Coahoma County will tentatively receive $4.29 million in federal American Rescue Act money and Clarksdale is slated to receive $3.36 million.
Details of the massive $1.9 trillion dollar third-round federal stimulus package continue to come to light with state, county and municipal officials learning how these dollars can be obtained and then spent.
The $1.9 trillion COVID relief package also includes money to expand health care, extend unemployment benefits and help reopen schools. The American Rescue Act also gives small businesses another infusion of assistance and renters will get a lifeline to stay in their homes.
Mississippi will receive about $6 billion which is about the same as the annual state general budget. In giving the money to state and local government, Washington leaders said this was better stewardship of federal tax dollars than handing out checks to the public.
Another key part of the Rescue Act are the strings attached to the funding.
One key requirement is the money cannot be spent by a city or county on items already in their budget. The federal focus is to get the dollars to programs and agencies hit hardest by the pandemic and key among those are healthcare delivery services, getting children back in school and programs that put people back to work.
Unemployment benefits from the last relief bill expired the first weekend in March and the American Rescue Plan extends them through Sept. 6.
Cities and counties will be asked to submit paperwork or earmark how they plan to spend the money. Half the funds are projected to arrive around the middle of May, with the remainder about a year later. Cities, counties and states then have until 2024 to spend their allocation on what they have earmarked the funds for.
The funds are currently broken down into:
- $1.8 billion to the state, to be spent by the Legislature
- $1.6 billion for K-12 education, with most directed to local school districts using existing formula’s for federal money disbursement. For perspective, the state K-12 budget is a little more than $2 billion a year.
- $429 million for Mississippi’s colleges and universities
Language in the bill says the federal dollars can be spent on water, sewer and internet infrastructure.
The law is quiet about using the funds for roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure, but state officials have said they hope to work with the U.S. Treasury – who is administering the funds at the federal level – about what type of infrastructure projects might qualify.
Much of the debate on President Joe Biden’s efforts to pass the legislation split along party lines.
Mississippi’s lone Democratic Congressman Rep. Bennie G. Thompson said he was proud to vote for legislation that helped families and communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
“Last week was one of great progress and hope for the people of Mississippi and all Americans as Democrats delivered on President Biden’s promise that Help Is On The Way,” said Rep. Thompson. “For a year, the pandemic and economic crisis have devastated Mississippi families and small businesses, but with the American Rescue Plan, Mississippians will receive the urgent relief they need. I was proud to help pass this landmark bill, and now, I am proud to share the robust support that will soon be headed to Mississippi families and communities.”
Thompson pointed out the pandemic and economic crisis have had a severe impact on Mississippi and released the following numbers:
• Since the pandemic began, more than 297,651 Mississippians have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 6,808 have died;
• The unemployment rate in Mississippi is 6.6%, up from 5.8% before the pandemic.
• Since February 2020, more than 108,707 fewer Mississippians are employed.
• 255,000 adults – 14% of all adults in the state – report not having enough food to eat. This includes 157,000 adults living with children, or 20% of all Mississippi adults living with children, who report that the children in their household do not have enough to eat.
• An estimated 119,000 Mississippi renters or 22% of renters are not caught up on rent.
• An estimated 793,000 adults or 39% of all adults statewide report having difficulty covering normal household expenses.
Allocations earmarked for local cities, towns and counties are:
CITY/TOWN Allocation
Alligator $40,000
Batesville $1,630,000
Charleston $420,000
Clarksdale* $3,360,000
Cleveland $2,500,000
Coahoma* $70,000
Friars Point* $230,000
Indianola $2,040,000
Jonestown* $250,000
Lula* $60,000
Lyon* $60,000
Marks $320,000
Shelby $440,000
Sumner $60,000
Tunica $190,000
* = Local city/town.
COUNTIES Allocation
Bolivar $5,940,000
Coahoma $4,290,000
Quitman $1,320,000
Sunflower $4,870,000
Tallahatchie $2,680,000
Tunica $1,870,000
