FEMA grants Pierce County $15 million for coronavirus response
The federal government has awarded a $15 million grant to Pierce County to help cover the costs of responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
The money will help pay for new medical protective gear, testing sites and buying or renting space for isolation and quarantine centers.
Pierce County’s estimated costs for responding to the spread of the coronavirus is expected to be about $15 million through June 2020, according to the grant description submitted to Pierce County.
The grant will reimburse the county for expenses related to responding to the pandemic, spokesperson Libby Catalinich said. FEMA will review the submitted expenses and determine what will be covered.
President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency on March 13, providing state and local agencies funding under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
While 75 percent of the grant does not have to be repaid, there is a 25 percent match requirement for local jurisdictions. Historically, the state will cover 12.5 percent of the 25 percent, and Pierce County is expected to pay the other 12.5 percent, or $2.5 million.
