Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties have collectively been allocated more than $857,000 to help support local response efforts to the coronavirus pandemic as Michigan is pressing into action some $20-million in federal funding under the CARES Act on that front.
As communities all across Michigan face budget uncertainties due to unanticipated costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has made that $20 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act funding to 77 non-entitlement counties to provide economic relief, including the Tri-County area of Michigan’s Great Southwest. The funding will allow non-entitlement counties to be reimbursed for unbudgeted expenditures used to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
These counties are also able to request reimbursement for eligible costs incurred by the county or eligible cities, villages, and townships within their jurisdiction. The remaining six entitlement counties in Michigan received CDBG CARES Act funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Here’s what has been allocated for the region:
- Berrien County — $377,362.61
- Cass County — $189,299.49
- Van Buren County — $290,602.81
Allegan County also has $320,353.77 set aside according to today’s documents.
Mark A. Burton, CEO of the MEDC, says, “These funds will be critical to helping our partners at the local level recover from unexpected costs around COVID-19 mitigation efforts, ensuring those dollars may be redeployed to support economic recovery and vital services for residents across Michigan,” and adds, “We will continue to use every resource possible, including these critical federal dollars, to ensure our communities, businesses and workforce across the state are able to not only recover from the effects of this pandemic but be in a position to thrive long term.”
This State CDBG program funding will reimburse expenses not already paid with other federal or state funding, dating back to January 21, 2020, which was the date of the first confirmed U.S. COVID-19 case. Examples of eligible expenditures include PPE, sanitation equipment, COVID-19 testing, setup of quarantine sites and overtime or hazard pay related to COVID-19 response.
The formula used to calculate each county allocation is based on HUD methodology, taking into consideration public health needs, economic and housing market disruptions, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other factors. More information on eligible expenses and the allocation formula is available at www.miplace.org/cdbg-cares-funding.
The MEDC, on behalf of the Michigan Strategic Fund, is also accepting proposals to support funding match requirements within the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) CARES Act Recovery Assistance program.
To improve the opportunities for Michigan to receive the largest share possible of the federal $225 million in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding within the region, MEDC will deploy funds through the state CDBG program to provide 50-percent of project match dollars, up to $250,000 per project, required for EDA Recovery Assistance applications. To be eligible for these match dollars, activities must fit within CDBG program funding guidelines. The opportunity will remain open until all available CDBG matching funds have been allocated.
To increase access to available CARES Act funds through this program, traditional CDBG geographic eligibility requirements have been waived for this effort, with all areas of the state eligible to apply for match assistance. The EDA match requirement has also been lowered to 20-percent of the project’s overall budget.
Eligible organizations are able to apply for CDBG match dollars through the MEDC at https://www.miplace.org/programs/community-development-block-grant/eda-grant-matching-funds/ and questions may be directed to FRT@michigan.org. The EDA is accepting applications for the Recovery Assistance funding on a rolling basis, so organizations are encouraged to get their requests in as soon as possible.
As a result of today’s announcement, more than $135 million in federal funds have been deployed by MEDC within the past week, through Michigan Strategic Fund authorization, to support COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts of communities, small businesses, nonprofits, farms and food processors across the state. In addition to the CDBG CARES Act funding, MEDC announced the following programs:
- The Michigan Small Business Restart Grant Program to support the needs of Michigan businesses and nonprofits of 50 employees or less directly impacted by COVID-19
- The Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program to support the implementation of COVID-19 monitoring and mitigation strategies to protect agricultural employees and the state’s overall food production industry.
