Earlier this year, $2.6 million was allocated to the Saline County Commission to disburse to small businesses and other agencies and entities which have suffered during the battle with COVID-19.
At the meeting of the Commission on Tuesday, July 14, Northern District Commissioner Stephanie Gooden reported $63,797 of CARES Act money had been distributed at that time.
That total grew exponentially during a meeting of the commission and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) office regarding CARES Act funding for farmers and agriculture producers on Friday, July 17.
To date, the task force has approved 35 applications in Phases One and Two. Phase One totals $221,621.55; and Phase Two totals $296,009.97; for a grand total of $517,631.52 disbursed to date.
Phase 3 is now open, and Phase 4 is expected to open around August 1. Gooden explains who can apply in each of those phases.

Gooden says it’s important for those entitled to reimbursement to fill out an application.

 
In addition, the FSA says Saline County livestock and row-crop farmers need to contact Jamie Bruce via e-mail at jamie.bruce@usda.gov or via telephone at (660) 886-7477 about the CARES Act.
Presiding Commissioner Kile Guthrey Jr. pointed out all of the money has to be disbursed by December 31,2020. If any money is left, it will go back to the state.
For more information, you can contact the commission office at (660) 886-7777 during regular business hours. You can also find a copy of the two-page application on the county’s website at salinecountymo.org.