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Osceola County administration building
Osceola County residents and businesses have received more than $45 million in assistance since the beginning of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis and such aid will continue into 2021 as the community’s needs will not diminish in the foreseeable future.
This is possible because the Board of County Commissioners authorized using all its CARES Act funding for Public Safety and Health payroll based on the recommendation of Florida Department of Emergency Management. This change from the original plan for the County’s $65.5 million in CARES Act funding frees General Fund dollars that have been established within the same accounting structure for the CARES Act funds and are referred to as the CARES Replacement Funds.
“The financial struggles for Osceola residents and businesses will not suddenly end with the close of the year 2020, and the Board wanted to ensure that we were able to maximize the use of CARES dollars in a wise way,” said Osceola Chairman Brandon Arrington. “This pandemic has not ended and the impact will be felt for months to come so we wanted to be able to keep our assistance programs running to help those in need.”
Human Services has assisted 2,105 clients with rental, mortgage and utility assistance totaling more than $22.25 million, including $2 million distributed for utility assistance and $250,000 to house the homeless. Another $3 million has been used to fight food insecurity.
Business assistance and economic recovery programs have 15.1 million allocated and have processed more than 570 applications and disbursed $3.4 million for the Business Assistance Grant Program. The program is for locally owned and independently operated, including non-profit entities and home-based businesses physically located in Osceola County, including businesses within city limits of Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Businesses of all sizes can apply. Information about eligibility, required documentation and FAQs can be found at https://www.weveopenedsafely.com/grant-program/.
Other funding has included $2.49 million for education, mental health and other programs including:
•Provided the School District with $2.3 million in CARES Act funds for computer equipment, including 3,800 computers, cameras, and other training devices, as well as rapid job training, basic education and language programs at Osceola Technical College and the Adult Learning Center of Osceola.
•Valencia College received more than $800,000 in funding to support at least 340 eligible students to complete Accelerated Skills Training programs, language training, and earn credentials that will lead to gainful employment.
•Supported the recovery of the tourism industry, the largest provider of jobs for residents, by earmarking $3.7 million for Experience Kissimmee to launch recovery marketing campaigns, to tell travelers we are open, safe and ready to welcome tourists back to a world-class destination.
•Extended health services within Osceola, with $200,000 to the Health Department for two mobile medical units, and another $460,000 for an additional mobile medical unit, and protective equipment and supplies.
$75,000 to Park Place Behavioral Health Care to provide mental health assistance.
•The Early Learning Coalition received $500,000 for childcare assistance programs, while United Cerebral Palsy School will receive $246,000 to support distance learning.
•$250,000 will go towards assistance programs to aid the elderly and disabled residents.
•Approximately $80,000 in CARES Act reimbursement funding for food insecurity support to families with students in the School District of Osceola County’s Families In Transition Program. 1,584 school-age children currently registered in the Families in Transition Program during the Winter Break period from school will receive a $50 gift card.
