While lawmakers in Washington D.C. continue haggling over emergency coronavirus aid, some local governments continue to stagger distribution of federal funds amid the pandemic.
The city of St. Cloud this week dispersed more coronavirus relief funds to struggling local businesses and nonprofits. Six nonprofits and 41 local
Six nonprofits and 41 local businesses received a total of nearly $200,000 in grants to stave off personnel reductions and infuse cash into operations strapped by the pandemic. More than 300 jobs were saved as a result of the funding, according to city officials.
St. Cloud City Council devised a plan to distribute $1.25 million in federal and state funds in three phases this spring, focusing on small businesses during the first phase.
“Our local businesses are the backbone and center point of our economic recovery,” said Antranette Forbes, economic development and special projects manager for the city.
Grants for up to $10,000 for local businesses and up to $5,000 for local nonprofits are still available.
Priority is being given to restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gyms, theaters, banquet halls and beauty salons.
Nonprofits must provide coronavirus-related assistance to a client base that’s at least 51 percent St. Cloud residents. Interested local
Interested local businesses and nonprofits can view links to available local, state and federal funding sources at stcloud. org/smallbusinessrecovery. Congress has not passed
Congress has not passed any significant governmentaid packages since the Paycheck Protection Program, which was included in the CARES act. Support for another
Support for another round of PPP is high among the general public and small business owners, according to a survey release by CNBC last week.
Despite the consensus, stimulus talks stalled in Congress in the late summer.
Meanwhile, key unemployment expansion provisions that Congress put in place earlier this year expire at the end of the month. About 12 million people could lose benefits if lawmakers fail to act.
The CNBC survey showed that 1 in 5 small business owners has had to furlough or lay off some or all employees as a result of the coronavirus
About 58 percent already have hired some workers back. Still, about 20 percent of those surveyed expect those furloughs to be permanent.
The job losses have been most significant in the service industry with Osceola County leading the state in unemployment.
