Cutrona Supports Millions in COVID-19 Relief Funding, Heads to the Governor
State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) announces that he supported and the General Assembly approved House Bill 614, which provides $650 million of federal CARES Act funding to local communities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses. The funding will be made available to counties, municipalities, and townships.
“It’s crucial we can provide for our local communities in this time of need when so many have been impacted by COVID-19,” said Cutrona. “I’m happy to have had the opportunity to work with my colleagues today to get this important legislation passed in order to help with the burdensome expenses our cities have incurred due to this pandemic.”
The funding is for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses incurred by local governments between March 1 and the end of 2020 while unused dollars will be returned to the state.
Some of the allocations for the area includes the following:
- Mahoning County – $8,240,762
- Boardman Township - $1,399,556
- Canfield City - $258,593
- Canfield Township - $296,250
- Poland Township - $426,483
Cutrona also announced significant state Controlling Board funding back in August, which supported pandemic-related expenses, including the work of first responders and other local services that have been vital in areas across Ohio. The measure is similar to the approval of $350 million to help local governments by the Ohio House of Representative under House Bill 481, which Cutrona supported and was signed into law over the summer.
House Bill 614 will also improve Ohio’s unemployment compensation system by creating the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council to evaluate the claim filing process and technological infrastructure. Under the bill, the Auditor of State is required to examine and make recommendations on the efficiency of the process, and the Director of Job and Family Services is required to create a constituent referral system and strategic staffing plan to better serve Ohioans.
The legislation contains an emergency clause and will be effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature.