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Covid roundup: Pinellas CARES application deadline approaches, the latest local numbers

Jaymi Butler

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CARES
The deadline for individuals and businesses to apply for assistance through Pinellas CARES is Nov. 13.

Residents and business owners impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic can still apply for assistance though the Pinellas CARES program, but the clock is ticking.

Applications for CARES programs, which offer rent, mortgage and utility assistance for individuals and grants for small businesses, must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. The deadline allows the county to meet federal guidelines requiring CARES funds to be distributed by Dec. 30, 2020. All CARES Act funds must be expended by this date unless Congress extends the deadline.

  • Individuals and families are eligible to receive up to $5,000 for overdue bills accrued since March 1, and applicants who didn’t previous qualify for the program or already received help can reapply, though the amount is capped at $5,000 total per household. Applicants will be asked to sign a form attesting to job or income loss from Covid-19, that they have no more than $10,000 in cash, checking or savings and will need to send pictures of documents verifying U.S. and Pinellas County residency. To apply, click here
  • Pinellas-based businesses impacted by Covid – generally, those that were required to shut down or whose customers were required to shut down or stop doing businesses – are eligible to receive up to $10,000 in grant money. Businesses that have already applied for or received funding from local city grant programs may still be eligible for this program, and businesses that apply for this program may also apply for current or future local city grants. For more information and to apply, click here

Pinellas County received $170 million in funds through the CARES Act since it was signed into law in late March. So far, it has helped more than 11,800 individuals, families and businesses through direct financial assistance. 

Through Oct. 30, the county has spent $81.1 million of those funds. The breakdown looks like this:

  • $17.2 million to help individuals and families through 15,704 payments to 6,340 households
  • $21.7 million to local businesses through 4,648 applicants
  • $15 million in awards approved for 44 nonprofits that provide critical services for food, behavioral health and eviction mitigation
  • $3.8. million in licensed child care grants to 529 child care organizations that were negatively impacted by the pandemic
  • $2 million in workforce re-employment and training

The Florida Department of Health reported another 308 cases of Covid-19 Friday. The last time Pinellas County had more than 300 infections was July 30. One more death was also recorded overnight, bringing the county’s total to 831 since the start of the pandemic. As of Friday, the county now has 27,192 positive cases and a rolling two week positivity rate of 5.28 percent. Five percent is the number that some public health officials say should be a threshold for potential restrictions, although state and federal reopening guidelines cite a 10 percent threshold for imposing restrictions. The St. Pete Catalyst has a daily update on total cases by ZIP code, which you can find here.

 

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