Ducey announces nearly $600 million coronavirus aid for local governments
May 27, 2020, 6:30 PM | Updated: 6:52 pm
PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Wednesday two funds that will provide almost $600 million money to cities for coronavirus relief.
The Arizona Express Pay Program will allocate $150 million to expedite FEMA reimbursement requests.
The AZCares fund will allocate $441 million toward cities, towns and counties that did not receive direct help from the federal government.
Local governments will be able to use money from the AZCares Fund for “payroll costs of public health and public safety personnel,” Ducey’s office said in a press release.
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With this assistance, Ducey’s office hopes money in the local budgets will be freed up to allow maximum flexibility.
“As leaders of rural communities, we often face unique challenges in the administration of healthcare and government services,” Maricopa Mayor Christian Price said in a statement.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges. I’m grateful for the Governor’s thoughtful approach in allocating these resources and for giving us the maximum flexibility in how we can use these dollars to meet the needs of our citizens.”
Every county government except Maricopa and Pima will be get money through AZCares, as both received funds from the federal government.
Cities from all 15 counties will get money directly from AZCares. Twenty cities will receive at least than $5 million, nine of which will get at least $10 million. Six cities, all in Maricopa County, will receive at least $20 million.
The Arizona Express Pay Program will help speed up FEMA reimbursement requests and deliver resources for coronavirus response efforts.
The following entities are eligible to receive assistance from the program, Ducey’s office said: local governments, tribal communities, state agencies, nonprofit hospitals, nonprofit long-term care, skilled nursing and assisted living providers, school districts, charter school organizations and fire districts.
