On March 27, 2020, congress passed, and President Donald Trump signed into law, the Corovavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act established the Coronavirus Relief Fund, and appropriated $150 billion to the fund.
A release from the Cooper County Commission says generally the CARES Act provides that payments may only be used to cover costs that: 1) are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19; 2) were not accounted for in the budget most-recently approved as of March 27, 2020, for the government; and 3) were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020.
Expenditures must be used for actions taken to respond to the public health emergency. Funds may not be used to fill shortfalls in government revenue to cover expenditures that would not otherwise qualify under the CARES Act. Expenditures using CARES Act fund payments must be reasonably necessary.
On April 28, 2020, Cooper County received information and guidance from the office of the Missouri State Treasurer regarding the distributions of CARES Act funds from the state. After approving and returning certification for payment to the state on April 30, 2020, Cooper County received $2,078,493.83.
Cooper County has reviewed the requirements of the CARES Act and the guidance issued by the Department of Treasury and has been working to identify community priorities and develop an application process to allow applicants to request CARES Act funds and make award decisions for the use of funds.
Cooper County is making an application available to request CARES Act funds. Initially, for the first phase of funding, local governments, public entities and political subdivisions will be eligible to submit an application. Applications for the first phase of funding must be based on requests for reimbursement of eligible expenses or costs already incurred during the period March 1 through May 31, 2020, and must satisfy the requirements of the CARES Act and Treasury guidance. Applicants will be required to submit sufficient supporting documentation such as invoices, receipts and proof of payment.
Applications for the first phase of funding are due on June 26, 2020. Cooper County will review and evaluate the applications for completeness (including supporting documentation), compliance with the CARES Act requirements and Treasury guidance, and anticipates making award decisions the week of July 20. Award recipients will be required to enter into a written agreement with Cooper County prior to disbursement of awarded funds.
The application- in a “fillable format”- will be available on Cooper County’s website (coopercountymo.gov) on Monday, June 8. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to the Cooper County Commission, which is in session on Mondays and Thursdays.
Cooper County officials anticipate potential additional phases of funding, depending on the number of applications they receive, and the amount of funds awarded in the first phase of funding.