Coronavirus Relief Funding for Local Jurisdictions Through the CARES Act
Texas Division of Emergency Management • May 19, 2020
Coronavirus Relief Fund
On Monday, May 11, 2020, Governor Abbott announced $5.06 billion in Federal funding for local jurisdictions through the CARES Act. Of the $5.06 billion, the U.S. Department of the Treasury directly sent $3.2 billion to 6 cities and 12 counties in Texas with a population greater than 500,000. The remaining $1.85 billion will be available to other cities and counties throughout the state. Funding will go towards reimbursement of direct expenses incurred by cities and counties due to COVID-19.
The 242 counties and cities within those counties that did not receive direct allocations from the Treasury are eligible to apply to the state for a $55 per capita allocation from the $1.85 billion. The allocation table is available on the TDEM website at TDEM.Texas.gov/crf. Upon execution of a grant agreement, governments will be able to immediately draw down 20% of their allocation. After documentation is provided on the initial 20% allocation, the remaining 80% will be available on a reimbursement basis.
For information on applying for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), please visit the TDEM website at https://tdem.texas.gov/crf. There you will find guidance on eligible costs, the CRF application process, and CRF frequently asked questions. You will also find a link to the Governor’s notification letter and a link to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
If you are unable to locate a response on the TDEM website regarding CRF, please send your question to the CRF mailbox at CRF@TDEM.TEXAS.GOV
and cc, Andrea Lowe and Josh Roberts for situational awareness.
Responses to questions are sent as an email reply and are also included in the CRF FAQ on the TDEM website; see link here: Coronavirus Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions. FAQs are still being updated so the most recent questions submitted to the mailbox may not appear on the FAQ
Mandatory Workshops Scheduled for Applicants
ETCOG announces that $3.1 million in grants from the Office of the Governor's (OOG) Public Safety Office have been awarded to East Texas jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations. These funds are aimed at enhancing public safety and supporting victims of crime. The program’s mission is to strengthen Texas communities by supporting initiatives that help victims recover and feel secure while also preventing crime through programs that: Prevent juvenile delinquency and support truancy prevention Provide services to victims of crime and address violence against women Support law enforcement and improve the criminal justice system Prevent child sex trafficking, bring justice to its perpetrators, and restore victims ETCOG's Public Safety Division assists jurisdictions in applying for these funds annually, and applications submitted for funding are ranked and scored by the ETCOG Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, which is comprised of local subject-matter experts from across the region. The following Victims of Crime Act, Justice Assistance, Violence Against Women Act, and Juvenile Assistance grants totaling $3,136,019.36 have been approved by the OOG for funding in East Texas: Victims of Crime Act Funds - $2,528,962.18 The Crime Victims Assistance Grant Program (VOCA) devotes resources to providing direct services to victims of crime to help them recover and navigate the justice system.
