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May/Jun 2020
11
5 I CAN'T BREATHE
Orange County to Distribute Federal CARES Act Funding in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic: Urges Small Businesses and Residents to Prepare Required Documents The application for the Small Business Grant Program and the Individual and Family Assistance Program will open June 8, 2020.
Across the entire United States and in many countries throughout the world, people of all races and ages have turned out in protest of the murder of George Floyd. There have been moments throughout this process that have touched my heart. One of them was the protest in Colorado where people lay on the ground for 9 minutes with their hands behind their backs. This is empathy. This teal cover would have shared Caribbean American Heritage Month greetings, however this issue we wanted to pay homage to the Black Lives Matter movement, and the protests in honor of George Floyd.
HAPPY CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH "Our Shared History, Our Shared Future" is the theme for the June 2020 Caribbean Heritage Month, being celebrated across the United States in recognition of the contribution of the Caribbean Peoples to the culture and economy of the nation.
The County is recommending that small businesses and residents review the eligibility criteria and prepare their documents now so they are ready to apply come June 8.
Orange County Government has received $243.2 million in Federal CARES Act funding. The County’s Small Business Grant Program will distribute $72.9 million of that to approximately 6,500 small businesses ($10,000 per business) to help them overcome the temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. In addition, $72.9 million of those funds are earmarked to help residents. Approximately $36.5 million have been allocated for Orange County’s Individual and Family Assistance Program, which will provide a onetime payment of $1,000 per household for residents affected by COVID-19. Funds for this program will assist residents to bridge financial gaps for overdue rent, mortgage, medical or an eligible utility expense. Another $36.5 million have been allocated for expanded funding for Orange County’s partner social-service organizations. Information is now available online for small businesses and residents at www.ocfl.net/OrangeCares.
“We’re urging small businesses and residents to prepare now so they can get their applications submitted in a timely manner,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “These funding amounts were broken down to help as many residents and businesses as possible during this challenging time.” As a result of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners’ philosophy to work with local governments to reach and assist as many residents as possible, funding is open to all residents and small businesses located within the boundaries of Orange County, not just unincorporated Orange County.