Alachua County Organization for Rural Needs, Inc., d/b/a ACORN Clinic - $64,598 Alachua Habitat for Humanity - $196,513 Bread of the Mighty Food Bank - $477,534 Or, businesses of 50 employees or less can receive up to $10,000 through a back-to-work grant with documented efforts to reemploy furloughed or laid-off workers. City helps nonprofits: Gainesville officials approve $7 million in pandemic relief to dozens of local nonprofits, County survey: Alachua County seeks community help to bridge digital divide by taking internet speed test, Textbook ban: School board approves 4 of 11 math textbooks after DeSantis' crackdown on critical race theory. Example: Overtime, additional staff, and law enforcement support. Sexton said all of the CARES Act money was allocated and spent by December 2020. The relief plans remaining money will be allocated to things like medical expenses, public health expenses, and actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19-related measures. The $46.9 million in relief funds comes from the federal governments CARES Act, but Alachua County will receive the funds in quarters, starting with $11.7 million to be used for the next six months. For example, only three commissioners indicated support for spending the money on improving broadband capacity in areas where internet service is poor, with commissioners recommending the following expenditures: Adrian Hayes-Santos, $15 million;Reina Saco, $13 million;and Harvey Ward,$900,000. The Alachua County School District will use federal pandemic relief funding to helpstudents have better access to the internet at home. This pages tracks the history of coronavirus cases in Alachua County, both recent and all-time. This would ultimately result in a difference of about $2,072,541 for this particular fund in comparison to its projected revenue from fiscal year 2020. Thomas is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org. WUSF is reporting on how distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine exposes inequities in Floridas health care system. Others expressed frustration with the smaller $20,000 and $10,000 grants received. Thank goodness we have the ERAP money there, said County Commissioner, Mary Alford. Nearly $7 million of pandemic relief money will be distributed to dozens of local nonprofits, the Gainesville City Commission unanimously agreed on Thursday. $750,000 allocated to other medical expenses to include, but not be limited to: Expansion of testing sites and capabilities, Example: Tents with climate mitigation, testing kits, additional sites, Example: Decontamination units, overtime due to quarantine issues, drug costs, $1 million for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical supplies for public health and safety workers, Example: Masks, face shields, gowns, and similar items, $250,000 for disinfecting of public areas and facilities such as nursing homes, Example: Aerosol units, spray systems, and disinfecting products, $250,000 for quarantining health care and public safety officers, Example: First responders, law enforcement officers, and health personnel, $250,000 for preparing public buildings to serve customers. A total of 49 groups asked for a combined $19 million, but the list wasdwindled down to 37 groups based on priorities of existing services by the Community Foundation of North Central Florida through a competitive process with the help of city staff and community activists. The money is intended to help a host of organizations provide and increaseservices to area residentswork thatmay have been hindered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countys running out of funds doesnt mean the program is over, said April Shuping with Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPA firm. Commissioner Mike Byerly spurred the efforts to bump up the dollar limit for which people could apply. Alachua. 20% of this will be available during the first round of the countys CARES Act funding. Most municipalities also signed a subrecipient agreement with the county to receive their own aid money. Though nervous about pain from the shot,. So far 3,450 have been accepted and 2,830 denied. Alachua County Reveals Future COVID-19 Relief And Budget Plans, WUFT 89.1 / 90.1 Featured Thank you Gifts. To qualify for assistance, a homeowner must: Own and occupy an eligible one- to four- unit primary residence Have experienced a COVID-19 related financial hardship, and have been unable to remain current on mortgage payments Meet household income limits Have been current on mortgage and property taxes as of January 2020 Guidelines 4182 Federal Register/Vol. An increase in property values means an increase in property taxes, which are the main revenue source for the county, contributing about $130 million to the $564 million budget. All rights reserved. The funds would go to Three Rivers Legal Services, a nonprofit legal firm the cityalready has under contract. But Alachua County has managed to make up for some of its pandemic-related losses. The budget proposal comes at a time where many are worried local economies are suffering from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alachua County will disburse $46.9 million in CARES Act funds for COVID-19 relief, and according to a new budget plan, property taxes in the county could soon be lowered, too. All rights reserved. The fiscal year 2021 budget plan will be publicly discussed and amended by the board of