Fort Worth could receive up to $200 million for coronavirus relief
Fort Worth could receive nearly $200 million in federal coronavirus relief in Texas’ share of the $2 trillion stimulus package.
State and local governments face rising costs related the pandemic as sales tax revenue drops from business closures and stay at home orders. To help offset those costs, $150 billion has been set aside in the CARES Act stimulus package for local governments.
Each state is guaranteed a minimum of $1.25 billion, but the actual amount allocated is determined by population. It’s up to each governor to dole out the money based on the region’s coronavirus-related expenses. That puts Texas, with the country’s second highest population, in a good place.
Fort Worth will likely come out as a winner in the federal allocation while smaller cities and counties may not see as much.
A provision in the law allows cities and counties with a population of 500,000 or more to receive money directly from the U.S. Treasury Department, bypassing the governor’s office. Up to $8.2 billion is directly available to cities, according to the National League of Cities.
Brandon Bennett, Fort Worth’s health officer and commander of the city’s Joint Emergency Operations Center, said the city would receive “well over $100 million” though specifics were not known yet. City departments for at least a week have been coordinating about how best to divide the money, he said.
“The important thing is that we spend that money as quickly as possible in the places that need it the most,” he said.
The National League of Cities projects that Fort Worth and Austin will get $126 million to $199 million. Dallas, San Antonio and Houston are in line for more than $200 million.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said he expects Tarrant County to get about $3.4 million to $3.5 million. It hasn’t been decided how exactly that money will be spent.
“It could be used to reimburse up front costs or be used to help economic recovery,” Whitley said. “I think we’ll bring all parties together, the chamber, the hospitals and see if we can reach a consensus.”
Tarrant County as a whole stands to get roughly $13 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the agency said Thursday. Fort Worth will receive nearly $7 million of that. Texas will receive about $220 million from HUD.
About $4.3 million coming to Fort Worth can be used to build medical facilities for testing and treatment, acquire hotel space to be converted into hospitals or shelters and retrofit HVAC systems to be more airtight. Some of that money can also be used to support businesses that have converted to making medical supplies and training medical professionals.
Another $2.2 million can be used to construct and operate emergency homeless shelters and provide housing vouchers and other assistance to those experiencing homelessness.
A little under $247,000 will be available specifically for AIDS patients facing homelessness.
Arlington will get just under $3 million and about $3.3 million will come to programs run through Tarrant County from the same pool of HUD money.
More money will becoming from other grants, including directly from grants for firefighters, criminal justice and transit. Other grants include those for community development, family violence prevention, disease control, airports, food and shelter programs and disaster relief funds.
The city’s small businesses have taken a hard hit after the city and county government forced non-essential businesses to shutter or shift to online sales. A survey of Fort Worth-area businesses showed nearly half would not survive more than a few months.
Robert Sturns, the city’s economic development director, said earlier this week the city will likely provide $15,000 no interest loans through the city’s property sale fund.
Sturns said Thursday the exact amount is still influx, and it was unclear if the city would have enough for economic development programs. The CARES Act provides $349 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, which helps small businesses maintain their payroll.
The Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, used to boost regions experiencing a sudden loss in production due to a disaster, has $1.5 billion available nationally.
