Jan 05, 2021

St. Joseph City Council updates CARES Act allocation, encourages more applicants

Posted Jan 05, 2021 11:12 AM

By TOMMY REZAC

St. Joseph Post

 The city of St. Joseph received over $1.2 million in CARES Act Funding from the federal government in 2020 to assist businesses and low income individuals who have felt the impacts of COVID-19 the most.

On Monday, the City Council held a virtual work session to report on the status of the city's CARES Act funding.

Clint Thompson, the city's planning and community development director, reports that roughly $535,000 of St. Joseph's CARES Act funds have been approved for several public service agencies, including Community Action Partnership, which assists individuals who've had trouble paying their rent due to the pandemic.

"A majority of these funds will be working with public service agencies and also with Community Action Partnership," Thompson explained, "to assist on rent payment for low income individuals."

St. Joseph received an initial grant of $936,740 through the CARES Act in late spring and an additional $340,000 in September. The city has seven years to expend this amount, but must distribute 80% of the funds within the first three years.

Thompson says any entities or businesses that apply for these funds must meet four key criteria set by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"Building improvements, assistance to business, public service and technical assistance," said Thompson.

Business owners who apply for this funding need only show proof of financial loss as a direct result of COVID-19 and the restrictions it caused.

Thompson said any funds allocated are meant to be used only as a last resort.

"They're meant to be used when no other funding is available," Thompson said. "They're designated for low-to-moderate income residents who have been impacted by COVID."

There is no deadline to apply for this funding. However, Thompson said applicants who have already received federal COVID-19 relief from a different source, such as the county, will not get additional relief from the city.

Still, Thompson encourages anyone who needs help during this time to apply.

"We're glad to entertain any offer for assistance," he said. "That's our job is to utilize these funds to make sure whoever needs the assistance that's been impacted by COVID, our job is to get these funds out there to help."

Anyone interested in applying for CARES Act Funding can call the Community Development office at 816-271-4827.

The city has not yet written or sent any checks to businesses or entities that have been approved for CARES Act Funding. Thompson said the city is waiting on verification from HUD.

St. Joseph city offices started advertising their Small Business Pandemic Relief Loan and Job Retention Forgivable Loan program back in June. Now that the new year has started, Thompson wants to again get the word out to make sure those who need help know that there's help available.

"It'd be a good time to again re-advertise and solicit for use of the (CARES Act) funds," Thompson said. "To see if there's a level of need and to see if someone has not contacted us that we're not aware of."

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