- PPE
- Purchase and distribution of food, water, ice, medicine and other supplies
- Security
- Communication of health and safety to the public
What’s not reimbursable:
- Regular time
- Comp time, overtime and fringe for non-essential employees
- Food for general public
- Loss of tax revenue
For a complete list please review FEMA’s March 19th press release below.
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program covers 75% of eligible restoration costs with the state providing 12% and the applicant being responsible for 13% of the eligible costs. Private non-profits and local governments, who are interested in applying, are empowered to drive their own recovery and directly apply for reimbursement without waiting for FEMA to submit a Program Delivery Manager. FEMA is simplifying the process and applicants can apply for assistance directly through the PA Grants Portal. In order to ensure that these costs are reimbursed, local governments and private non-profits need to keep track of all expenses linked to the COVID-19 crisis. There are no further instructions from the state or FEMA at this time.
Other resources:
Small-Business Administration
The Small-Business Administration is offering up to $2 million in disaster assistance loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration. Please review the press release below for more information.
For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service
center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide
USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. These programs can support recovery efforts for rural residents, businesses and communities through:
• technical, training, and management assistance;
• financial assistance; and
• state and local assistance.
This resource matrix organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America. Opportunities are categorized by customer and assistance type.