Howell County Commissioners Announce Application Process for CARES Funds

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”).  The CARES Act established the Coronavirus Relief Fund and appropriated $150 billion to the Coronavirus Relief Fund.  Under the CARES Act, the funds are to be used to make payments for specified uses based on the requirements of the CARES Act requirements and United States Department of Treasury guidance.  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.  For further information, please refer to the guidance issued by Treasury on April 22, 2020, and May 4, 2020.

On April 28, 2020, Howell County received information and guidance from the office of the Missouri State Treasurer regarding the distribution of CARES Act funds from the State of Missouri to Howell County.  After approving and returning a certification for payment to the State of Missouri, on May 6, Howell County received $4,706,525.00.

Over the course of the past three weeks, Howell 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.

Application

        The County is making an application available to request CARES Act funds.  Initially, for the first round of funding, local governments will be eligible to submit an application. Applications for the first round 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.

        The County is allocating up to 33% of the CARES Act funds for the first round of award decisions.

Applications for the first round of funding are due on June 22, 2020.  The County will then 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 first week of July.  Award recipients will be required to enter into a written agreement with the County prior to disbursement of awarded funds.

The application is available at the County website at (howellcounty.net) or at the Howell County Clerk’s Office at 35 Court Square, Room 200.  Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Mark Collins at the Howell County Commission office by calling (417) 256-3872.  

Submit applications to: 

SCOCOG

Attention: Cody

4407 County Road 2340

Pomona, MO 65789

 

 

Depending upon the number of applications received and amount of funds awarded in the first round of funding, the County anticipates potential additional rounds of funding.