Locals may soon apply for $5.2 million in CARES Act funds being distributed through the county.
Though Callaway County received word it would be receiving the funds in late April, it's taken several weeks for officials to develop an application process, according to Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann. Applications for the first round of funding will be accepted beginning Wednesday through noon on June 15.
The application is available at the Callaway County Commission's office, Fulton City Hall, Auxvasse City Hall, Holts Summit City Hall, Kingdom City City Hall, and New Bloomfield City Hall. The application should also be available on the websites or social media accounts of these organizations and also on the Callaway County Chamber of Commerce's website.
During an early May meeting with county and city officials, Jungermann warned it would take a while for the $5,249,247 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds to make it out to the community.
"I will tell you, straight out of the box, the soonest any money's going to be dished out of that is July," he said at the time.
That's because the county had to develop guidelines and applications from scratch, based on what Jungermann calls "vague" guidelines from the state. The process took about three weeks following the county's receipt of the funds May 6, he added.
How to apply
Small businesses (those employing fewer than 500 employees), non-profits (including churches) and municipal governments are eligible to apply during this round of funding. Non-profits must document their non-profit status.
According to guidelines by the Missouri State Treasurer's office (bit.ly/2YF1ENH), CARES Act funds must be used to to cover costs that:
1. are necessary expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency (for example, the purchase of extra cleaning supplies or personal protective equipment);
2. were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27 (the date of enactment of the CARES Act) for the State or government; and
3. were incurred during the period that begins on March 1 and ends on December 30.
What it can't cover is lost revenue and budget shortfalls caused by COVID-19.
About $1.95 million of the $5.2 million has been set aside for the first round of award decisions, according to the county. Expenses listed in applications for this round of funding must have been incurred between March 1 and May 31.
Requests for reimbursement of standard rent expenses, utilities or revenue loss will not be awarded.
"Payroll expenses will only be considered for reimbursement if the employees' work duties were substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency; this would include first responders, public health employees, etc," a press release from the county commissioners added. "Applicants will be required to submit sufficient supporting documentation such as invoices, receipts, and proof of payment."
Once completed, all applications should be returned in a sealed envelope to the Callaway County Commission's office, Fulton City Hall, Auxvasse City Hall, Holts Summit City Hall, Kingdom City City Hall or New Bloomfield City Hall. The outside of the envelope should include the name and contact information of the organization that is applying for funds.
After June 15, the county will evaluate the applications for completeness, including supporting documentation, and compliance with the CARES Act requirements and Treasury guidance.
Jungermann said he's hoping the county has enough money to cover the full amount of eligible expense reimbursements applied for during this round of funding. If the applied-for funds exceed the funds available, he said, "we're going to look at 'em all really hard."
"If all the expenses are eligible, we're going to look at it and go here's the deal, we're going to pay as much as we can," he continued. "We'll probably not pay in full in round one but let them be eligible (to apply) again in round two."
The county anticipates making award decisions by 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.
"We're just trying to keep everybody honest," Jungermann said Monday. "Let's say a business got 100 masks donated, we don't want them coming up with a fake invoice - we're going to be asking for that money back, we're going to have to send it back to the federal government."
Future rounds
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, Jungermann said.
"We're going to look at some mitigation stuff for businesses, what they can do to make their place more attractive to people," Jungermann said.
He explained the county is looking at offering grants to small businesses for projects such as replacing carpet with easier-to-sanitize flooring or installing sneeze guards. Applicants will have to provide "skin in the game" with a currently undetermined percentage of matching funds, he added.
A committee made up of representatives from local governments is helping the county form its distribution plans.
"Someone representing each incorporated community in county is on the board," Jungermann said.
He said the county would take its time in distributing the money.
"I don't want to be totally out of money when fall hits, just in case," he said. "We've got to be very careful. We're going to be slow and deliberate and try to help as many people as we can."
The county has until Dec. 30 to distribute the funds and must return any left-over money to the state. Jungermann said he expects the county will be subject to a federal audit over how it disburses the funds.
Questions may be directed to the commissioners' office via email at [email protected] or by calling 573-642-0737.