People who live in or own businesses in Orange County may soon get a chance at needed financial relief. Federal funding received by the county government through the coronavirus relief bill, which must be used this year in response to COVID-19, will fuel the new countywide program. “We do not want to make it too complicated,” said Randy Singh. Singh is Orange County’s deputy administrator of financial services. He says one key part of the program will give access to $1,000 to any household in the county affected by the coronavirus crisis. It’s intended to help people who missed work and pay during the shutdown, or certainly anyone still out of work. The money would help pay bills toward running the household and only one person from each household can apply. “Now, we will not just be cutting a check to the individual or the household, we’ll be taking that one thousand paying it to your landlord, or your mortgage company or utility company or a combination of those,” Singh said. Another key part of the program will free up funding for small businesses. The owners will apply similarly, but they’ll have more flexibility on how to use the money.”We’ve heard there’s a lot of small businesses, one to 25 employees, who are really struggling to get capital,” said Singh. Any bigger businesses with more than 25 employees won’t qualify, but otherwise, the criteria is simple: business owners will just have to be able to show some affect of COVID-19. The application process for the program will be done online. The goal is to have it operating by June 1 and dozens of workers are being hired to run it. Another part of the $230 million total from the fund will go toward bolstering other services, like providing more mental health help, looking at assisting child care facilities specifically, and trying to help the growing homeless population. The spending outline was created by county staff, and was given unanimous approval by Orange County commissioners.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
People who live in or own businesses in Orange County may soon get a chance at needed financial relief.
Federal funding received by the county government through the coronavirus relief bill, which must be used this year in response to COVID-19, will fuel the new countywide program.
“We do not want to make it too complicated,” said Randy Singh.
Singh is Orange County’s deputy administrator of financial services.
He says one key part of the program will give access to $1,000 to any household in the county affected by the coronavirus crisis.
It’s intended to help people who missed work and pay during the shutdown, or certainly anyone still out of work.
The money would help pay bills toward running the household and only one person from each household can apply.
“Now, we will not just be cutting a check to the individual or the household, we’ll be taking that one thousand paying it to your landlord, or your mortgage company or utility company or a combination of those,” Singh said.
Another key part of the program will free up funding for small businesses. The owners will apply similarly, but they’ll have more flexibility on how to use the money.
“We’ve heard there’s a lot of small businesses, one to 25 employees, who are really struggling to get capital,” said Singh.
Any bigger businesses with more than 25 employees won’t qualify, but otherwise, the criteria is simple: business owners will just have to be able to show some affect of COVID-19.
The application process for the program will be done online. The goal is to have it operating by June 1 and dozens of workers are being hired to run it.
Another part of the $230 million total from the fund will go toward bolstering other services, like providing more mental health help, looking at assisting child care facilities specifically, and trying to help the growing homeless population.
The spending outline was created by county staff, and was given unanimous approval by Orange County commissioners.
