Cutrona Supports COVID-19 Relief Packages
State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) supported and cosponsored two bills that offer significant COVID-19 relief. Both House Bills 168 and 170 focus on assistance to businesses, veterans homes, bars and restaurants, schools and several other areas impacted by the pandemic.
Both bills passed within the Ohio House earlier today.
“So many facets of our communities have been affected by this pandemic and these appropriations are going to help our businesses, schools, families, and veterans bounce-back – especially right here in the Valley,” Cutrona said.
Within House Bill 168, the aid will be allocated accordingly:
- $20 million for indoor entertainment grants
- $10 million for new business relief grants
- $150 million for small business assistance
- $4.7 million to support county fairs
- $3 million for Ohio’s two veterans homes
- $112 million for child care
Indoor entertainment venues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic shall be awarded grants in the amounts of $10,000, $20,000, and $30,000 based on factors such as demonstrated loss of revenue due to canceled events or performances.
For new business relief grants, they’ll be distributed in sums of $10,000 for new businesses in the state opening after January 1, 2020. Additionally, the coronavirus relief small business grant will provide grants of $10,000 to all eligible applicants who applied for grants under the Small Business Grant Relief Program on or before December 11, 2020, but whose requests were not funded.
Cutrona also cosponsored House Bill 170, the legislation is another COVID-19 relief plan that provides $1.04 billion in assistance for Ohio schools, the Ohio Department of Health for COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution, and to the Adjutant General to support the Ohio National Guard.
The allocations within House Bill 170 include:
- $683 million for public schools
- $154.8 million for private schools
- $19 million for Educational Service Centers, Joint Vocational Schools, and Ohio’s County Boards of Developmental Disabilities
- $173 million for the Ohio Department of Health for COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution efforts
- $8 million for the Adjutant General to support the Ohio National Guard response
House Bills 168 and 170 now move to the Senate for further consideration.