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Enormous response to Polk County’s CARES funds for seniors and disabled residents moved the Board of County Commissioners to allocate another $2.5 million to the program Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the county began taking applications for the initial $10 million allocated to help Polk’s senior residents ages 70 and older, and disabled residents who are at least 18 years old, who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is a portion of the $126 million the county received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Qualifying households will receive $2,000 to help with additional expenses incurred because of COVID-19.
“By late Wednesday, the county had already received enough applications to exhaust the entire $10 million allocation,” said County Manager Bill Beasley. “The Board has quickly responded by approving the transfer of the remaining $2.5 million of CARES Act funds to this program. This gives us the opportunity to help another 1,250 households that are financially strapped due to the pandemic that we were not able to assist through other programs.”
Funds are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis until the allocation is gone.
