Deadline nearing for county CARES funding requests
The Cole County Commission has set Nov. 30 as the deadline to submit applications for COVID-19 relief funds through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
Prior to the commission's Thursday meeting, the county had $3,510,282 remaining of the just over $9 million in CARES Act funds it received.
Commissioners on Thursday approved spending CARES Act funds on three items.
The largest amount, $56,910, will pay for new IV pumps in county ambulances. Cole County EMS Chief Matt Lindewirth said these are smaller and more lightweight devices than what they currently have.
As of Thursday, Cole County EMS has received a total of $756,910 in CARES Act funds.
Also approved Thursday was $723 for licenses for software to be used by nurses at the Cole County Health Department.
Commissioners also gave approval for $4,780 to purchase sanitizing equipment and supplies at River Oak Christian Academy in Jefferson City.
With $62,413 approved Thursday, $3,447,869 in CARES Act funds now remain to be distributed in Cole County.
Knowing they expect more applications to be filed - for things such as the hiring 10 new full-time paramedics for Cole County EMS due to increased call volume during the pandemic - commissioners decided the bulk of the remaining funds, $2,447,869, will be earmarked for internal costs. The remaining $1 million will be split, with $300,000 available for municipalities, $300,000 for schools, $300,000 for health care, and $100,000 for nonprofit groups and small businesses.