Clarkston divvies up virus funds

Clarkston recently launched four new initiatives using coronavirus relief funds that focus on education, food assistance and internet access.

The city allocated nearly a fourth of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to the four programs, which join roughly a dozen other projects the city has funded. Clarkston, with a population of nearly 13,000, received about $1.4 million in federal CARES funds, which is the seventh most of any Dekalb County city.

On Nov. 5, the city allocated $100,000 for workforce development services that focus on teaching new skills to those unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Another $100,000 will go toward child care facilities to offset operational costs. The city also budgeted $60,000 for a food assistance program and $50,000 for a Wi-fi assistance program.

Last month, City Council allocated all of its funds except for $400,000. The four new projects use up most of those unallocated funds. To apply for any of the programs, visit clarkstonga.gov.

The city split the rest of its CARES money among these programs:

■ $450,000 for rent and mortgage assistance

■ $260,000 for payroll and administrative costs

■ $100,000 for workforce deployment

■ $100,000 for utility payment assistance

■ $50,000 for hazard pay

■ $17,500 for legal services

■ $12,000 for police equipment

■ $7,500 for cleaning and personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies

■ $5,000 for technology equipment and services

■ $1,000 for translation service

■ $1,000 for food for first responders

The money must be spent by Dec. 10 or else it will go back to the county, whose leaders would then have 10 days to spend it before it goes back to the federal government.