county commissioners for the next two months, culminating in its adoption on Sept. 22. A total of $21.1 million is set aside for individual and household assistance. The deadline to complete the survey is May 13 with the hope that devices will be ready for distribution by the start of next school year. The survey also can be completed online at www.sbac.edu/techsurvey,and also willbe available via text and email. COVID-19 Community Resource Portal This Portal is a partnership of local governments, first responders, educational institutions, hospitals, nonprofits, and many others. $21.1 million for Individual Assistance Grants, 2. In response to the economic downturn, she recommended roll back rates for the countys general tax fund and the Municipal Services Taxing Units law enforcement fund. She said the $500,000 could be used for rent money that the courts requirebe placed in escrow in eviction cases before a judge will even hear the cases. County residents can now click HERE to apply for the grant. Both violas in the collection were made right here in Alachua County, and one of them had never been checked out by a UF student. The school district will send students home with a hard copy of a short survey with questions for parents to answer about their child's access to the internet and device. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -Two waves of federal funds sent millions to Alachua County residents for rent and utility expenses. The United States Department of Treasury directly allocated the funds to states, and Florida received $1.2 billion to allocate to counties based on population. In addition, the expenditures must not have been accounted for in the most recent budget approved as of March 27, the date the act was signed into law. More than $15.5 million of grant money has been spent to process applications and payout bills to qualifying residents. Last year Alachua County managed to complete various community projects amid the pandemic including the Alachua County Agriculture & Equestrian Center in Newberry, the UF/IFAS Extension building and Cuscowilla Nature Park and Retreat. However, only the first $2,500 will be guaranteed; the remaining aid that people apply for will be disbursed as it becomes available as funds are reevaluated and reallocated. The remaining $4.36 billion will be used by the State to cover COVID 19-related costs. However, these rates are merely the county managers recommendation; the county commission is tasked with setting the tentative millage rates during its July 14 meeting. School Board gets aid, but crowding, HyFlex teaching remain sore spots, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Medical expenses will receive $2 million initially, with $1.25 million reserved for the Alachua County Department of Healths contact tracing specialists, epidemiologists and other medical staff. (March 11), Gainesville officials approve $7 million in pandemic relief to dozens of local nonprofits, Alachua County seeks community help to bridge digital divide by taking internet speed test, School board approves 4 of 11 math textbooks after DeSantis' crackdown on critical race theory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Trackingmagnitude. Our department manages the financial responsibilities for the State of Florida. The next phase of COVID-19 financial assistance comes through the American Rescue Plan. The most reliable way I think we have to get the money to the people who are in the greatest need is not via the filter of a business its through an individuals ability to demonstrate, I havent been able to pay my rent in three months, because I lost my job on March 17, he said. Stephanie Bailes, CEO and executive director of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, appearedemotional before emphatically stating all the work Cade employees do in the community, including providing 900 community memberships, free classes at local YMCA locationsand hosting graduation for PACE Center for Girls. Coverage of the coronavirus pandemic on Health News Florida. The Alachua County Commission at a special meeting Tuesday afternoon unanimously backed a plan for allocating $46.9 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act funds. Alachua County is on track to provide more than $39 million to local residents, businesses and organizations in need of coronavirus aid by the end of the year. According to Lieberman, the funds will be shifted and reallocated to different programs and municipalities depending on need. RELATED STORY: Families in need can receive up to $15,000 for rental assistance in Alachua County. These actually align really closely with the populations, which is what wed expect, Shuping said. These include maintaining the county jail, along with caring for the isolation and medical needs of the homeless population. Alachua County Budget Increasing By Nearly $78 Million, Despite the pandemic, a rise in Alachua County. They decided not to renew my lease December 31 so at this point I havent found nowhere else to place my family. This would guarantee that staffing level for at least the six-month period that we can provide funding, she said. The American Rescue Plan provides $10 billion to state and Tribal governments to fund small business credit expansion initiatives. A mill is $1 out of every $1,000 of a propertys taxable value, and in Liebermans recommendation, the county would collect fewer mills for the two funds