Bellefontaine City Council members approved at their recent meeting three resolutions to distribute an allocation of $250,000 in remaining Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Funding to three local entities.
The funding will be distributed to the United Way of Logan County in the amount of $100,000; the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, $100,000; and Bellefontaine City Schools, $50,000.
Any remaining undistributed funds will be used to partially offset the costs incurred by the city’s public safety forces during the pandemic.
Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler said Logan County received its first CARES Act dollars July 7 that was distributed to the county government, townships and communities. A second portion of these dollars arrived Sept. 4, and the third round was distributed Oct. 15.
“These CARES Act dollars had specific rules and guidelines as for how they were to be spent. One of the stipulations was that any unused dollars would be required to be returned.
“The CARES Act funding guidelines also allowed for one remaining request for any unspent dollars that were not used by other villages and townships in Logan County. The City of Bellefontaine will be granted a portion of those unused funds.”
Funding distributed to the United Way will be utilized for assistance to its partner agencies for local meals, food pantries, homeless shelter, medical care, child care and mental health needs within the community.
The Logan County Chamber of Commerce is providing small business grants through the funding.
Bellefontaine City Schools will utilize the funds to support technology related to remote learning needs for students and families.
Mayor Stahler said the CARES Act, passed by Congress and signed into law March 27, has made a substantial impact in local relief opportunities during the health crisis.
“We don’t often feel the direct effects of decisions that are made at the federal level; however, we are currently seeing the use of federal CARES Act funding in Logan County…
“This economic relief package, valued at more than $2 trillion, delivered on the federal government’s commitment to protect the American people from the pubic health and economic impacts of COVID-19…
“The Logan County community is grateful for the financial support that has been provided thus far during the worldwide pandemic.”