JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At midday Thursday, Mayor Lenny Curry announced a new, local stimulus package to provide $1,000 in assistance directly to 40,000 Jacksonville residents who most need it, fund six additional testing sites throughout the city, support the small-business loan program the city has already started and to help the city in other ways.
Curry announced this and other developments as a result of $160 million federal CARES grant to fund COVID-19 relief during a video conference at midday.
The $1,000 individual stimulus funds will be available to Duval County residents who make less than $75,000 a year and have lost at least 25% of income due to the COVID-19 crisis. The money can be used to help with mortgage, rent and utility payments.
“The people of Jacksonville and elsewhere are facing unprecedented economic pain and uncertainty because of a deadly virus that spread throughout the world,” Curry said in remarks prepared for his Thursday announcement. “When an entire economy is shut down, jobs are lost, and our way of life is disrupted and, with the projections coming nowhere close to what was predicted, people will question decisions… and more importantly, future warnings.”
Asked how soon the individual relief funds would be available, Chief Executive Officer Brian Hughes said the specific plan will have to be approved by City Council, which will see the legislation on Friday.
City officials said applications, when available, will be available both online and by phone. The individual stimulus funds will be available first-come, first-served.
City Councilman Matt Carlucci shared his thoughts on the stimulus payments Friday on The Morning Show (watch below)
He said it is hoped after a plan is in place that funds can be dispersed in a matter of days and "as quickly as we humanly can.”
UNCUT: Mayor Curry’s Thursday briefing
RELATED: Who qualifies for $1,000 from the city of Jacksonville? | Mayor announces additional COVID-19 testing sites
Other aspects of the Jacksonville COVID-19 Relief Program will include:
- $35 million will be allocated toward sustained COVID-19 testing, testing sites and other health care infrastructure needs. Testing will be offered throughout Jacksonville to serve every neighborhood.
- $12.5 million will go to the city’s COVID-19 emergency account for response city expenditures not reimbursed by FEMA.
- $26 million to fully fund the obligations the city has made to the COVID-19 small business relief and employee retention grant program that was launched two weeks ago in partnership with VyStar Credit Union.
- $25 million to offset declines in anticipated city revenues due to COVID-19 from taxes and fees. Part of this will include waiving nearly $10 million in building and mobility fees to encourage economic development and keep people working.
- And $20 million in economic relief for entities that are managing or operating city-owned facilities or functions on behalf of the city.
We know you will have questions about the individual stimulus relief. We are asking for more details, but we want to hear your questions about the program. Please fill out the form below and well try to get the answers.