The Soldotna City Council approved a resolution to allot funds as part of Soldotna’s Phase II of CARES Act spending, including grants of up to $1,500 for qualifying Soldotna households, during their Wednesday night meeting. Also, direct relief is included for groups that provide aid to those in-need. Included are specific individual grants to the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, Love INC, and Peninsula Community Health Services.
The aim is to not only support individuals, but also to fund groups and projects that address needs related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
City Manager Stephanie Queen discussed the disbursement of these funds, which she said was been broken into sections: grants for businesses, economic relief for residents, and nonprofit grants.
In a memo written by Queen to the council, she noted that the grant of up-to $1,500 for qualifying Soldotna households is likely to be the most-utilized grant. She also noted that funds could be adjusted later, but that this plan is to ensure CARES funds are spent before the end of the year, under the assumption that the U.S. Congress will not extend that deadline.
John Czarnezki, Director of Economic Development and Planning offered details: “We do have 1,800, roughly 1,800 households in the city, and as it’s currently proposed for funding at $1.5 million, that would serve basically 1,000 households. We aren’t sure about what to expect but we do know that as Councilmember Parker noted, there are a number of folks struggling to meet daily needs, including things like child care. So, some of the eligible expenses under this program do include utilities, whether it’s heating oil, telephone, internet, those types of things. Also, groceries, household needs, insurance costs, medical expenses, rent, and mortgage. Those are some of the basics.”
With the news that payments will be made, how will they actually be distributed? “This program would require the applicant to self-certify that they have been harmed, or that their household has been harmed, by COVID. They would have to provide proof of their permanent Soldotna residency, and then provide receipts and invoices for some of those expenses that I just listed. Once all of those pieces are in and checked, the applicant would be eligible to come in and pick their check up at City Hall. The program would be the lesser of two things: either the amount of their receipts for their expenses or a maximum of $1,500 per household.”
With regards to grants for the nonprofit sector, the aim is to cover four groups: housing and homelessness, food security, mental health, and child care. The Kenai Peninsula Food Bank will receive $250,000, via two releases. Love INC will receive $10,000 to help ensure families stay housed. Peninsula Community Health Services will receive $175,000, in two parts, to offer improved transportation for behavioral health clients, as well as a large expansion to telehealth access for behavior health clients.
Resolution 2020-45 passed unanimously. Emergency Ordinance 2020-23 also passed unanimously, which added a little over $2.5 million to the CARES budget. That money will go towards Phase II of CARES funding for businesses.
Applications, when available, will be found at the Soldotna CARES homepage.