By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In the latest round of COVID relief funding, the city of Bowling Green stands to get an estimated $7.6 million and Wood County is in line to receive $25.4 million.
Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher addressed the American Rescue Plan funding at Monday evening’s City Council meeting. At that point, city officials had just heard estimates of the funding coming their way.
“Of course, this has sparked curiosity here at the city as the final package allocates $130 billion for local governments,” Aspacher said.
“I’m excited by the opportunity that this allocation presents, an opportunity for recovery for our community,” the mayor said.
Across Ohio, municipalities have been allocated $5.4 billion in aid while the state of Ohio will receive $5.7 billion.
“This broad distribution of funds to cities, counties and other political subdivisions will allow for many impacted businesses and individuals to receive needed financial support, through direct distribution or resources allocated to existing programs,” Aspacher said.
City officials are waiting to get guidelines on how the money can be spent.
“Because the projected amount is substantial, it will be important for us to be deliberate in our discussions related to the allocation of these funds,” Aspacher said. “We must determine the best approach to make certain that we take full advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to not only help boost the recovery of our local economy but also invest in infrastructure to assist economic growth.”
Last year the city of Bowling Green received a total of $2.4 million in CARES Act funding. That funding was used for such items as:
- Salaries and fringe benefits for police and fire divisions, $1.7 million.
- Provisions for employees so they could telework from home, ambulance equipment and touchless features, $613,623.
- Barriers, cleaning supplies, masks and wipes, $20,344.
- Mobile equipment, license fees, software, $16,000.
Wood County’s estimated $25.4 million in funding will be divided up among county entities, according to Wood County Administrator Andrew Kalmar.
In the last round of CARES money, the county received $6.9 million. That was shared with various county offices, plus the Wood County Committee on Aging, Wood County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services, Wood County Developmental Disabilities, Wood County Park District, the Cocoon and First Step.
The county also offered two rounds of funding to help small businesses facing challenges due to COVID. The Wood County Small Business Relief Grant Program was created to reimburse local businesses – which were unable to access pandemic funding elsewhere – for COVID expenses.
