The CARES Act provides $150 billion for a Coronavirus Relief Fund to make payments to states, tribal governments, and direct payments to some, very large units of local government within 30 days of the enacted date. This bill was signed into law on March 27, 2020.
The below breaks down the Act and how it will impact grants for state and local governments responding to the coronavirus.
- About $139 billion will be allocated by population of a state/units of local government.
- No local government may receive more than 45% of a state’s proportion amount.
- Each state will receive a minimum of $1.25 billion. Estimated state allocations can be found here.
- $8 billion to tribal governments
- $3 billion to U.S. territories including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the North Mariana Islands, and American Samoa
- $35 million for Treasury oversight
Funds can be used for costs that:
- Were necessary expenditures incurred due to COVID-19;
- Were not in the budget most recently approved as of the date of enactment;
- Were incurred between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 30, 2020.
FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Virus response resources
- $45.4 billion for a FEMA Disaster Relief Fund that includes $400 million in grants for firefighters ($100 million in AFG), emergency managers, and emergency food programs
- $1.5 billion for CDC State and Local Preparedness grants
- $955 million for HHS Aging and Disabled program resources and grants
- $850 million for DOJ Byrne Grants and Byrne Justice Assistance Grants
- $425 million for HHS SAMHSA funding for behavioral health clinics and emergency grants
- $200 million for Federal Communications Commission telehealth program grants
Social services resources
- $3.5 billion in Child Care and Development Grants
- $1 billion in Community Service Block Grants
- $900 million in Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- $750 million for Head Start
- $345 million in Department of Labor Dislocated Worker program resources and community grants
Housing assistance resources
- $4 billion for HUD Homeless Assistance Grants
- $1.25 billion in HUD tenant-based and $1 billion in project-based rental assistance resources
- $685 million for public housing authority operations
Education System Stabilization Resources through $31 billion in education stabilization resources to states to support pre-K, K-12, and higher education systems
State & local election assistance grants via Election Assistance Commission at $400 million
Economic & infrastructure rebuilding resources
- $25 billion for 100% no-match, FTA “Transit Infrastructure Grants”
- $10 billion in 100% no-match, FAA Grants-in-Aid for Airports
- $5 billion for HUD CDBG grants
- $1.5 billion for Economic Development Administration grants
- $75 million for National Endowment for the Arts grants and $75 million for National Endowment for the Humanities grants
Support for local businesses
- $350 billion for forgivable SBA Section 7(a) loans to small businesses to cover payroll, mortgage interest, rent and utility payments
- $192 million for grants for Small Business Development Center
- $48 million for no-match grants to Women’s Business Centers
- $10 million for Minority Business Centers
