On October 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released updated guidance on the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) that was authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CRF provides $150 billion in aid for state, county, and municipal governments with populations over 500,000 people to address necessary expenditures incurred due to COVID-19.
The updated guidance provides clarification on items including using CRF dollars for public university student refunds, purchasing of equipment, real property acquisition, and small business support. The guidance also provides additional information on how counties can invest CRF funds toward the non-federal matching requirements under the Stafford Act and safely reopening schools.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) applauds the U.S. Treasury’s work and thanks them for their partnership in developing guidance for both direct and subrecipients of the CRF as counties navigate this new process.
