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Callender Announces $425 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funding

October 27, 2020
Jamie Callender News

State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) announces the state Controlling Board recently approved $425 million in aid to help Ohio families, businesses and more who have been impacted by COVID-19. The measure is funded by federal CARES Act aid.

“Businesses, their employees, schools and many other Ohioans have been financially impacted due to COVID-19,” said Callender. “Once again, I support these important allocations that are going to help uplift our businesses, schools and communities as we all work together to recover from this pandemic.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Ohio House has passed more than a dozen bills related to coronavirus, including measures to support small businesses, schools, health care workers, first responders and more. Callender supported several pieces of legislation pertaining to COVID-19 relief, including House Bill 614 that passed out of the General Assembly last month.

The package includes aid for small businesses, rent and mortgage assistance, higher education, rural hospitals, liquor permit rebates, non-profit unemployment and the arts. It’s the latest in a series of steps state leaders have taken to help Ohio as it continues to confront COVID-19.

The measure announced today will be distributed to the following areas:

  • $125 million for small business grants, which will allow small businesses to apply for up to $10,000 in relief. Businesses can apply beginning Nov. 2 at www.businesshelp.ohio.gov;
  • $55 million for rent, mortgage and utility assistance to be administered by the DSA through various Community Action Agencies;
  • $100 million for higher education to assist with added expenses due to COVID-19;
  • $62 million for rural/critical access hospitals;
  • $38 million in liquor permit rebates;
  • $25 million for non-profit unemployment; and
  • $20 million to support the performing and cultural arts.

With today’s announcement, the state has committed $3 billion in federal CARES funding to support schools, colleges, local governments and more with COVID-related expenses.