Billions in federal aid headed to Washington to deal with coronavirus crisis
Washington state stands to gain an estimated $2.9 billion in federal money from the economic aid plan signed into law last week. And probably a lot more.
Coming to Washington will be more money to help pay for education programs, child care, trial housing, low-income energy aid and more, all part of the $2.2 trillion economic aid package signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday.
The Treasury Department is expected to issue more detailed instructions on uses of the funds by the end of the week, according to Erlinda Doherty, director of the budgets & revenue committee at the National Conference of State Legislatures. The government hopes to provide the funds by the end of April.
The $2.9 billion can be used for what NCSL called “necessary expenditures incurred due to COVID-19” and were incurred between March 1 and Dec. 30. it cannot be used simply to make up revenue shortfalls. The estimated total, reported by the NCSL, comes from Federal Funds Information for States, a nonpartisan organization.
While most of the money would go to the state government, cities with populations over 500,000 can seek a portion of the funds.
As much as $1.3 billion would be available to Washington cities with populations of more than 500,000, the NCSL estimated, but it appears only Seattle would qualify.
The economic aid also is likely to send other money Washington’s way. A breakdown of estimated aid, according to the office of Sen. Patty Murray:
▪ $12.76 million for public health agencies to help fight the coronavirus. Money can be used for personal protective equipment, infection control at the local level to ease the spread of the virus and laboratory testing to detect positive cases.
▪ $58.2 million for the Child Care Development Block Grant, funds that can be used to help pay or child care services and early education programs..
▪ $696 million for the state’s transit agencies to be used to help protect public health and safety.
▪ $12.3 million to help tribal housing efforts.
▪ $270 million to help “stabilize” elementary and secondary education and higher education efforts.
▪ $40 million in “Emergency Solutions Grants:” to help lower and middle class residents avoid eviction. The money would also help ease expenses such as loss of child care or employment because of the coronavirus outbreak.
▪ $35.5 million for Community Development Block Grants. In Pierce County, the funds are used to improve public and community facilities as well as for low income housing development and social services aimed at improving living conditions.
▪ $11 million for low income energy assistance to those who need help paying heating bills.
▪ $8.3 million for the state to begin preparing for election security this year.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 11:14 AM.
.jpg)