mentioned. That could include families that dont have enough technology resources for all the students in their household., Biden signs $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, Marking a year of loss and disruption, President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law the $1.9 trillion relief package that he says will help the U.S. defeat the coronavirus and nurse the economy back to health. But which customers may or may not qualify for the utility financial assistance is still a question mark, officials said. Its purpose is to serve all residents of Alachua County. Rental assistance program funds are expected to run out in April. This includes $800,000 for sanitation and health improvements in the county jail, $500,000 for staff to enforce public ordinances, $500,000 for the homeless populations housing and medical needs and $500,000 for food delivery programs. The county will receive $52 million in aid, and is in the process of planning how it will be spent. Applicants must be permanent Alachua County residents and show proof of financial strains. This would ultimately result in a difference of about $2,072,541 for this particular fund in comparison to its projected revenue from fiscal year 2020. The county will hire a third-party consultant, Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC, to assist the county in managing and tracking fund disbursements. Support COVID-19 fundraisers; Crisis Relief; Learn more. Small retail, salons, non-essential businesses, daycares, etc. However, the taxes are recovering and are expected to continue recovery into the 2022 fiscal year. County officials also plan to work with local utility companies to come up with a designated amount of utility assistance for customers who have been unable to keep up with payments. All rights reserved. for the 2022 fiscal year showed an increase in revenue and spending. Vaccination rates continue to rise. the commission agreed to spend up to $250,000 for COVID utility assistance and $500,000 for legal help to . Other initiatives in the budget plan included raising the minimum wage for county workers from $14 to $14.50 an hour, continued construction of a county agricultural and equestrian center and development of new county infrastructure, such as an administration building to consolidate much of the countys downtown operations in a single location.. During the first round of funding, only $2,500 of the total $5,000 will be available to each household. 2023 www.gainesville.com. July 8, 2020 Coronavirus, Government and politics. $800,000 maintaining the county jail, including as relates to sanitation and improvement of social distancing measures, to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions. We highlight the stories of Black Floridians seeking emotional healing and wellness. This roll back would include millage reductions, or reductions in property tax rates. Sign up for our daily or breaking newsletters to stay informed. Medical expenses will receive $2 million initially, with $1.25 million reserved for the Alachua County Department of Healths contact tracing specialists, epidemiologists and other medical staff. 86, No. Even though the county has been able to increase its budget, it has incurred losses in some areas. The second round of ERAP funds is 65% used so far; with a total of $8 million. Also included in the plan is $2 million for medical expenses such as costs to the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County for testing, contact tracing and case management. Pleasant United Methodist Church, Inc. - $10,000, Neighborhood Housing & Development Corporation - $750,000, North Central Florida YMCA, Inc. - $300,000, Pace Center for Girls, Inc. Alachua - $300,000, Rebuilding Together North Central Florida - $20,000, River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding - $98,400, University of Florida Mobile Outreach Clinic - $300,000. According to Lieberman, the funds will be shifted and reallocated to different programs and municipalities depending on need. During the pandemic, Alachua County has also been the recipient of federal aid money. However, these rates are merely the county managers recommendation; the county commission is tasked with setting the tentative millage rates during its July 14 meeting. $500,000 local share of FEMA expenses for county, municipalities, and constitutional officer non-payroll expenses responding to COVID-19. Poe said its not likely that the $250,000 will be enough to cover the past-due amounts owed by those withCOVID hardships, but he supports increasing the assistance amount with the help of the federal funds. Denials are usually due to lack of documentation that an economic hardship was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lieberman also unveiled the countys tentative budget plan for the fiscal year 2021, which was significantly influenced by the economic fallout of COVID-19. Mayor Lauren Poe on Thursday thanked Congress and President Joe Biden for taking an "unprecedented step" of providingthe funding directly to cities across the country. Alachua County Public Schools on Tuesday announced its efforts to bridge the digital divide with money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which couldpotentially provide enough funding to give thousands of students take-home laptops with built-in internet connections or hotspots.
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