COVID Recovery Coordination Team to help develop plans for distributing $24.9 million in CARES Act funding

Douglas County is scheduled to receive $24.9 million in federal funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in July. Douglas County needs to submit its plans for distributing the funding by August 15 and the money needs to be spent by December 30, 2020, or it will be returned to the State of Kansas.

Douglas County Administration and Emergency Management employees are working closely with partner agencies in the COVID-19 Recovery Coordination Team to identify eligible expenditures for these funds in accordance with the guidelines developed by the U.S. Treasury and the State of Kansas.

There are two categories for the funding:

• Reimbursement. The county can collect invoices and receipts for expenses between March 1 and July 31 and submit those for reimbursement.
• Direct Aid Plan. The county can develop plans for how they intend to use funds for direct aid.

According to state guidelines, priority must be given to medical and public health expenses. Such expenses include: testing, personal protective equipment, sanitizing products and telemedicine in addition to payroll and benefits for public safety and medical staff.

CARES Act funding also may be spent on items such as grants to assist small businesses and nonprofits, employment training programs, school and community feeding programs, and facilitation of distance learning.

CARES Act funding cannot duplicate or replace expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal program. Organizations that will be requesting reimbursements and/or participation in the Direct Aid Plan will need to submit documentation of the other federal funding.

To learn more, visit the state's county resources and guidance website.

Approximate Timeline:

• August 3 - Deadline to submit Reimbursement and Direct Aid requests to Douglas County staff.
• August 4 - Douglas County COVID-19 Recovery Coordination Team reviews proposals for Direct Aid.
• August 5 - Initial review of plan by Board of Douglas County Commissioners.
• August 12 - Board of Douglas County Commissioners approve Reimbursement and Direct Aid plan.
• August 15 - Plan submitted to the State of Kansas.
• December 30, 2020 - Funding needs to be spent.