Georgia delays dipping into its share of federal COVID-19 relief funds

Gov. Brian Kemp had planned to announce next month who would be receiving shares of the $4.8 billion that Congress voted to send Georgia’s way in COVID-19 relief money.

That will now have to wait until early next year.

Cities, counties, businesses and nonprofits needed more time to draw up their proposals for grants that would fund broadband expansion, water and sewer projects, and programs to aid Georgians and businesses.

So the state pushed back the application deadline from this past Monday to the end of October.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, sees benefits in the delay, saying it could help the state deal with two problems: finding both workers and materials for the types of projects that would receive funding.

Georgia’s unemployment rate was 3.7% in July, nearly the same as in the month the pandemic shutdown began, and businesses have reported having trouble finding workers.

“At the time this (relief bill) was passed, I understand we were really concerned about people being able to find jobs,” Tillery said. “That is not our problem now. The supply chain is the problem.”

The money, part of the $1.9 trillion relief package that President Joe Biden signed in March, can be used broadly for COVID-19 response. The means it could be used to make direct payments to Georgians, provide aid to small businesses, give extra pay to “essential workers,” fund job training and placement services, assist hard-hit areas of the economy such as the hospitality and travel industries, and pay for infrastructure projects.

Kemp appointed Tillery and other legislators and state officials to serve on three committees to study applications for the funding. The governor will then make the final decisions on the grants.

Gov. Brian Kemp